The Institute of Physics (IOP) has welcomed the latest statement from the Engineering and Physical Sciences Research Council (EPSRC) on its funding policy. In that statement, EPSRC confirmed that research excellence would remain preeminent in assessing funding applications.
The President and staff of IOP, together with other science and engineering organisations, have been engaged over recent months in discussions and correspondence with EPSRC on the latter's 'Shaping Capability' initiative. In July this year, IOP expressed concerns about this initiative. Throughout these discussions, IOP's priorities have reportedly been to ensure that research excellence remains the key criterion for funding decisions; and that EPSRC engages directly with its research community in thorough, open and transparent consultations before introducing changes in the funding system.
The IOP has welcomed EPSRC's stated intention to engage further with the research community, and has indicated its willingness to facilitate this process by helping to identify physicists with the knowledge and expertise to advise EPSRC on the issues involved. However, it has pointed out that there is no clarity on the precise form of consultation proposed by EPSRC - in particular whether it will be sufficiently comprehensive in its reach to gather views from all those affected by the proposed changes.
The IOP remains concerned that EPSRC's commitment to announce final decisions by March 2012 may not allow a realistic timescale for all views to be taken into account. The Institute stressed that EPSRC needs to retain the confidence of its research community.
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