UK research council has defaulted on contractual obligations

[*T*]

The UK research council in charge of funding university research in many areas of Physics (PPARC) has defaulted on contractual obligations, clawing back grants and firing research staff before the end of their contracts.

EPSRC, in charge of UK engineering and physical sciences funding, is taking legal advice to do the same.

The shit is fast approaching the propellor blades for UK universities.

EDIT: I don't know if I was being melodramatic or not, but the first string has been plucked. I have seen a letter from the head of the UK research councils.
Summary: Research councils UK announced that grants from next financial year will be reduced by average 1.2% (OK this is not apocalyptic... yet)... due to lower than expected inflation as reflected in the govt's GDP deflators.

[Chris]

Re: UK research council has defaulted on contractual obligations

Crazy stuff. I muddled through on a BBSRC grant and couldn't have completed without it.

I don't envy anyone under the age of 26 is this country. It's going to be a really tough couple of years for them.

[Chris]

Re: UK research council has defaulted on contractual obligations

where did you hear this *T*? I can't find any information on their site.

[Mega]

Re: UK research council has defaulted on contractual obligations

Yes "T" do you have a link?
Mike

[ThePythonicCow]

Re: UK research council has defaulted on contractual obligations

Yes "T" do you have a link?
Mike

Google finds just one link:
UK research council has defaulted on contractual obligations ...

.

[*T*]

Re: UK research council has defaulted on contractual obligations

where did you hear this *T*? I can't find any information on their site.

Word on the street. We were told at a staff meeting by one of our university's big cheeses about EPSRC taking legal advice (the conversation was in the context of other cuts on new buildings etc) -- I mentioned to another colleague, saying I didn't think it likely, but she said PPARC already did it.

I don't find it particularly surprising. We closed all our departmental libraries. Without being too specific, we are one of the top 5 unis in the country.

[GRG55]

Re: UK research council has defaulted on contractual obligations

Word on the street. We were told at a staff meeting by one of our university's big cheeses about EPSRC taking legal advice (the conversation was in the context of other cuts on new buildings etc) -- I mentioned to another colleague, saying I didn't think it likely, but she said PPARC already did it.

I don't find it particularly surprising. We closed all our departmental libraries. Without being too specific, we are one of the top 5 unis in the country.

One of the top five universities in the UK has closed its libraries?

I simply cannot imagine a more telling indicator of the severity of the consequences of this unfolding disaster...

[ThePythonicCow]

Re: UK research council has defaulted on contractual obligations

One of the top five universities in the UK has closed its libraries?

He said "departmental libraries". I took this to mean that the general university library was still open, but that individual specialty libraries were closed (I presume with their collection going to the general library.)

[GRG55]

Re: UK research council has defaulted on contractual obligations

He said "departmental libraries". I took this to mean that the general university library was still open, but that individual specialty libraries were closed (I presume with their collection going to the general library.)

That's good. For a moment there I thought perhaps something important was being lost.

Besides, who needs libraries. Everything worth knowing is now on the internet...

[ThePythonicCow]

Re: UK research council has defaulted on contractual obligations

Besides, who needs libraries. Everything worth knowing is now on the internet...

Anyhow -- books are boring. They don't fit in a twitter (tweat ... what do you call them?) and they don't have enough pictures . Way too many words.

[Chris]

Re: UK research council has defaulted on contractual obligations

Word on the street. We were told at a staff meeting by one of our university's big cheeses about EPSRC taking legal advice (the conversation was in the context of other cuts on new buildings etc) -- I mentioned to another colleague, saying I didn't think it likely, but she said PPARC already did it.

I don't find it particularly surprising. We closed all our departmental libraries. Without being too specific, we are one of the top 5 unis in the country.

Is this top 5 university in London (playing process of elimination)? ;)

[*T*]

Re: UK research council has defaulted on contractual obligations

He said "departmental libraries". I took this to mean that the general university library was still open, but that individual specialty libraries were closed (I presume with their collection going to the general library.)

Exactly correct. No books lost, just staff.

[Ibsen]

Re: UK research council has defaulted on contractual obligations

Anyhow -- Way too many words.

How about the paragraphs ?
Sorry ...

[due_indigence]

Re: UK research council has defaulted on contractual obligations

Wasn't there an article recently on British pensioners burning books to keep warm? I think I smell a market.

Encyclopedia Britannica 451

I read the entries through the flames,
the ashen dates and bygone names.
The coalman sells a faster read.
Pure knowledge burns at lesser speed.

--Norman Ball

[*T*]

Re: UK research council has defaulted on contractual obligations

Is this top 5 university in London (playing process of elimination)? ;)

erm... not necessarily!? (*fiddles collar uncomfortably*)