Engineering and Physical SciencesResearch Council

Mathematical Sciences Programme

HoDoMS

30th March 2004

Key developments

Current priorities

Planning for the future

Key developments

Increases to research grant budget

Research Grant Commitment

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How have these increases been used?

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Programme budget Responsive mode budget Managed activities

Increases to responsive mode budget

How have these increases been used?

Flagship managed activitiesEnvironmental Mathematics and Statistics (with

NERC)Quantitative FinanceNovel Computation Centres of Multidisciplinary Critical Mass in

Mathematics

Centres of Multidisciplinary Critical Mass

Aim: to create critical masses of interdisciplinary research collaborations that can make significant international impact

Major projects Engages with activities in other disciplines Current centres at

Bristol: Applied non-linear mathematicsWarwick: Mathematical architecture of biological

regulation Bath: Complex systems

Key developments

Increases to research grant budget

Doctoral training accounts

Introduction of DTA Benefits:

Stability of doctoral training incomeEarlier decision Flexibility of resource

Allocations based on 85% of previous DTA from Mathematical Sciences

ProgrammePLUS

Allocation of top sliced funds by peer reviewPLUS

Additional funds from other programmes via algorithm

Key developments

Increases to research grant budget

Introduction of doctoral training accounts

Strategic Advisory Team

Mathematics Strategic Advisory Team (SAT)

Role: Formalise and strengthen engagement with research

community;Provide ideas and input for developing the Mathematical

Sciences Programme; Identify and develop scientific opportunities;Work in partnership with EPSRC to promote E and PS.

Achievements:Research Priorities and Opportunities science vision for EPSRCSR2004 bidsProgramme Business Plans

Mathematical Sciences Strategic Advisory Team (SAT)

Members: John O’Reilly Martin Bridson (Imperial) Gareth Roberts (Lancaster) Helen Byrne (Nottingham) David Calderbank (Edinburgh) Roger Forder (DSTL) John Greenlees (Sheffield) Valerie Isham (UCL) Cliff Cocks (GCHQ) Nigel Weatherill (Swansea) Andy Wright (BAe Systems) Hilary Ockendon (Oxford)

Support world class research

Develop talented scientists and engineers

Support the knowledge economy

Public engagement

Effective and efficient operations

Current priorities

• Fundamental science foundation• Mathematical foundation• Computational foundation• Engineering research foundation • Quantum realm • Nano world • Miniature machines• Human-centred systems• Working for wealth• Engineering and science for

sustainability

Current priorities

Hot off the press…

Contract researchers will be able to be Co-investigators on EPSRC research grants (after April 04)

Can apply for 4 year project studentship on research grants- need to justify need for 4th year

For new proposals- Roberts funding for PDRA salaries above pt 6 for areas of recruitment/retention difficulties- need to justify

Changes to DTA terms and conditions to enable MRes for October 2004

10 Year Framework for Science

“a valuable opportunity to address any weaknesses in the science and engineering base and to ensure the optimum distribution between different disciplines”

views to be submitted by 30 April 2004.

www.hm-treasury.gov.uk

Programme Aims

• Strong “core” reaching out- To other disciplines;- To users, e.g. in business, industry;- To the public and opinion formers

Issues

Continue to improving connections Demographics Uptake of flexibility in research grants and

DTAs

Issues

Still need to continue to improve connections with users and other disciplines

Demographics of some subdisciplines Encouraging the uptake of flexibility in

research grants and DTAs Public engagement

Public Engagement Workshop

21st-22nd June Inspire enthusiastic researchers Build cohort of researchers with PE interestsIdentify suitable topics

Resources in 04-05 for public engagement Also PE programme activities, PCTF, PPA

awards, senior media fellowships, researchers in residence…..

Issues

Still need to continue to improve connections with users and other disciplines

Demographics of some subdisciplines Encouraging the uptake of flexibility in

research grants and DTAs More attention to public engagement

Daring/risky/mould breaking research

Springboard Fellowships

Exploratory look at high impact novel problems-

Short term (up to 12 months) Open to all £500k in 04-05- pilot Call May 04 Early sift to remove proposals not meeting

criteria of call There will be “honourable failures”

a springboard to take the fellow’s career in a new direction

Issues

Still need to continue to improve connections with users and other disciplines

Demographics of some subdisciplines Encouraging the uptake of flexibility in

research grants and DTAs More attention to public engagement

Daring/risky/mould breaking research International Reviews of Maths and OR

International Review of Mathematics

Terms of Reference

To assess the standing and potential of mathematics research in UK universities and comparable institutions, in comparison with international work in the field.

The Review should look at the width and quality of all aspects of research in mathematics and its applications, encompassing all of pure and applied mathematics, and statistics.

International Review of Mathematics Steering Group

Martin Taylor (Chair)Nigel Hitchin, London Mathematical SocietyTim Pedley, Institute of Mathematics and its ApplicationsBernard Silverman, Royal Statistical SocietyJohn O’Reilly, Engineering and Physical Sciences Research Council

Observers:Annette Bramley (EPSRC)Peter Cooper (Council for the Mathematical Sciences, LMS Secretariat)

Scientific Secretary:Stephen Huggett (University of Plymouth)

The International Panel

Jean-Pierre Bourguignon, IHES, France (Chairman)Michel Broué, Institut Henri Poincaré, FranceStephen Davis, Northwestern University, USADon Dawson, Carleton University, Canada Robbert Dijkgraaf, University of Amsterdam, NetherlandsRon Graham, University of California, USAJohn Guckenheimer, Cornell University, USAPeter Hall, Australian National UniversitySusan Murphy, University of Michigan, USAHans Othmer, University of Minnesota, USAPeter Sarnak, Princeton, USAMargaret Wright, New York University, USANiels Keiding, University of Copenhagen, Denmark.

The Review Process

Background data on funding, people and institutions ‘Landscape’ documents on various areas of

mathematics and statistics Panel visit from Monday 1 December to Saturday 6

December 2003 Regional meetings with panel members at eight

venues across the UK: Bristol, Cambridge, Durham, Edinburgh, London, Manchester, Oxford, Warwick

Briefings during the week on the wider aspects of UK mathematics and statistics research

Findings and Recommendations (1)

1. The central role of the mathematical sciences in advanced modern societies and the need for mathematical research and mathematicians for industry and in academia.

2. The UK is a world leader in a number of areas of pure maths, applied maths and statistics; excellent in others.

3. Mathematical research is people intensive. Concerns: The length of the Ph.D.Recruitment and retention Age distribution of some disciplines is unbalanced Concentration of advanced training in a small number of

highly competitive universities.4. Need to advance the core of mathematics, while developing

linkages within mathematics, between mathematics and other disciplines, and between mathematics and industry.

Findings and Recommendations (2)

5. Strengths: The UK’s rich tradition and talented people, Strong linkages to applications Excellent international connections.

6. Concerns: The leadership for the future in statistics and some other

areas Reliance on a small number of key individuals The interface with computer science Research career paths

7. Impediments: Workload of the RAE and quality assurance audits Unintended consequences of the RAE on risky research,

diversity and the cohesiveness of the research community

Following the Review

Publication: end of March Sessions at:

HoDoMSBMCBAMC

Community Meeting: 4 May at University College London Discussion and development of actions and plans by funding

bodies, mathematical societies and the maths community Comments and input to irm@lms.ac.uk

www.cms.ac.uk/irm

Taking it forward

Business Plan

University, Collegeand Regional Meetings

Business Plan Development

ProgrammeManager

EPSRC sector work International Review

and Review of ORGovernment

OrganisationsLearnedSocieties

ProfessionalOrganisations

Theme days Portfolio analysis

SATStrategicAdvisory

Team

Special Workshops

Looking forward

Budget depends on:Spending Review – GovernmentRCUKTOP/UP/Council

EPSRC needs:your ideas on opportunities in research and

training in the Mathematical SciencesYour “good news” stories

What can we achieve together?

Effective two-way dialogue

Vibrant, dynamic programme;

Support world class research in the mathematical sciences.

Together we can achieve more!