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UK scientists dropped from EU projects because of post-Brexit funding fears

theguardian.com

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Re: UK scientists dropped from EU projects because of post-Brexit funding fears

#21

Post by ckinnan »

Fej wrote: post #3

It's always a tragedy when political maneuvering gets in the way of good science, and you know, advancing the human race.

The EU's retarding democracy and human progress; European growth is non-existent, the Euro is failing, and fiscal and banking mismanagement in Greece/Italy/Spain/Portugual are destroying German and British wealth. Britain has almost all of the world-class research universities in the European Union and they will thrive outside the EU.

Edit with sources:

EU real per capita GDP is flat after 10 years: http://ec.europa.eu/eurostat/tgm/table.do?tab=table&init=1&l...

Scope of direct bailouts (note some have been repaid): https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Template:Bailout_programs_for_...

Expanding role of the ECB in bailouts: http://www.bloomberg.com/quicktake/europes-qe-quandary

EFSM mechanism puts Eurozone member countries (not UK) on the hook: http://ec.europa.eu/economy_finance/eu_borrower/efsm/index_e...

Of the top 30 research universities 4 are British none are other EU. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Academic_Ranking_of_World_Univ...

Re: UK scientists dropped from EU projects because of post-Brexit funding fears

#23

Post by lhnz »

Is it really likely that Oxford, Cambridge and other Russell Group universities are no longer going to be allowed to do Science alongside European universities?

Is Theresa May and the conservative government against investing in Science?

It seems to me that most of this is is just knee-jerking, and it's likely that there are quite a few people who will work to ensure that things continue to work as they should.

Edit: That University Ranking chart posted earlier says it all really. The US and UK dominate the charts - you don't see EU universities until page two. This is just a few people cutting their noses off to spite their face.

Re: UK scientists dropped from EU projects because of post-Brexit funding fears

#24

Post by wangarific »

Fej wrote: post #3

It's always a tragedy when political maneuvering gets in the way of good science, and you know, advancing the human race.

We have enough trouble overcoming the challenges of nature, we don't really need people making it harder for us.

Re: UK scientists dropped from EU projects because of post-Brexit funding fears

#25

Post by codecurve »

I just finished an EU funded CompSci Masters degree in Wales, the poorest country in the UK and it's devastatingly sad to think that once the EU research funding stops, those opportunities will be gone forever for future students coming through the department.

There aren't enough large tech companies in the area for there to be any sponsored degrees available, which probably means that when the funding finishes, the research will start to dry up and the interesting researchers will leave with it. Take away the research and what's left is a department of third-rate lecturers. That's not an inspiring way to learn.

Will the NHS get some of the £350m? Maybe, maybe not. It's likely to be up for discussion. Will the post-Brexit government allot research funding for CS departments in North Wales? Not a chance.

Re: UK scientists dropped from EU projects because of post-Brexit funding fears

#26

Post by JohnStrange »

If there is one deal that can be negotiated successfully, then it's probably to continue existing science cooperation. Still, as a researcher myself, I'd also be wary about participating UK institutions in a Horizon2020 project right now, until more details have been negotiated and Article 50 has been triggered. Nobody knows for sure now what's going to happen, and the administrative burdens are already high enough as is.

Re: UK scientists dropped from EU projects because of post-Brexit funding fears

#27

Post by DavidSJ »

yAnonymous wrote: post #13
torrent-of-ions wrote: post #6

Again, this is exactly what was expected and we were told by the experts.

Did anyone doubt what experts said? I was under the impression that most voters knew about it and still wanted to go ahead with leaving the EU, because they felt their arguments weighted more heavily than economic concerns. It's possible that both sides are correct.

Yes, people doubted what experts said. Brexit, along with several other contemporary movements such as Trumpism, have been driven by a profound distrust of the establishment.

Re: UK scientists dropped from EU projects because of post-Brexit funding fears

#28

Post by PLenz »

lhnz wrote: post #23

Is it really likely that Oxford, Cambridge and other Russell Group universities are no longer going to be allowed to do Science alongside European universities? Is Theresa May and the conservative government against investing in Science? It seems to me that most of this is is just knee-jerking, and it's likely that there are quite a few people who will work to ensure that things continue to work as they should. Edit:…

They'll of course be allowed to do the research - the question is who is going to pay for it as much of the funding comes from the EU.

Re: UK scientists dropped from EU projects because of post-Brexit funding fears

#29

Post by JohnStrange »

dekhn wrote: post #15
jarito wrote: post #8

Earlier quoted context omitted.

It discusses this in the article. The challenge here is related to funding that is primary delivered by the EU structures. Now that the UK is leaving the EU, there is some concern that projects that contain UK representation, or are lead by UK researchers, will not be funded on time. This is due to the confusion around what Brexit will mean, how long it will take, how far it will go and what agreements the EU and UK…

Right, but while there is confusion and lack of clarity, it's not clear that immediately removing UK investigators is appropriate. Some amount of this is just petulance or telegraphing unhappiness, rather than rational decision making.

I don't think so. It's just about the uncertainty. In many frameworks you need partner institutions from three or more EU countries. If you can replace a UK institution from one form another country, you can get certainty back and potentially greatly simplify future administration. That unfortunately makes a lot of sense.

Re: UK scientists dropped from EU projects because of post-Brexit funding fears

#30

Post by vmateixeira »

ckinnan wrote: post #21
Fej wrote: post #3

It's always a tragedy when political maneuvering gets in the way of good science, and you know, advancing the human race.

The EU's retarding democracy and human progress; European growth is non-existent, the Euro is failing, and fiscal and banking mismanagement in Greece/Italy/Spain/Portugual are destroying German and British wealth. Britain has almost all of the world-class research universities in the European Union and they will thrive outside the EU. Edit with sources: EU real per capita GDP is flat after 10 years: http://ec.europa.…

"...fiscal and banking mismanagement in Greece/Italy/Spain/Portugual are destroying German and British wealth"

Source?

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