News from Council - October 2009

STFC Council met at Imperial College, London on 27 October, after meeting STFC-funded researchers at Imperial in particle physics, astrophysics, space and atmospheric physics, space magnetometry and planetary exploration, and visiting the Imperial Incubator. Imperial staff play an important role in STFC's advisory panel structures, including the current chairs of both PPAN and PALS. Council members were impressed with Imperial's extensive physics research and teaching programme, which includes about 10 per cent of all physics undergraduates in the UK. Council formally thanked Professor Sir Peter Knight (council member and Senior Principal at Imperial) and his team for hosting the tour and meeting.

The major business of the Council meeting was a progress report on the science prioritisation exercise from the chair and deputy chair of Science Board, Professors Jenny Thomas and Tony Ryan. The advisory panels had reported to PPAN and PALS, which in turn had reported to Science Board. Council discussed progress, and noted that reports from the panels, commitees and Science Board was being regularly provided to the community through the STFC website. Council reaffirmed the timetable that will see it examine the full recommendations of the exercise in December, and that no decisions on priorities would be made until then.

Council also examined at length issues around process of finding a private sector partner for the Daresbury Science and Innovation Campus, including land allocation for potential future large science facilities. The discussion was commercial-in-confidence. Council also reviewed progress of the joint STFC-EPSRC review of nuclear physics and engineering, and agreed the organisation should work with EPSRC to devleop a Research Councils action plan to address issues identified by the review. The review is not yet finalised.

The Chief Executive and Chief Operating Officers, Professors Keith Mason and Richard Wade, provided updates on project milestones and issues, and on organisational and administrative issues including the cross-Council Shared Services Centre project. The Council's next meeting is in Polaris House, Swindon on Tuesday 24 November.