Astronomy and particle physics : report, together with formal minutes, oral and written evidence.
- Great Britain. Parliament. House of Commons. Select Committee on Science and Technology
- Date:
- 2011
Licence: Open Government Licence
Credit: Astronomy and particle physics : report, together with formal minutes, oral and written evidence. Source: Wellcome Collection.
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![Resource and capital funding for astronomy and particle physics: 2010/11 to 2014/15 12. The importance of investment in astronomy and particle physics research in the UK and concerns over future funding in these areas were common theme throughout the written evidence we received. For example, Professor Stephen Hawking, Director of Research at the University of Cambridge’s Centre for Theoretical Cosmology, said: to target funding only using narrow economic criteria is to misunderstand the value to society of science and our Universities. [The] frontiers of fundamental scientific knowledge, like particle physics and astronomy, have always been an inspiration for the next generation of scientists. [The] UK punches significantly above its weight in the competitive world of particle physics and astronomy and has a remarkable history of discoveries and fruitful international collaboration. [Without] strong support for subjects like particle physics and astronomy we will suffer the economic and cultural consequences of a lack of students in the physical sciences.” 13. As we noted above, the STFC obtained a relatively good settlement in the overall context of the science and research budget allocations for the next four years, particularly its resource budget. Table 2 below sets out the STFC’s spending on astronomy and particle physics over the next four years compared with the final year (2010/11) of the previous spending review period. Table 2: STFC resource and capital spending by theme £ million 2010/11 (baseline) 2011/12 2012/13 2013/14 2014/15 Resource Capital Resource Capital Resource Capital Resource Capital Resource Capital Astronomy Subscriptions (ESO) 10.9 18.3 11.6 17.8 11.7 U2 11.6 7.4 ais 7.6 Development 3.2 1.9 5.0 2.0 7.4 2.0 8.8 2.0 9.8 2.0 Operation/exploitation 46.2 4.4 45.4 0.5 37.9 0.5 33.2 0.5 32.5 0.5 Studentships/Fellowships 15.0 0.0 15.3 0.0 ASA 0.0 14.9 0.0 os2 0.0 Total 75.3 24.6 77.3 20.3 72.0 9.7 68.5 9.9 68.9 10.1 Particle Physics Subscriptions (CERN) 63.6 32.9 81.8 21.6 89.4 15.4 90.5 ee) 92.4 15.2 Development 8.5 2.6 ales. 2.4 11.4 2.4 13.0 2.4 14.2 2.4 Operations/exploitation 35.0 oy 30.5 0.5 30.6 0.5 30.9 0.5 31.8 05 Studentships/Fellowships 9.6 0.0 9.8 0.0 9.7 0.0 9.6 0.0 9.8 0.0 Total 116.7 41.0 133.2 24.5 141.1 18.3 143.9 18.2 148.2 18.1 Notes: 2011/12 Capital for ESO includes the final capital special payment relating to accession to ESO Capital for operations /exploitation lines divided between Astronomy, Particle Physics and Nuclear Physics on a pro rata basis - and therefore included for indicative purposes only. Source: Ev 54, Science and Technology Facilities Council 14. Astronomy sees a reduction in both its resource (-8%) and capital (-59%) budgets by the end of the next four years compared with 2010/11, with an overall fall of 21% in the total (resource plus capital) astronomy budget from £100 million in 2010/11 to £79 million in 2014/15. In contrast, particle physics sees a small increase in its total (resource plus capital) budget of 5% over this period (from £158 million to £166 million), although 20 Ev w27-28, paras 1-3](https://iiif.wellcomecollection.org/image/b3222204x_0013.jp2/full/800%2C/0/default.jpg)
