Lord Mandelson is insisting science and education won't suffer under the Department for Business, rubbishing the idea that business-led investment and curiosity-led research are exclusive options.
Zoe Corbyn speaks to Mandelson for Times Higher Education:
Told by Times Higher Education that universities had reacted with "horror" to news that the business department would take over responsibility for higher education policy, Lord Mandelson claimed that this was "absolutely untrue".
"I spoke yesterday to [Universities UK president] Rick Trainor who expressed no horror whatsoever," he said. "And I have received three messages from high-placed friends in different universities and they are delighted that universities should be at the heart of government and they look to me to be a powerful advocate of their interests and needs and that is exactly what I am going to be."
Meanwhile, Mark Henderson at the Times picks the Secretary of State's brains on science funding:
Lord Mandelson said he wanted to allay suspicions that fundamental science was being downgraded, but made it clear that applied research would become more of a priority.
He said: "In Paul Drayson and myself you have two people who are qualified by their interest and commitment to maintaining the support and standards of scientific research, and I don't mean only applied research, which will obviously receive greater emphasis, but fundamental science as well.
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Yeah, but does anybody actually believe a word Mandy says?
Dunc: Of course not.
And what, exactly, does "qualified by their interest and commitment" mean? Sounds like something a trainspotter would say in defence of their hobby. That's no where near the sort of commitment I want from the government to promote and fund science-driven, independent, fundamental research.
"qualified by their interest and commitment"
This sounds like the sort of thing those spam emails offering you Genuine(TM) degrees from prestigious non-accredited universities (?!) say.
No need for all that tiresome learning, coursework, exams and papers, just fill in your bank details for immediate qualification based on your interest and life comittment!
"qualified by their interest and commitment"
Sounds like the kind of qualification a chiroquack or homeopath would get. Does he really think that's going to cut it with people interested in science?
Why am I reminded of a book I was reading earlier today. Written in about 1985-87, by someone who was returning to the UK after 4 years in the USA, he found that British universities were in the middle of a massive funding crisis and brain drain, whereby the gvt didn't want to fund research and industry didn't either because they weren't going to get any tax breaks for it.
I was under the distinct impression that applied research had been a priority since before I was at uni a mere 10 years ago. In fact just about every PhD I've looked at this month involves applications, or improvements of existing stuff, and bugger all in the way of original research.