Science Board
and STFC News
Prof. Dan Tovey
University of Sheffield
1
Science Board Core Membership
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
Olwyn Byron - University of Glasgow
Alison Davenport - University of Birmingham (Chair)
Sean Freeman - University of Manchester
Jon Goff – RHUL
Matt Griffin - Cardiff University
Alan Heavens - Imperial College London
Anthony Lasenby - University of Cambridge
Ken Long - Imperial College and RAL
Malcolm McMahon - University of Edinburgh
Bob Nichol - University of Portsmouth
Simon Redfern - University of Cambridge
Pam Thomas - University of Warwick
Dan Tovey - University of Sheffield (Deputy Chair)
Justin Wark - University of Oxford
Alfons Weber - University of Oxford and RAL
Chick Wilson – University of Bath
2
Programmatic Review Recap
• Major strategic review of STFC programme by Science Board
– Focus on science priorities
– Included all aspects of STFC programme for 1st time, including
Dedicated Impact programme
– Advisory Panel input vital and much appreciated
– Alpha rankings assigned: exploitation g1-g3, projects a5-a1
– Process took 9 months + 9 month delay in announcement due to
timing of budgets  final report released March 2014
– http://www.stfc.ac.uk/review
• Delivery Plan (June 2014) formulated by STFC Executive and
approved by Council
– Largely accepts PR recommendations (but see later…)
– http://www.stfc.ac.uk/2455.aspx
3
STFC Funding Allocation Recap
* Reflects a £6.9m reassignment of corporate overheads from Core Programme to UK Large Facilities Funding
between 2011/12 and 2014/15 as allocated in December 2010
4
Consolidated Grants
• Delivery Plan implements flat cash for grants lines (PR
recommended indexation in flat cash budget scenario)
– Equivalent to further cuts in volume at least to FY15/16.
– Grants rounds will (once again) be very tight
– Already seeing the effects in NP and PPGP(T)
• PPGP(E) 2015 round just getting started
– First panel meeting next week – details of schedule tbc
– Deadline for submissions probably February (as previously)
– GridPP to be considered alongside exploitation-phase projects
• STFC conducting review of implementation of CGs
– Reported to July Science Board meeting
– Meeting with NP and PP grant-holders will be called to discuss
findings  final decisions have not yet been taken
– Any impacts on current round will only be implemented following full
discussion with grant-holders.
5
Capital
• RCUK strongly constrained in terms of capital spending
• STFC made strong case to BIS for extra capital for FY15/16
 led directly to extra capital for PPAN programme
– Case made by Programmatic Review was critical
• Extra capital invaluable for short/medium term programme
– LHC experiment upgrades
– GridPP
– Particle Astrophysics (CTA, LUX-ZEPLIN)
• Longer term programme (2016-2021) depends on successful
outcome of BIS Capital Consultation
– Submissions from STFC and Science Board consistent with PR
priorities
– Community submissions from APs, universities, individuals etc.
– First indications of outcome in autumn with publication of
Science and Innovation strategy
– https://www.gov.uk/government/consultations/science-andresearch-proposals-for-long-term-capital-investment
6
Projects
• LHC Upgrades:
– Funding agreed for ATLAS+CMS Phase-1 upgrades
– LHCb + ATLAS/CMS Phase-2: Implementing recommendations of LHC
Tensioning Group
– Aim to maintain leadership roles in ATLAS, CMS and LHCb upgrades
– In common with international partners support very unlikely to be at the
level of the collaborations’ ambitions
– STFC continues to discuss with other funding agencies and CERN
• Long baseline neutrinos:
– STFC fully signed up to joint statement from funding agencies
http://www.interactions.org/cms/?pid=1033970
– Currently reviewing proposals for involvement in LBNE/F, T2HK, CHIPS.
• CTA and LUX-ZEPLIN:
– Planning on basis of participation in both CTA and LZ, subject to peer
review and affordability of recommendations
– Secured FY15/16 capital for CTA/LZ  critical for these projects
• ILC SoI considered at July Science Board meeting
7
Accelerator Strategy
• Accelerator Review is first in series of focused reviews of
cross-cutting fields recommended by Programmatic Review
– Aims to provide strategic overview of the field
– Consider breadth, scope, organisation and delivery of programme
– Institutes, universities and projects invited to submit detailed PRstyle proformas  many thanks to community for inputs
– Panel reports to SB in December
– ASB will develop a more detailed strategy and prioritised roadmap
based on findings together with strategic direction from SB
• Ongoing discussions with US and other international partners
in MICE following US P5 report
– US-led review of MICE taking place in August
8
Next Spending Round
• Current Spending Round covers period to end FY15/16
• Government planning for next Spending Round will probably
start this time next year
– Plan to use current PR to inform planning for next Spending Round,
updated to respond to developments in the field as appropriate.
– Advisory Panel input once again vital and much appreciated
– APs requested to provide yearly refresh of prioritisation documents
9