New rules that require UK scientists to include a two-page summary of the potential economic and social impacts of their research in funding proposals to the nation’s research councils, have sparked a revolt among leading UK academics.
In a letter to the Times Higher Education, 20 scientists, including Nobel prize-winner Harry Kroto and eight fellows of the Royal Society, the national academy of science, say the grant requirements will damage “blue-skies” research. They call on grant reviewers to ignore the summaries and “confine their assessments to matters in which they are demonstrably competent.”
The new rules were implemented on 15 January 2009 by the Biotechnology and Biological Sciences Research Council (BBSRC). The other funding bodies, including the Natural Environment Research Council (NERC), will follow suit in the coming months.
But the 20 scientists argue, “In research worthy of the name, we are not aware of anyone who would be competent at foretelling specific future benefits and therefore in complying with the request in any meaningful manner.”
Between 1980 and 2006, UK researchers have been subjected to increasing bureaucracy and control, which the letters argues, has resulted in an almost tenfold decrease in the rate at which researchers at UK universities win Nobel Prizes – one every 2.6 years.
In contrast, UK researchers won 41 Nobel Prizes in the sciences between 1945 and 1979, a time during which academics had greater freedom to pursue “blue skies” research, the letter says.
The new grant requirements are “the latest turn of the screw” inflicting “yet another distracting burden”, the letter adds.
Philip Esler, chief executive of the Arts and Humanities Research Council, speaking on behalf of Research Councils UK, told the Times Higher, “Research councils will not be disadvantaging blue-skies research, nor stifling creativity.”
“The impact statement is not designed to ask peer reviewers or applicants to predict future benefits. It is intended to allow the applicant to highlight potential pathways to impact, especially through collaboration with partners, and to help the research councils support them in these activities,” he says.