Tales of woe from the researchers

THES reporters turn the spotlight on the working groups set up so far by Sir Ron Dearing as part of his inquiry into the future of higher education. Sir Ron Dearing's probe into the country's research base will be dominated by two issues: limited Government funding for research, and how best to distribute it, writes Kam Patel.

Scientific research is widely felt to be particularly troubled. But arts and humanities have also suffered over the imposition of rigid definitions of what constitutes research.

The team is chaired by Sir Richard Sykes, deputy chairman and chief executive of Glaxo Wellcome and includes Sir Ron. Other members are: Howard Newby, vice chancellor of Southampton University; Anthony Ledwith, director of research at glassmaker Pilkington; Ewan Gillon, a postgraduate at Edinburgh-based Queen Margaret College; Sir Ron Oxburgh, rector of Imperial College; Sir David Weatherall, professor of medicine at the Oxford-based Institute of Molecular Medicine; and Adrian Webb, vice chancellor of the University of Glamorgan.

The Government is providing Pounds 1.3 billion for science for the academic year 1996-97. This funding is expected to remain static over the medium term even with a change of Government. The issue is how far to concentrate this funding.

The group will also consider the state of research equipment. According to a study by Manchester University, 80 per cent of university science and engineering departments are unable to perform critical experiments because of lack of funds for vital equipment; firms are shifting their university research overseas; and Pounds 470 million is needed to bring equipment up to date. The Office of Science and Technology is expected to recommend a formalised system for sharing equipment. The group will look into the merits of "kitshare".

The research assessment excercise is another issue. Criticised for being heavily subject-driven and inappropriate to the interdisciplinary nature of much research, the four-yearly RAE gives researchers just two and half years to demonstrate improvement in work funded by the previous exercise.

The team may also look at funding from sources such as charities, industry, research councils, funding councils and the European Union and the impact this has had on the employment of scientists and the structure of their careers.