Congratulations UK Science!
1 Nov 2011 by Evoluted New Media
Here in the UK we have always enjoyed a fine reputation for our science – “and rightly so” pipes up my supercilious inner scientist – yet many a reputation is based more on hearsay than direct evidence. As such it is hard not to take pride in a recent report suggesting that the UK research base is one of the most productive in the world.
Compiled by Elsevier, The International Comparative Performance of the UK Research Base 2011 report shows that UK research attracts more citations per pound spent in overall research and development than any other country. What fantastic news – if it was possible, and if it weren’t horribly patronising, I’d visit each and every one of you and deliver a well-deserved slap on the back.
Yet when news like this is published – as it was in this case – by the Government, I can’t help but think that they are planning to use it for political gains. Truth be told, suggesting that they wouldn’t do so would be akin to placing a ravenous dog in a room with some prime ribs and assuming he’d know better than to immediately tuck in. It is just too tempting, only a fool would expect anything else.
True to form David Willets launched the report with a speech stocked with superlatives directed at his own government as if it were they, and they alone, who were responsible for such a result. Perhaps before Mr Willets basks too heavily in the reflected glory of the country’s science base he should pay attention to the 2011 SET (Science, Engineering and Technology) Statistics. They show that among the G7 nations the UK spent 1.85% of its GDP on R&D and ranked 6th out of 7 – only above Italy, a country currently dancing with economic doom.
Allowing the Government to appropriate the successes gleaned from your hard work for their own political machinations is unjust – this should be about your pride and your morale not their rhetoric. Plus, wouldn’t it be nice just once to hear praise for success in science without some poorly hidden self-congratulation by government?
Rant aside – this is cause for celebration, not just for scientists in the UK, but for the nation as a whole. Well done!
