On 11 December 2007, the Secretary of State for Innovation, Universities and
Skills, John Denham MP, invited Professor Ian Diamond to commission a review of
UK physics research under the chairmanship of Professor Bill Wakeham, Vice-Chancellor
of the University of Southampton.
The Panel considered actions that might be taken to ensure the continued health
of physics research and postgraduate training in the UK. It reported in October
2008 to the RCUK Executive Group, which made recommendations to the Minister. The
Review of UK Physics forms part of RCUK's continuing oversight of health of disciplines
and is the first in a series of such reviews.
The review Panel gathered information on the volume and nature of research being
undertaken by physics departments. A survey form was sent to heads of departments
in which a significant amount of physics research is undertaken. This was in addition
to data the Panel gained from the 2008 RAE submissions to Unit of Assessment 19
(RA3, RA4 and RA5a).
The RCUK Review of UK Physics is available
here.
Highlights of RCUK progress on recommendations from the Review of UK Physics
can be found
here.
The RCUK Response to the Review of UK Physics is available
here.
You can also listen to an interview with Professor Wakeham:
Alternatively, you can download it here.