Nid yw’r dudalen ar gael yn y Gymraeg
EDT (2) SP25
Response by the Heads of University Departments of Chemistry (Wales)
and Heads of Chemistry UK (HCUK) Welsh Sub-Committee
to the National Assembly of Wales Science Policy Review 2005
In consultation with the Chairman of Heads of Chemistry UK, we welcome the opportunity to respond to the Review of Science Policy for Wales. While much of what follows applies generally, it is the nature of this submission that its prime focus is the role of Chemistry in any Science Policy and associated Science Strategy for Wales.1. GeneralThe need for a well defined Science Policy for Wales and an associated implementation strategy is clear. Some recent, essentially finance driven, actions by the Assembly, HEFCW and by individual HE Institutions could pose a major threat to the science base in Wales and to its competitiveness on the national and international stage.If the future of Wales in the scientific arena and the economic well-being of the regions is to be upwardly mobile, urgent steps are needed to assure the integrity of the science base (HE and business) over a significant period. The geographical structure of Wales is such that it is essential that key economy driving disciplines, for example Chemistry, Physics, Engineering, Biological Sciences and Mathematics, are fully represented in the regions (at the very least in North and South Wales) by well resourced, competitive, research and teaching HE Departments which can work with the regional development authority (WDA) and a thriving business community to guarantee: Appropriate FE/HE, HE/HE (national and international) and HE/business collaboration An infrastructure which the WDA can use to help ensure that the regions are on any short list for inward investment Attractiveness of the regions to creative, skilled , and talented individuals and, establish opportunities for their retention on rewarding careers The partnership between FE/ HE/WDA/business community should be strengthened with a remit to ensure competitiveness of the regions in both FE, HE and business domains In view of the fundamental nature of the science and its wide-ranging interaction and influence on most other science disciplines, and the economic importance of the associated business sector, Chemistry must have a key role in any development strategy based on science. 2. The Science of ChemistryChemistry is the fundamental molecular science targeting understanding of the Universe of which we are a part, and harnessing that knowledge to improve the quality of life. It currently supports a massive wealth creating industry sector in the UK and worldwide delivering £10 billion p.a. (£5 billion direct, £5 billion indirect) to UK exchequer. An increasing proportion of modern Chemistry based business is in the form of high tech SMEs, well suited to location in environmentally sensitive areas. Supported by Physics and Biological Sciences, it provides the key to developments in Health and Medicine, new Pharmaceuticals, new Materials, Environment Protection, , Sustainable Energy Generation, thus driving improvements in living standards in developed and developing countries. With Engineering and Physics, Chemistry provides the knowledge base leading to development of an enormous range of devices including lasers, magnetic resonance scanners, semi- and super-conductors, optoelectronic devices, new materials for space and aerospace applications, new environmental technologies, thus generating positive impact on almost every facet of modern life. By its nature Chemistry interfaces strongly with, and influences developments in Physics, Materials science, Biological sciences, Clinical medicine, Sciences related to medicine, Electronic engineering and less strongly, but significantly, with most other science disciplines. Developments on these interfaces are among the most exciting advances in modern science. These advances would not occur without the molecular science input provided through Chemistry. Chemistry underpins directly one of the most important dimensions of the world economy. In the UK, the massive wealth creation capacity of Chemistry dependent industry alluded to above is delivered through a business sector ranging from large multinational conglomerates (eg. Unilever, GSK and other big Pharma, BP etc) to small 'high tech’ SME’s. Directly and indirectly the chemical and pharmaceutical industries and Chemistry Education from schools to universities form one of the largest employment sectors in the UK. Research in, and development of, Chemistry as a science also impacts forcibly in crucial socio-economic arenas typified by Medicine, Health and Environment regeneration, as well as in inter alia Agriculture, Pharmacy, Bio-medicine, 'High Tech’ Materials and Materials Science, and Space Science and Engineering. The Chemistry knowledge base has for centuries been a primary contributor to the ever-improving quality of life, and will continue to be a mainstay of the advanced economies of the future.3. Chemistry in WalesIn Wales, the Chemistry related industry is dominated by SME’s. While this is appropriate for an area of great environmental sensitivity, the overall impact in Wales of what is a powerful economic force worldwide and elsewhere in the UK, is disappointingly small. Consequently, there is significant scope for development to the benefit of all. The main providers in Wales of the professional workforce for the sector are the University Departments of Chemistry (Bangor [including the Materials Research and Innovation Centre (MRIC) at NEWI], Cardiff, ( formerly Swansea) and Glamorgan. The UW Departments are active in research and education in Chemistry and are currently complemented by the emphasis on Analytical Chemistry and vocational training available at the University of Glamorgan. 3.1 The recent reduction in number of research active Chemistry Departments in Wales to two (Bangor and Cardiff) creates a situation of grave concern. The geographical structure of Wales demands the presence at the very least in both North and South, of a well funded, research and education science base. Policy or associated Strategy must assure this minimum provision if the infrastructure needed by modern business and education is to be available to drive economic regeneration and upgrade, and the aspirations of the population across Wales are to be realised. Reliance on provision driven by IT or other 'distribution technologies’ (eg 'hub and spoke’ or 'feeder course’) is not a realistic option in the circumstances facing Wales. 3.2 The educational opportunities in Chemistry in Wales are generally of high quality (Cardiff and Bangor are placed regularly in the top twenty UK HE Departments in publicised 'league tables’). The assessed research quality has improved steadily, if unspectacularly, since 1992 (in the 2001 RAE exercise Cardiff was rated 4 while Bangor was 3a). Neither of these ratings is satisfactory if Wales is to compete effectively on the national and international stage, although very recent developments in Cardiff have increased this rate of improvement. Ensuring that resources are available to facilitate the necessary up-rating of both North and South provision in RAE terms must be a core element of any Science Strategy. In this context, if significant improvement in the attractiveness of Welsh Chemistry Departments to staff, students and research sponsors (industrial and research councils) is to be achieved, there is a clear need for the apparent, and increasingly acknowledged, under-funding of HE Physical Science (Chemistry, Physics and Engineering) to be addressed. The deleterious affects of the loss of a stand alone chemistry department are obvious.3.3 If the creation of educational and economic desert regions is to be avoided, it is vital that Wales does not sacrifice any more Departments of Physical Science. In the case of Chemistry, the Science Policy and its associated Strategy must commit to raising the attractiveness of Wales to inward investment by those aspects of the Chemistry based industries which are most appropriate for, and best suited to, the outstanding natural environment. The model of the Republic of Ireland has relevance in this context. Crucial features of any strategic Science Policy designed to elevate the science base in Wales to international competitiveness will include:significantly increased resource input into education and research in Chemistry (as well as Physics, Biology and Engineering) to raise the attractiveness and competitiveness of the Welsh University Departments of Chemistry in the UK and wider international scientific arenas. assuring the presence of a high quality research and teaching University Chemistry Department in North and South Wales as an absolute minimum to provide the concentrations of world-class expertise needed to raise the profiles of the regions on the world stage, act as a primary attractor of new quality personnel into the region, and provide the educated workforce to sustain development in the business sector. establishment of essential elements of infrastructure (consultancy, service support, advanced equipment and resource sharing) needed to place a region naturally on the shortlist of new inward investors, particularly in the high tech sector. help for the development authority (WDA) to encourage the establishment of a quality business sector capable of providing high level, sustainable employment for graduates and non-graduates steps to encourage retention of the very best native talent and stem the haemorrhage of the most talented individuals from the regions. 3.4 HE Chemistry departments in Wales will serve the community best if, as well as presenting a true element of choice to Welsh students wishing to pursue careers in Chemistry or related areas, they are attractive as undergraduate and postgraduate destinations to students from the wider UK and international domains. To provide meaningful choice for home students, encouragement in developing elements of diversity of mission within a well-funded research and teaching environment is essential if the wide range of individual aspirations, educational and social needs, is to be catered for in an effective and competitive way. Students from the wider UK or international market are increasingly selective and will be attracted only by well funded internationally competitive departments.It should be a matter of Policy that provision in Chemistry at a level capable of attracting and retaining the best students from all markets (home and abroad) and competing internationally is established and maintained in both North and South Wales. 3.5 Funding by formula has the undeniable advantage of transparency. However, its application in an unconstrained way can inhibit rather than encourage, and can lead to irreversible damage. Retention and development of a vibrant and diverse provision of Chemistry research and education in Wales, will require a system which recognises realistic funding needs, particularly in relation to the practical nature of Chemistry, to ensure that all remaining Welsh departments are, as a minimum requirement, competitive and attractive within and outside of Wales. With the loss of Swansea Chemistry, the sector in Wales (one research and teaching Department in North (Bangor) and one in South (Cardiff) is now such that if Wales is to realise the economic benefits accruing from HE research and teaching in Chemistry, positive steps must be taken to secure that provision.4. HE Partnerships and collaboration within Wales4.1 The geographical structure of Wales demands that, if there is to be a realistic expectation of economic development in all regions, there needs to be a vigorous presence of science and engineering across the Nation. The obvious mechanism is to ensure the vitality of the relevant University departments and to develop their capacity, along with that of their host Universities, to provide a high quality focus both for education and also for provision of support to industry and WDA in the regions. 4.2 Within the UK as a whole, a culture of collaboration has existed for decades amongst Chemistry departments in respect of provision of very expensive resources. Regional centres exist in many areas of activity (e.g. supercomputers, mass spectrometry etc) and are accessed extensively by Welsh and other UK departments. However, provision by this mechanism can only be effective when it supplements a high quality basic provision within the regions or departments themselves. It can never replace the need to fund the discipline adequately at departmental level, or the positive regional impact of a dynamic and effective department.4.3 While encouraging development of healthy collaboration between Institutions, Institutes, disciplines and the business sector any Science Policy and associated strategy must guard against over indulgence in the 'multidisciplinary culture’. Multidisciplinary research groups are at their most penetrating when they comprise individuals who are themselves highly educated in the specialisms needed by the group. 'Multidisciplinarity’ is in danger of becoming synonymous with 'specious but shallow’ particularly in the context of education or degree course provision or training. This presents its own dangers. There is no substitute for properly educated individuals and this demands depth as well as breadth. 4.4 The Assembly’s current encouragement of natural inter-institutional collaborations is potentially very constructive. In this context in North Wales and West Wales the Department of Chemistry at UW Bangor and the Institute of Mathematical and Physical Science at UW Aberystwyth are seeking to establish a postgraduate Institute for Advanced Materials and Devices. This is intended to provide a single focus for development and exploitation of Materials Science in North and Mid-Wales. Adequately funded, such a collaborative venture will establish a wide range of expertise and infrastructure to both raise the profile of the region as a centre of excellence of international standing in this field and to support the regional development authorities in their efforts to encourage inward investment by 'high tech’ business in this field. Cardiff’s recent success in securing £4.2M funding to support a physical organic chemistry centre unique to the UK and against very stiff national competition indicates a bright future but one which must be carefully sustained by additional support. (http://www.rsc.org/Education/HCUK/GoodNews/index.asp)4.5 In Wales, a research and support culture geared to facilitating operation of HE/SME and 'high tech’ collaboration is already emerging in all regions. This is generating the necessary impetus and infrastructure to encourage inward investment by companies whose operations are well suited to these regions (eg OpTIC in North Wales). This is also highlighted in the outstanding record of TCS interaction within the Welsh Chemistry departments (Bangor led the UK in DTI statistics for several years) and the increasing cooperation between these departments and the Welsh Development Agency (WDA) to provide the community with effective support. Clearly this is a practice to be encouraged.4.6 The quality of teaching and learning delivered by departments is determined by the quality of resident staff and enhanced by the availability of modern technology. Attraction and retention of high quality staff is dictated as much by research opportunities and facilities as by other factors. It is vital to any strategy that provision is made to guarantee quality and vitality in teaching and learning in the regions. Well funded undergraduate facilities alongside a research community supported by a robust infrastructure, are interdependent for Chemistry and crucial if the support available for regional development is to be effective.5. Provision of better career opportunities in the regions.5.1 Improved and sustainable employment opportunities can only emerge if there is the business base in a region to provide it. New inward investors will demand support in the form of infrastructure and services. Any Policy designed to lead to economic up-rating must secure that provision5.2 The Chemistry community already has an outstanding record of mutually supportive interaction with employers on the national and international stages. This ranges from large multinational employers of graduates to SME employers. The interaction between the industry sector and the academic providers is mediated effectively through the Royal Society of Chemistry which provides an active platform for debate and efficient monitoring of the needs of both communities. This is an excellent base from which to develop provided resources and support are assured. 5.3 Within Wales, there is an excellent record of co-operation between the HE Chemistry departments and Chemistry related industry. The Department at UW Bangor has been one of the lead UK departments in participation in the Government TCS programme, and recent WDA supported involvement with developments in optoelectronics (OpTIC) in North Wales are exemplary. In South Wales the Department of Chemistry in the University of Glamorgan interfaces with a range of analytically based companies by virtue of its consultancy services, its part time degree and HNC Chemistry programmes and its extensive collaboration with the wastewater treatment industry. The EPSRC Mass Spectrometry service at Swansea provides a high quality service to other UK departments and local industry, and is part of a programme to monitor atmospheric pollution in the region. The Department at Cardiff has seen a significant increase in industrial collaboration including industry supported lectureships, involvement in DTI/LINK and IMI projects with a number of UK Chemical companies and the development with Nycomed Amersham (now GE Healthcare) of Mycoview, creating employment opportunities in South Wales. This close interaction is exemplary and provides a sound base on which to build an attractive environment for new high tech inward investors providing sustainable, high quality career opportunities across Wales. Further developments are illustrated by the creation of a very successful MSc course in theoretical chemistry in Cardiff, which receives excellent EPSRC financial support. 5.4 Major new initiatives involving Chemistry departments in the HE sector include the intimate involvement of the Department at UW Bangor in the WDA driven North Wales OpTIC initiative which seeks to exploit the Objective 1 status of the region, and four WDA centres of excellence. At Glamorgan, a Chemistry and Bio-technology base within the Wastewater Treatment Research Unit is part of the WDA Centre of Excellence for Environmental Technology and Management. The EEC sponsored training course in Environmental Analysis and Health delivers graduates many of whom find employment within Wales. Cardiff enjoys substantial industrial interaction and investment through a broad range of research programmes including, inter alia, an association with Synetix which has led to the establishment of a new business section of that company which is providing new, and increasing, job opportunities. Currently the chemistry research school in Cardiff numbers some 150 researchers. The introduction of new taught Masters programmes in most Science departments is enhancing the training portfolio on offer. There is no doubt that the already wide ranging contribution of the Chemistry sector can be substantially enhanced in the manner of the Republic of Ireland model, provided significant resources are made available to facilitate the initiative. This will be greatly aided by development of meaningful inter-institutional and cross-disciplinary collaborations typified by Bangor/Aberystwyth Institute for Advanced Materials and Devices. 5.5 There are real opportunities for Wales in exploiting the close link between Chemistry and the Environmental clean-up industry. There is clear scope for industry/academia collaboration to the direct benefit of society. Individuals educated in Environmental Chemistry to degree level are in considerable demand and departments of Chemistry in Wales are responding by providing and vigorously promoting Environmental Chemistry degree courses6. Developing a robust, high quality research base in Science in Wales6.1 Research quality in departments of Chemistry within Wales relative to the UK is measured by the RAE. In 1996, the highest rating given to a Welsh department was 3a which was achieved by two departments (Cardiff, Swansea). In the corresponding exercise in 2001, an overall improvement on earlier assessments was achieved (Cardiff 4, Bangor 3a). However, this performance falls short of the aspirations of the Welsh Chemistry sector. Considerable efforts have been made by the departments to address the matter including substantial investment at Cardiff and expansion of the research base at Bangor. At Cardiff very significant developments include the appointment of six new Chairs the previously mentioned physical organic initiative which has attracted funding of £4.2M, together with an investment in excess of £14M towards refurbishment and new instrumentation. Despite these very considerable sums these still do not compare favourably with similar but larger investments which have been made in many of the now more successful English chemistry departments. In the case of Bangor, withdrawal in 2004 by HEFCW of QR funding to 3a departments has hit hard and has been counterproductive to efforts to develop the science base in North and West Wales. A Science Policy which recognises the importance of Physical Science to economic regeneration will redress this position and, if necessary, assure strategic support to major economy driving disciplines such as Chemistry in North as well as South Wales to guarantee the high quality science base which can drive economic resurgence. 6.2 The existence of a high quality HE research base and a quality teaching environment are usually closely coupled. Costs of a first class research environment in Chemistry are high but can be offset by external funding once a sound base is present. In HEIs in Wales under-funding over many years has eroded what was, at one time, a satisfactory research base in Chemistry. There is now an urgent need to re-establish that research base and to provide the Universities with the significant investment in research and laboratory infrastructure which will prove attractive to research sponsors including research councils, and to companies seeking consultancy or training services, and demonstrate unequivocally to inward investors that the regions of Wales have the research base to provide the back-up they seek. For this to happen the Science Policy must identify the investment needed to ensure that arbitrary operational cut-offs for funding (at RAE 4 level currently) do not place in jeopardy the economic future of the regions. 6.3 Individual Welsh Chemistry departments will undoubtedly continue to make full use of the UK-wide regional centres to pursue research programmes which require access to extremely expensive facilities. This 'regional centre culture’ works well on the whole but only for exceptionally high cost equipment. 6.4 A high quality research base and scholarship are both essential ingredients of a competitive HE Chemistry department. If it is the intention of the Assembly that Wales is to compete meaningfully with the remainder of the UK and internationally, it is imperative that the differing needs of the regions are addressed directly by ensuring that the departments are adequately resourced at least to the level where they are attractive destinations for undergraduate and postgraduate students, research personnel and academic staff, are attractive to research sponsors, and can provide the support that businesses require.6.5 It is widely recognised that effective and competitive HE Chemistry departments usually maintain a research profile which embraces basic, strategic and applied research in good balance. This ensures not only a sound teaching coverage of the discipline and its interactions with industry and society, but also presents the broadest cross-section for grant capture and research sponsorship.6.6 Identifying research areas of niche strength and building on that strength is sound policy into which research activity in Chemistry can fit naturally. Typically, environmental issues and land regeneration represent areas of particular relevance to, and importance throughout Wales. These are arenas in which departments of Chemistry are already contributing significantly and have a powerful regional role to play.6.7 There is no doubt that commercialising the outcome of scientific research should continue to be encouraged as it has always been. However, it would be counterproductive to arrange HE funding methodology to over-encourage pursuit of strategic or applied research at the expense of the fundamental research which represents the very seed-corn of such activity. A carefully established balance is essential.6.8 There is already a strong culture of interaction between Welsh HE Chemistry departments and regional businesses, particularly SME’s and spin-off enterprises. This is entirely to the benefit of the Welsh regions and should continue to be encouraged.7. Funding7.1 Funding modern science is expensive. Chemistry is no exception. However the rewards from investment are there to see all around us. The consequences of under-investment are also with us. It is crucial that any Science Policy does not seek to access the benefits 'on the cheap’. Collaboration, re-packaging of disciplines and other strategic re-organisation aimed at financial efficiency, cannot mask weakness as a consequence of under-provision at basic discipline level. Science Policy must assure the strength and financial health of the basic disciplines participating in such ventures if the benefits are to be real.7.2 The maintenance of stable funding patterns over a meaningful timescale is obviously desirable. It allows, inter alia, development of an achievable strategy for science, leading to improved interaction between HE/Business/WDA within regions and across the wider UK. It is important for HE departments sustaining expensive research programmes to be able to plan without being subject to unpredictable funding fluctuations associated with student recruitment for example. While an element of formula funding is inevitable and desirable, the mechanistic application of formulae can lead to undesirably large changes in funding patterns, or worse, throwing strategic developments seriously off course. Funding patterns for departments of Chemistry should, preferably, ensure the maintenance of at least a minimum stable infrastructure over a worthwhile timescale. J N MacdonaldDepartment of ChemistryUniversity of Wales, BangorProfessor D W Knight School of Chemistry Cardiff University 24th September 2005 Submission to Review in 2000Submission by the Heads of University Departments of Chemistry (Wales)in consultation with The Royal Society of Chemistry and the UK Higher Education Chemistry Conferenceto the National Assembly of Wales Post -16 Education and Training Committee Higher Education Review.Executive Summary(i) The presence of well funded high quality University Chemistry departments in the Welsh regions can,- provide regional concentrations of world-class expertise and support facilities for industry
- encourage retention of the best native talent
- act as primary attractors of environmentally appropriate aspects of the Chemistry and Chemistry related industries and quality personnel into the Welsh Regions
- provide the educated workforce to sustain development.
