Post on 01-Apr-2015
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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1997/98 1998-99 1999/00 2000/01 2001/02 2002/03 2003/04 2004/05
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Programme budget Responsive mode budget Managed activities
Increases to responsive mode budget
How have these increases been used?
Flagship managed activities
Environmental Mathematics and Statistics (with NERC)
Quantitative Finance
Novel 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
Programme
PLUSAllocation of top sliced funds by peer review
PLUS
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 interests
Identify 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 Society
Tim Pedley, Institute of Mathematics and its Applications
Bernard Silverman, Royal Statistical Society
John 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, France
Stephen Davis, Northwestern University, USA
Don Dawson, Carleton University, Canada
Robbert Dijkgraaf, University of Amsterdam, Netherlands
Ron Graham, University of California, USA
John Guckenheimer, Cornell University, USA
Peter Hall, Australian National University
Susan Murphy, University of Michigan, USA
Hans Othmer, University of Minnesota, USA
Peter Sarnak, Princeton, USA
Margaret Wright, New York University, USA
Niels 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 Reviewand Review of OR
GovernmentOrganisations
LearnedSocieties
ProfessionalOrganisations
Theme days Portfolio analysis
SATStrategicAdvisory
Team
Special Workshops
Looking forward
Budget depends on:
Spending Review – Government
RCUK
TOP/UP/Council
EPSRC needs:
your ideas on opportunities in research and training in the Mathematical Sciences
Your “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!