British politicians have given no assurances that science will be protected from the deep cuts in public spending that are predicted to follow this year’s general election (see Nature 463, 410–411; 2010: “Debt crisis threatens UK science” – subscription required). But Britain’s Royal Society is trying to ward off the expected blow. In a report entitled The Scientific Century: Securing Our Future Prosperity, released on 9 March, the venerable society argues that slashing support for research would be a false economy, and would harm the nation’s long-term economic prospects.
The United Kingdom has traditionally punched above its weight in science, garnering a bigger proportion of the most highly cited research papers than its share of global funding would suggest. But this impressive track record is “fragile” and brings a “risk of complacency”, the report says, noting competition from rising research funding in India, China and Brazil, along with significant investment for science seen in the stimulus packages in the United States, France and Germany.
The dossier models itself on Rising Above the Gathering Storm, an influential 2005 report by the US National Academies that advocated increased funding to maintain America’s pre-eminent position in science. The Royal Society argues along similar lines: “Our scientific leadership, which has taken decades to build, can quickly be lost,” it warns.
The report asks the UK government to outline plans for increased research funding over a 15-year period (2011–26), though no ‘numbers we would like’ are mentioned. It also recommends expanding a tax credit for research and development to stimulate investment by businesses, and outlines the need for policies that encourage researchers from overseas to work in the country.
Is there any political backing for this vision? At the report’s release, former Labour party science minister David Sainsbury was keen to argue that the Society was not just “whistling in the wind”. Political parties keen to maintain long-term economic growth would see the logic of the Royal Society’s case, he said – noting that a report released by the Council for Science and Technology this month says much the same thing.
Current science minister Paul Drayson (Labour) has responded enthusiastically; while Liberal Democrat science spokesman Evan Harris is clearly in tune with the report in a letter to The Times. What about the Conservatives? They have asked inventor James Dyson to compile a report for them on the future of British manufacturing, which, The Guardian reports, will urge the party to keep research and development allowances for industry. Update – the report has been released, and does urge more support for science and high tech firms (BBC).
UK scientists can only cross all their fingers and hope that a post-general election government, and Treasury, will agree with their cause.