Six Physics Departments in South-Eastern England Have Developed Linkages to Avoid Closure. (April 8, 2008)

The closure of university science departments through the UK, which included Reading University's physics department in 2006 leading to the demand by the Institute of Physics that the trend must be reversed seems to have had some effect.

In today's Guardian Anthea Lipsett reports: "'[Reading] was the final straw as far as Hefce [Higher Education Funding Council for England] was concerned,' says Professor Malcolm Coe, head of physics at Southampton University. 'There had been a steady flow of 10 or 12 departments closing down. It was time to try to stabilise the situation and figure out what the problem was and how to address it.'"

One tangible result has been the formation of The South East Physics Network, Sepnet, linking Kent, Queen Mary, Royal Holloway, Southampton, Surrey and Sussex.

With a combined academic staff of 150 and estimated funding of £27.8m (A$59.7m) over the next seven years Sepnet hopes to become competitive with the UK's largest physics departments.

Professor David Eastwood, chief executive of Hefce, believes regional collaborations like Sepnet are the best way for departments to avoid  departmental closures.

"By working in collaboration they can raise the quality of teaching and research, building on the strengths of the individual departments, and broaden the contribution of physics both through research and the development of highly skilled students," he told The Guardian.

A similar coalition of Birmingham, Nottingham and Warwick universities' physics departments - the Midlands Physics Alliance -- already is backed by Hefce, and Scottish physics departments created the Scottish Universities Physics Alliance in 2003.

Royal Holloway's Professor Philip Beesley says: "There's a demonstrable need for well-qualified physicists in the region. The position is beginning to turn, possibly, but it's difficult to tell whether that's a trend," and he adds that while there is no question of the various departments merging, Sepnet will mean that none of them "will have to shut down".

Hefce's Professor Coe says simply: "It would be disastrous if, say, Kent were to close down. There would be no physics east of London. It's all about keeping us all going. We don't want to create any physics deserts."