Engineering and Physical Sciences Research Council

1. Mathematical Sciences Programme HoDoMS 30th March 2004 Engineering and Physical Sciences Research Council

2. Key developments • Current priorities • Planning for the future

3. Key developments • Increases to research grant budget

4. Research Grant Commitment

5. How have these increases been used? Increases to responsive mode budget

6. How have these increases been used? • Flagship managed activities • Environmental Mathematics and Statistics (with NERC) • Quantitative Finance • Novel Computation • Centres of Multidisciplinary Critical Mass in Mathematics

7. Centres of Multidisciplinary Critical Mass • Aim: to create critical masses of interdisciplinary research collaborations that can make significant international impact • Major projects • Engages with activities in other disciplines • Current centres at • Bristol: Applied non-linear mathematics • Warwick: Mathematical architecture of biological regulation • Bath: Complex systems

8. Key developments • Increases to research grant budget • Doctoral training accounts

9. Introduction of DTA • Benefits: • Stability of doctoral training income • Earlier decision • Flexibility of resource • Allocations based on • 85% of previous DTA from Mathematical Sciences Programme PLUS • Allocation of top sliced funds by peer review PLUS • Additional funds from other programmes via algorithm

10. Key developments • Increases to research grant budget • Introduction of doctoral training accounts • Strategic Advisory Team

11. Mathematics Strategic Advisory Team (SAT) • Role: • Formalise and strengthen engagement with research community; • Provide ideas and input for developing the Mathematical Sciences Programme; • Identify and develop scientific opportunities; • Work in partnership with EPSRC to promote E and PS. • Achievements: • Research Priorities and Opportunities science vision for EPSRC • SR2004 bids • Programme Business Plans

12. Mathematical Sciences Strategic Advisory Team (SAT) • Members: • John O’Reilly • Martin Bridson (Imperial) • Gareth Roberts (Lancaster) • Helen Byrne (Nottingham) • David Calderbank (Edinburgh) • Roger Forder (DSTL) • John Greenlees (Sheffield) • Valerie Isham (UCL) • Cliff Cocks (GCHQ) • Nigel Weatherill (Swansea) • Andy Wright (BAe Systems) • Hilary Ockendon (Oxford)

13. Current priorities • Support world class research • Develop talented scientists and engineers • Support the knowledge economy • Public engagement • Effective and efficient operations

14. Current priorities • Fundamental science foundation • Mathematical foundation • Computational foundation • Engineering research foundation • Quantum realm • Nano world • Miniature machines • Human-centred systems • Working for wealth • Engineering and science for sustainability

15. Hot off the press… • Contract researchers will be able to be Co-investigators on EPSRC research grants (after April 04) • Can apply for 4 year project studentship on research grants- need to justify need for 4th year • For new proposals- Roberts funding for PDRA salaries above pt 6 for areas of recruitment/retention difficulties- need to justify • Changes to DTA terms and conditions to enable MRes for October 2004

16. 10 Year Framework for Science • “a valuable opportunity to address any weaknesses in the science and engineering base and to ensure the optimum distribution between different disciplines” • views to be submitted by 30 April 2004. www.hm-treasury.gov.uk

17. Programme Aims • Strong “core” reaching out - To other disciplines; - To users, e.g. in business, industry; - To the public and opinion formers

18. Issues • Continue to improving connections • Demographics • Uptake of flexibility in research grants and DTAs

19. Issues • Still need to continue to improve connections with users and other disciplines • Demographics of some subdisciplines • Encouraging the uptake of flexibility in research grants and DTAs Public engagement

20. Public Engagement Workshop • 21st-22nd June • Inspire enthusiastic researchers • Build cohort of researchers with PE interests • Identify suitable topics • Resources in 04-05 for public engagement • Also PE programme activities, PCTF, PPA awards, senior media fellowships, researchers in residence…..

21. Issues • Still need to continue to improve connections with users and other disciplines • Demographics of some subdisciplines • Encouraging the uptake of flexibility in research grants and DTAs More attention to public engagement Daring/risky/mould breaking research

22. Springboard Fellowships Exploratory look at high impact novel problems- Short term (up to 12 months) Open to all £500k in 04-05- pilot Call May 04 Early sift to remove proposals not meeting criteria of call There will be “honourable failures” a springboard to take the fellow’s career in a new direction

23. Issues • Still need to continue to improve connections with users and other disciplines • Demographics of some subdisciplines • Encouraging the uptake of flexibility in research grants and DTAs More attention to public engagement Daring/risky/mould breaking research International Reviews of Maths and OR

24. International Review of Mathematics Terms of Reference To assess the standing and potential of mathematics research in UK universities and comparable institutions, in comparison with international work in the field. The Review should look at the width and quality of all aspects of research in mathematics and its applications, encompassing all of pure and applied mathematics, and statistics.

25. International Review of Mathematics Steering Group Martin Taylor (Chair) Nigel Hitchin, London Mathematical Society Tim Pedley, Institute of Mathematics and its Applications Bernard Silverman, Royal Statistical Society John O’Reilly, Engineering and Physical Sciences Research Council Observers: Annette Bramley (EPSRC) Peter Cooper (Council for the Mathematical Sciences, LMS Secretariat) Scientific Secretary: Stephen Huggett (University of Plymouth)

26. The International Panel Jean-Pierre Bourguignon, IHES, France (Chairman) Michel Broué,Institut Henri Poincaré, France Stephen Davis, Northwestern University, USA Don Dawson, Carleton University, Canada Robbert Dijkgraaf, University of Amsterdam, Netherlands Ron Graham, University of California, USA John Guckenheimer, Cornell University, USA Peter Hall, Australian National University Susan Murphy, University of Michigan, USA Hans Othmer, University of Minnesota, USA Peter Sarnak, Princeton, USA Margaret Wright, New York University, USA Niels Keiding, University of Copenhagen, Denmark.

27. The Review Process • Background data on funding, people and institutions • ‘Landscape’ documents on various areas of mathematics and statistics • Panel visit from Monday 1 December to Saturday 6 December 2003 • Regional meetings with panel members at eight venues across the UK: Bristol, Cambridge, Durham, Edinburgh, London, Manchester, Oxford, Warwick • Briefings during the week on the wider aspects of UK mathematics and statistics research

28. Findings and Recommendations (1) 1. The central role of the mathematical sciences in advanced modern societies and the need for mathematical research and mathematicians for industry and in academia. 2. The UK is a world leader in a number of areas of pure maths, applied maths and statistics; excellent in others. 3. Mathematical research is people intensive. Concerns: • The length of the Ph.D. • Recruitment and retention • Age distribution of some disciplines is unbalanced • Concentration of advanced training in a small number of highly competitive universities. 4. Need to advance the core of mathematics, while developing linkages within mathematics, between mathematics and other disciplines, and between mathematics and industry.

29. Findings and Recommendations (2) 5. Strengths: • The UK’s rich tradition and talented people, • Strong linkages to applications • Excellent international connections. 6. Concerns: • The leadership for the future in statistics and some other areas • Reliance on a small number of key individuals • The interface with computer science • Research career paths 7. Impediments: • Workload of the RAE and quality assurance audits • Unintended consequences of the RAE on risky research, diversity and the cohesiveness of the research community

30. Following the Review • Publication: end of March • Sessions at: • HoDoMS • BMC • BAMC • Community Meeting: 4 May at University College London • Discussion and development of actions and plans by funding bodies, mathematical societies and the maths community • Comments and input to irm@lms.ac.uk www.cms.ac.uk/irm

31. Business Plan Development EPSRC sector work Learned Societies International Review and Review of OR Government Organisations Programme Manager SAT Strategic Advisory Team Business Plan Professional Organisations University, College and Regional Meetings Special Workshops Theme days Portfolio analysis Taking it forward

32. Looking forward • Budget depends on: • Spending Review – Government • RCUK • TOP/UP/Council • EPSRC needs: • your ideas on opportunities in research and training in the Mathematical Sciences • Your “good news” stories

33. What can we achieve together? • Effective two-way dialogue • Vibrant, dynamic programme; • Support world class research in the mathematical sciences. Together we can achieve more!