UK’s lead in physics healthy but insecure
22 Apr 2014 02:44 PM
The quantity and quality of
scientific papers produced by UK physicists indicates that the UK remains in an
elite group of nations contributing at the leading edge of physics
research.
New research published today,
Tuesday 22 April, shows that, when the quality of the UK’s scientific
output is compared with that of its leading international competitor nations,
the UK’s lead in physics comes despite a lack of investment relative to
other scientific disciplines, such as the life sciences.
While the UK’s physics
base is still punching above its weight, The UK’s performance in physics
research: National and international perspectives also records the forceful
growth of physics in emerging scientific nations such as China and
India.
The new report, published by the
Institute of Physics (IOP) and the UK’s two leading funders of physics
research, the Engineering and Physical Sciences Research Council (EPSRC) and
the Science and Technology Facilities Council (STFC), uses publication and
citation statistics, as well as case studies of research clusters like
astrophysics and space science, to evaluate the UK’s position in physics
between 2002 and 2011.
Dr Frances Saunders, President
of the Institute of Physics (IOP), said, “Alongside nations like the US,
Canada, France, Germany, the Netherlands and Switzerland, the UK remains world
leading in physics.
“The physics research
being undertaken in the UK is having an impact on some of the most important
challenges we face, from management of big data to the production of advanced
materials.
“However, we are seeing
dramatic growth of physics bases in nations such as China and India. This
growth should serve as a warning: The lead is ours to lose without
internationally-competitive levels of investment.”
On quantity of papers alone, the
new report shows that China overtook the US in 2010 with the highest number of
authors on physics papers.
The UK has now been overtaken by
the Republic of Korea for the volume of papers published and the new report
notes that “the UK is likely to rank eighth in the near
future.”
The UK’s world share of
physics papers is down from 5.1% in 2002 to 4.0% in 2012.
Among the other world leading
nations, it is the quality of the research being undertaken that gives the UK
its overall strength; in 2009, using the average of relative citations, the UK
ranked first for scientific impact.
While it has been suggested that
in emerging scientific nations such as India and China the quantity of papers
has increased without a corresponding growth in quality, this report shows that
both nations are seeing increases in quality alongside significant growth in
their world share of papers.
The report also looks at rates
of international collaboration – recording that two out of three UK
papers in physics have at least one author with a non-UK address –
demonstrating how internationally collaborative UK physics has become, with our
top three collaborating nations being the US, Germany and
France.
EPSRC Chief Executive Professor
Phil Nelson said, “The benefits of physics research and PhD training can
be seen across all sectors of the economy and society – creating new
industries, providing technological innovation, and advancing healthcare.
Physics-based UK manufacturing contributes £20bn to the economy and by
working together we hope to ensure the UK’s physics research base remains
strong and competitive.”
The report is available to
download in a Summary or Full version below:
ENDS
Notes to
Editors
- Contact
For a copy of the report, interview opportunities or further
information, please contact IOP’s Head of Media, Joe Winters
Tel: 020 7470 4815
Mob: 07946 321473
E-mail: joseph.winters@iop.org
- The Institute of
Physics
The Institute of Physics is a leading scientific society. We are a
charitable organisation with a worldwide membership of more than 50,000,
working together to advance physics education, research and application.
We engage with policymakers and the general public to develop awareness
and understanding of the value of physics and, through IOP Publishing, we are
world leaders in professional scientific communications. In September 2013, we
launched our first fundraising campaign.
Our campaign, Opportunity Physics,
offers you the chance to support the work that we do.
Visit us at www.iop.org, follow us
@physicsnews
- THE ENGINEERING AND
PHYSICAL SCIENCES RESEARCH COUNCIL (EPSRC)
EPSRC is the UK’s main agency for funding research in engineering
and the physical sciences. EPSRC invests around £800 million a year in
research and postgraduate training, to help the nation handle the next
generation of technological change. The areas covered range from information
technology to structural engineering, and mathematics to materials science.
This research forms the basis for future economic development in the UK and
improvements for everyone’s health, lifestyle and culture. EPSRC works
alongside other Research Councils with responsibility for other areas of
research. The Research Councils work collectively on issues of common concern
via Research Councils UK.