UK Science Minister at Odds with Stephen Hawking. (June 16, 2008)

Stephen Hawking

More than any individual Cambridge University's Lucasian Professor of Mathematics, Stephen Hawking is the face of British science to

Ian Pearson

 the world. In correspondence now released to the media Professor Hawking has accused the UK government of making “disastrous” cuts to research funding that threaten the country's international standing.

It's not often Professor Hawking goes public on matters of scientific policy, but The Times reports that the cuts to physics funding that followed the government’s merging of the Particle Physics and Astronomy Research Council and the Council for the Central Laboratory of the Research Councils, which funded most of Britain’s physics research into the Science and Technology Facilities Council (STFC) was a cut too far.

It is generally believed that mistakes in calculating the running costs of new laboratories by the STFC has resulted in an immediate shortfall of £80 (A$166) million which according to The Times "immediately threatened the jobs of 600 physicists and the closure of facilities such as the Jodrell Bank radio telescope. It could also force Britain to pull out of global projects such as the Gemini telescopes in Hawaii".

While Ian Pearson, the science minister, is due to publish a report this week, replying to a select committee that was highly critical of the government’s actions, there is also an independent inquiry taking place.

In his correspondence to the Minister Professor Hawking said: "This bookkeeping error has disastrous implications. There is a possibility that very severe cuts will be made in the grants awarded to UK research groups... These grants are the lifeblood of our research effort; cutting them will hurt young researchers and cause enormous damage both to British science and to our international reputation. They could well lead to several physics departments closing."

Brian Cox

Neil Turok, professor of mathematical physics at Cambridge but soon to leave Cambridge to become director of the Perimeter Institute in Ontario, Canada says: "Experiments at the cutting edge of physics are designed to test theories, so theory is essential to their interpretation,” said Turok. “What the government is doing by cutting theory is consigning the UK to funding but not benefiting from these big experiments. It really is a dumb policy.

Mr Pearson in writing to Professor Hawking denied the validity of most of the physicist's criticisms, suggested the creation of the STFC has been a success, and issued a public statement: "There was no deficit at the time of the merger; nor were there arithmetical errors. I can quite understand how those whose work is not funded may well question those who gave it a lower priority."

Brian Cox, professor of particle physics at Manchester University was blunt: The notion that scientists will make a more valuable contribution to the economic and social wellbeing of the world if their research is closely directed by politicians is the most astonishing piece of nonsense I have had the misfortune to come across in a long time.