News from Science Board - February 2012

Science Board met on 9th and 10th February 2012 at the Rutherford Appleton Laboratory, Oxfordshire. Its business was largely peer review items, including two reports from the Projects Peer Review Panel, a number of Statements of Interest and a review of proposals for STFC Centres. The Board also visited the ISIS neutron facility.

Science Board discussed the planning for the next Programmatic Review, and in particular the timing of the review and how best to interact with the community, including through the Advisory Panels. The Board noted that an internal STFC project management board will assist Science Board by organising practical aspects of the review, and that a member of Science Board will sit on this board. Science Board will have a more detailed discussion about how it will conduct the review at its next meeting.

Science Board noted the recent excellent work of Brian Cox, Dara O’Briain and the BBC in promoting STFC supported science.

Science Board agreed that, in the spirit of transparency and openness, it will in future, publish redacted minutes.  The News from Science Board articles will continue to be published shortly after the Science Board meeting.

The next meeting of Science Board will take place on 19^th-20^th April 2012.