Consultation on Advisory Panels

The Council of the Science and Technology Facilities Council today announced that it is revising and simplifying its strategic scientific advisory structure so as to ensure the most effective advice from our communities.

Following advice and recommendations from Science Board on the effectiveness and efficiency of the existing advisory process, and taking account of changes in the way the large facilities are managed, the creation of the UK Space Agency, and the continued need to operate efficiently, Council agreed to implement a number of changes to the Science Committee structure. It also agreed to seek advice through consultation on the future structure of Advisory Panels.

Changes to Science Committee structure

Council has agreed that Science Board, and the Science Committees for Particle Physics, Astronomy and Nuclear Physics (PPAN) and for the Physical and Life Sciences (PALS) be merged into a single advisory board. The new body will continue to be named Science Board and to report directly to Council. View their Terms of Reference.

The new Science Board will comprise a core membership, initially of 16 members drawn from the existing Science Board, PPAN and PALS so as to ensure continuity of advice to Council. Over time Science Board will reduce to a core membership of 12. In addition:

• Council agreed to establish a college of non-core experts so as to provide Science Board a wider breadth of knowledge to be called upon as required.
• Council agreed that Science Board will, on the basis of need, establish subgroups of both core and non-core members.
• Council noted that there is likely to be an ongoing need for a standing Science Board subgroup in the PPAN disciplines, given the workload in this area.

The initial college of non-core experts will be selected from those who were nominated for PPAN, PALS and Science Board membership in STFC’s call for nominations earlier this year.

Council also agreed that the Accelerator Strategy Board, the Projects Peer Review Panel (PPRP), Advisory Panel on Science in Society, the Education Training and Careers Committee, and the Grants Panels will continue to report to Science Board.

Consultation on Advisory Panels

The Council’s advisory structure also includes a number of subject-specific Advisory Panels that report through PPAN and PALS. Council recognised the importance of these in providing strategic advice on the future priorities of individual aspects of the STFC programme, and in serving as a vital additional connection with our research communities. Council therefore decided that the views of our science communities should be sought on the future structure of these panels with a view to possibly reducing the number of panels so as to streamline advice while reducing the cost of operating the system.

Comments are solicited on the following proposals:

1. For the grant funded science programmes, advisory panels reporting to Science Board should be established in the following areas:
   
   • Astronomy
   • Nuclear Physics
   • Particle Physics
   • Particle Astrophysics
   
   
2. For the facilities, comments are solicited on:
   
   • Whether the users groups offer sufficient opportunity for facility users to provide strategic input to STFC.
   • What changes would be needed to facilitate this input.
   • Whether there is still a need for the Photon and Neutron Advisory Panels.
   
   
3. It is proposed that membership of all the advisory panels should be appointed by Science Board, based on recommendations of a sub-group comprising members of the Science Board and STFC executive following an open nomination process adhering to the Nolan Principles.
   
   
4. In addition, comments are sought on:
   
   • The Advisory Panels’ purpose and remit.
   • The optimum size of panels.
   • The balance between frequency of meeting, cost and effectiveness.
   • Interactions between the panels and community, and between the panels and the new Science Board

Submissions should be emailed to advisory.consultation@stfc.ac.uk by 5.00pm BST Friday 14 October.

Submissions should clearly identify the submitting individual or organisation, a contact officer with email and telephone details, and any current or previous affiliations/memberships/funding connections with STFC or its predecessor Councils, or other Research Councils.

STFC will acknowledge receipt of submissions by email. Key themes and proposals arising from this consultation will be considered by a joint Science Board-Executive subgroup. This subgroup will identify those inputs from the submissions which should be included in the final proposal, and identify reasons why other inputs should be rejected. The subgroup will submit to Council’s November meeting their final recommended outcome for approval.

The new Science Board will start operations on 1 August 2011. The new advisory panel structure is expected to come into effect from 1 April 2012.

A summary of the team’s discussions and reasons for accepting/rejecting inputs will be published following Council’s final decision on the advisory process.

Persons or organisations intending to submit comments should note their views may be published.

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• Science Board Terms of Reference
• Core membership for Science Board: 1 August 2011 - 31 July 2012