dear Forumers,
Hardly as a Christmas present, I wanted to share this missive below with
yourselves from a post-graduate engineering student at Southampton, who will
remain for this purpose, anonymous. The press release below that, of course,
is in the public domain.
Crisis Forum was created in part because its founders saw a crisis within
the university environment : more exactly a failure on the part of those
who lead its apparatus to 'imagine' how academic institutions might
function as a force for practical 'good' and indeed 'wisdom' in the face of
the wider 'anthropogenic' crisis very much before us. The below is
indicative to my mind of how and why UK universities plc will continue to
head down the wrong road, indeed towards the proverbial cul-de-sac. Perhaps
the information on Southampton writ-small might act, too, as a goad to the
discussions many of us I hope will be having on the university scene
writ-large at the university transition conference on 5-6 February : part
organised by ourselves at Crisis Forum
http://www.crisis-forum.org.uk/events/transition2011/transitionhome.php
a gentle Christmas to you all,
mark
----------
Subject: FW: Press Release
Hi Mark,
I received this email today and it gave me the impetus to contact you.
Perhaps you know about these plans already (see forwarded email below), but
I thought it'd be best to forward it on, and I'm sad to do so because it is
more evidence to suggest that the University is a slave to industry (and
worse, proud of it); and also perhaps that the Transition movement has more
to stand up to than expected. (I'm with you completely that universities
should be leading the example to the rest of the country rather than
pandering to industry's short-sighted whims.)
Based on what I've been learning about the mechanisms of funding in my
department, this decision doesn't really surprise me (which on reflection is
sad. It does make me wish it was different, but again, if things are to be
done, the money for it has to come from somewhere, and perhaps this 'centre
for excellence' may bring together just the right people for something
interesting to happen...). What I'm saying is that in my lab, work is
conducted on a contract basis; we get some money to carry out a specific
piece of work. Whether that money comes from EPSRC or a company is
irrelevant, and the work title more often than not originates with the
funding body rather than from our researchers' minds (although some work on
independent projects happens in between contracts, I think this is seen as a
bit maverick) . This whole problem appears to me to be a lack of
responsibility of commanding the questions that are getting worked on. There
is some freedom to write your own funding applications and control which
contracts get done, but those decisions are based not on 'the usefulness of
the output' (beneficial to society) so much as which funding body gives the
biggest grant, or which project may open more avenues for future work etc
(beneficial to self, or to lab). While I think the researchers themselves
are definitely those best placed to decide which research gets carried out,
I think there is a flaw in their thinking when considering what to do, and
that this stems from narrow education (most people in my lab have only
studied science and maths since age 16).
Mmm. Maybe I'm being a bit harsh, and this probably doesn't interest you at
all! Back to the point, where do you think then, the responsibility for
deciding which work gets carried out should lie? Because when left to market
forces (as it is now) there is a lot of wasted time, effort, resources.
(Perhaps I'll get a job in the EPSRC when I finish this EngD...) I reckon
this is where humanities steps in. The clear sight in the fog (or snow!)!
W
________________________________________
From: Holmes J.
Sent: 20 December 2010 12:40
To: PGR-All
Subject: FW: Press Release
Dear All,
You may be aware that the University has been in negotiation for some time
now with Lloyds Register concerning an exciting new development on the
Boldrewood site. The medium term vision is for an engineering centre of
excellence that will redefine engineering education, research and industry
engagement for the 21st century. The first phase of this will be the
maritime centre of excellence and the relocation to Boldrewood of certain
other of our activities, which align with Lloydsı interests. In due course
we aim to relocate a wider range of activities to Boldrewood, and attract
further industry investment.
The University press release, which focuses on the first stage, is at the
end of this email.
We are planning to organize a number of Faculty open meetings in the new
year, at which we will present the thinking so far and invite comment and
input from the faculty as a whole.
Yours sincerely,
William Powrie
PRESS RELEASE FROM THE UNIVERSITY OF SOUTHAMPTON
Ref: 10/133 16 December
2010
New Southampton research hub redefines business and university relationships
in the UK
World-leading expertise from the University of Southampton and Lloydıs
Register is being brought together in the largest research collaboration of
its kind in the UK.
The alliance, announced today (Thursday 16 December 2010), will redefine the
relationship between academia and business.
Drawing together the engineering excellence of both organisations in a new
research hub in Southampton, the collaboration will focus on innovations in
transport, energy and the environment. Academics and industry experts will
combine forces throughout the entire process of identifying and researching
challenges faced by businesses and communities worldwide to more effectively
deliver solutions.
Hundreds of staff and students from the University and engineering and
technical staff from Lloydıs Register will work together at a new technology
and education campus.
Work will commence in the New Year on the state-of-the-art University of
Southampton Centre of Excellence, which has an initial investment of £116
million. The campus will include the Lloydıs Register Group Technology
Centre, the cornerstone of the organisationıs global research and
development network.
"This marks the beginning of a groundbreaking collaboration between the
University of Southampton and one of the world's leading knowledge-based
organisations," comments Professor Don Nutbeam, Vice-Chancellor of the
University of Southampton.
"By locating the cornerstone of Lloyd's Register global research and
development network alongside the University's internationally renowned
engineering scientists, we will establish a research and innovation hub that
is unique in scale and ambition for the UK. Building on our 40-year history
of collaboration in ship science, marine and energy-related projects, we
will extend our cooperation to create new technologies that address some of
societyıs most pressing problems, as well as providing our students with
unique opportunities to interact with real-time development projects and
connect directly with potential future employers.²
Richard Sadler, Chief Executive of Lloydıs Register, adds: "Today is an
exciting and historic day for Lloyd's Register and our colleagues at the
University of Southampton. We have been brought together by the mutual
belief that sustainable industries will be increasingly driven by the need
for new technology and expertise to meet the demands of society and emerging
regulation.
"The agreement combines the best of academia and business to simultaneously
support industry and society by promoting vital research into subjects such
as cleaner fuels, safer work environments and more dependable
infrastructure."
The University has received funding from the Higher Education Funding
Council for England and the South of England Economic Development Agency to
enable the new Centre of Excellence to take shape.
At the heart of the Centre there will also be a Maritime Institute, drawing
on the Universityıs wide range of expertise in maritime engineering, ocean
science, law and business and strengthening links with the existing, highly
varied range of marine businesses on the south coast.
The Institute will aim to stimulate innovation, create new businesses and
establish the city of Southampton and the wider south Hampshire region as a
magnet for inward investment in the marine sector in the UK.
Councillor Royston Smith, Leader of Southampton City Council, comments:
³This demonstrates that Southampton continues to attract investment from
leading global companies, despite the current financial climate. I am
certain this is just the beginning for the Universityıs Centre of
Excellence, which will create even further investment in the city.²
Professor Nutbeam adds: ³This is great news for the University and for
Lloydıs Register. Itıs also excellent news for the city, the region and for
UK plc. Research and innovation are key drivers for building a strong
knowledge economy, and we know that governments around the world are looking
to collaborations such as ours to help secure a strong economic future."
The first phase of the development at the Universityıs former Boldrewood
campus is scheduled for completion in 2014.
Ends
Notes for editors:
1. University of Southampton
The University of Southampton is a leading UK teaching and research
institution with a global reputation for leading-edge research and
scholarship across a wide range of subjects in engineering, science, social
sciences, health and humanities.
With over 22,000 students, around 5000 staff, and an annual turnover well in
excess of £400 million, the University of Southampton is acknowledged as one
of the country's top institutions for engineering, computer science and
medicine. We combine academic excellence with an innovative and
entrepreneurial approach to research, supporting a culture that engages and
challenges students and staff in their pursuit of learning.
The University is also home to a number of world-leading research centres
including the Institute of Sound and Vibration Research, the Optoelectronics
Research Centre, the Web Science Research Initiative, the Centre for the
Developmental Origins of Health and Disease, the Southampton Statistical
Sciences Research Institute and is a partner of the National Oceanography
Centre at the Southampton waterfront campus.
www.soton.ac.uk<http://www.soton.ac.uk>
<file://www.soton.ac.uk<file:///\\www.soton.ac.uk>>
2. Lloyd's Register
The Lloydıs Register Group provides independent assurance to companies
operating high-risk, capital-intensive assets in the energy and
transportation sectors. We enhance the safety of life, property and the
environment by helping our clients to ensure the quality construction and
operation of critical infrastructure. The Group comprises charities and
non-charitable entities, with the latter supporting the charities in their
main goal. www.lr.org<http://www.lr.org> <http://www.lr.org>
For further information contact:
Sophie Docker, Media Relations Officer, Univeristy of Southampton Tel: 023
8059 8933 email: [log in to unmask] <mailto:[log in to unmask]>
Kathryn Cecil, Senior Media Relations Officer, University of Southampton
Tel: 023 8059 2128 email: [log in to unmask]
<mailto:[log in to unmask]>
<<New Centre of Excellence Campus-press release.jpg>>
Sophie Docker
Media Relations Officer
Communications and Marketing
University of Southampton
[log in to unmask]
023 8059 8933
http://www.soton.ac.uk/mediacentre <http://www.soton.ac.uk/mediacentre>
Follow us on twitter: http://twitter.com/southamptonnews
<http://twitter.com/southamptonnews>
Steve Alexander
PA to William Powrie
Faculty of Engineering and the Environment
University of Southampton
Highfield Campus
Southampton
Hampshire
Telephone 02380 594652
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