john womersley developing a science strategy john womersley director, science strategy nuclear...
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John Womersley
Developing a science strategy
John WomersleyDirector, Science Strategy
Nuclear Physics Town Meeting, May 2007
John Womersley
Elements of the strategy
Over the next year or so, we need to
Identify and prioritise the scientific opportunities likely to arise within the next fifteen years or so, understanding the scientific potential, the competitive context, the technologies required for their success and an estimate of the cost
Prioritise short to medium-term investment projects in the context of funds available
Carry out a programmatic review of current projects and programmes
John Womersley
The strategy must then inform a detailed STFC scientific investment plan against the budget set by Council
It must
Connect with the research communities and the other research councils
Be clearly communicated and explained to staff and stakeholders
John Womersley
The strategy must also …
Be an international strategy
– Successfully carrying out our strategy is likely to involve our asserting a greater degree of influence over the strategies of the international organisations that we are members of
– When we engage internationally with partners on ESFRI projects, or with India or China, we must be mindful of the place of these projects in our science strategy
John Womersley
Be a people strategy– Our science capabilities depend on our skills base
and training– Movement of skilled people is of great importance to
economic impact
Be coordinated with plans for the Harwell and Daresbury campuses– If the campuses are to “deliver a radically new way
of doing science” the science strategy must support this.
– If we wish to anchor each campus with an ESFRI-class facility we need a closely coordinated approach between science strategy, campus strategy and the international office.
John Womersley
Be a science and technology strategy– Can’t meaningfully separate the two– STFC’s science programmes drive technology – STFC’s facilities enable technology development
John Womersley
Strategy development
Science CommitteesPeer Review
Science Strategy Team
FacilitiesIn-house expertise
John Womersley
Committees and peer review
Science Board
PPAN PALS
AGP PPRP etc.
PPGP
NPGPASTAB
Accelerator Science and Technology Advisory Board
Still to be finalisedScope of PPRP?Separate panel for R&D?
new
Almost in place
John Womersley
Science strategy team
Small group of order six people, seconded from universities etc. to bring new and different viewpoints
In process of being set up– Professor Louise Harra (UCL)– Professor John Zarnecki (Open University)
Goals– Horizon scanning for opportunities, new ideas,
brainstorming– Select and develop ideas to take forward– Examples:
Energy Cross council programmes on stem cells and
security
John Womersley
Communication
Communication is critical– Within the organisation– With the research communities– With the other research councils– With the government– With international partners– With the public– …
S&T Strategy will be tightly coupled to communications
Good communication is especially critical when resources are tight and the community is under stress
John Womersley
Particle and nuclear physics
What can particle and nuclear physics expect?
Short term – continuity – Existing grants and awards will continue – PPAN will continue the broad direction established by
PPARC, with nuclear physics brought into the process New Nuclear Physics Grants Panel
Longer term – opportunities and challenges– PP/NP projects will be part of a much broader
spectrum of activities– Opportunity to secure funding from a larger pool– … but need to make case in a wider forum
John Womersley
In the coming year
“Business continuity”– Grants, proposals, project oversight…
Taking stock– A broad programmatic review– Review of accelerator R&D (cross-STFC)
New ideas– Two areas where we should “think different” in the
short term: Communications Campus developments
– The creation of STFC gives us a mandate and an opportunity in both these areas
John Womersley
Saying no
Resources are limited
We will need to say “no” to good science– This is a real shame– but we can’t borrow
(or print) money
And if we’re going to say “no”– Best to say “no” sooner– Best to say “no” to whole projects
John Womersley
Proteins or protons?
How to compare projects in very different areas?
Viki Weisskopf’s diagram– Good proposals lie near the boundary– Goal is to push the boundary upwards and to the right
1
4
2
3
intrinsic(“science”)
interest
external impact
John Womersley
A draft set of criteria Scientific impact and timeliness
– Does it offer the potential for breakthroughs in its area? “tear up the textbooks?”
Economic impact Societal impact
– Education, outreach, training/skills, match to public policy priorities Level of UK leadership or UK impact Breadth of community served Risk Match with the views of other research councils and communities Coherence and synergy across programme
– does it enhance and/or exploit existing facilities or subscriptions– does it exploit our unique capabilities and/or skills base– match to DSIC/HSIC campus developments
The European context, ESFRI, need for quid pro quo? The global context, India/China etc.
John Womersley
Remember – for UK projects
We control the schedule and the overall scope We can choose “yes”, “no” or “not yet”
– For international projects We do not control the schedule or the scope But we have the flexibility to choose a level of
participation
John Womersley
Our long-term ability to generate more support depends on more than just good science. We must also show that– we can plan– we can prioritise– we can stop things (even when they are good)– we can be imaginative – we can “do more”– we are relevant
(economic impact, society, education…)
This is what the Science and Technology Strategy will aim to do
John Womersley
What I will look for
I believe everything we do should be good science.But – wherever possible it should also aim to be:
Adventurous not “solid”
Doing new things not doing the same thing with smaller errors*
Influencing a project not tagging along
Focused on excellence not make sure we are doing
a bit of everything
* i.e. increased precision requires scientific justification
John Womersley
Younger members of the audience (and the young at heart)
we are looking to you
More ambition, more excellence
Let’s see how good we can be
John Womersley
Questions, comments on these issues or on the programme?
Your input is welcome
01793 442622