News from Science Board

January 2009

Following the resignation of Professor Peter Knight as Chair of Science Board, Professor Jenny Thomas, Deputy Chair of Science Board, has now taken over as Chair until July 2009. Professor Tony Ryan has been appointed Deputy Chair until July 2009.

Science Board held a joint economic impact workshop with the Economic Impact Advisory Board and Strategy Board on 13th January 2009. The workshop considered the meaning of economic impact, STFC's strategy for economic impact and how to reflect economic impact in the peer review system.

Science Board held their most recent business meeting on 14th- 15th January 2009 at the Grange Rochester Hotel, London. Science Board's business over the two days included a number of items that form part of their ongoing work in setting the long-term science and technology strategy for STFC and prioritising future science and technology opportunities. At their last meeting Science Board charged working groups to look at trends in support and the distribution of activities between construction and exploitation. Following discussion, Science Board agreed to conduct a more detailed review of the status and prospects of the various subject areas and types of facilities that STFC supports. The review will be carried out over the next two meetings taking input from the STFC strategy, science programme and facility directors.

Science Board received two presentations on big issue areas of environment and security, given by Professor Bob Watson (Chief Scientific Adviser, Defra) and Dr Bryn Hughes (Defence Science and Technology Laboratory) respectively. Science Board discussed the implications of each presentation for the STFC science and technology strategy.

Science Board received a presentation updating them on the knowledge exchange and economic impact programme within STFC.

Science Board considered the draft terms of reference for the proposed facility boards.

Science Board discussed how to take forward a proposed UK vision for accelerators. It was decided to hold an STFC organised one to two day workshop to bring together all interested parties and define a path forward.

Science Board agreed a recommendation for the expenditure of the extra £9m identified in October 2008 for research grants funding and this will be considered by STFC.

Science Board received reports from the deputy chair of PPAN and chair of PALS.

Since the last meeting of Science Board, PPAN has met once, on 27-28 November 2008. PPAN considered a number of statements of interest:

• participation in the Cherenkov Telescope Array;
• ATLAS upgrades
• Virtual Observatory Technology Centre UK

PPAN received a report from the astronomy grants panel and reports from PPRP on the Cosmic Vision proposals. At their next meeting on 27-28 January 2009 PPAN will be reviewing their work of the past year.

PALS met on 2-3 December 2008. The main business for the meeting concerned the review panel report on the Vulcan 10PW Upgrade. PALS fully endorsed the review panel's recommendation that the Vulcan Upgrade should be funded through the FRD scheme. Science Board will consider the PALS recommendation at their meeting in March 2009. PALS also received a presentation on the development of the Science and Innovation Campuses.