Archive

The following publications have been archived by RCUK and are provided for reference purposes only. They are no longer up to date and many have been replaced by contemporary versions.

Policy and strategy

• Large Facilities Roadmap 2008 - Jun 2008
  The 2008 Roadmap provides UK policy makers and researchers with a comprehensive picture of the new facilities which are already under construction in the UK or internationally, and provides details of potential large facility and infrastructure projects that UK researchers would like to see available over the next 10-15 years.

• The European Charter for Researchers and Code of Conduct for the Recruitment of Researchers - Jan 2008
  This report supports the European Commission’s recognition that adopting the Charter and Code is a commitment to a continuous process by building on existing structures and mechanisms.

• Research Careers and Diversity Strategy - Jan 2007
  The Research Councils published a joint Research Careers and Diversity strategy in January 2007 which takes forward our ambitions in this area.

• The UK Research Councils: 20 years in Europe - Nov 2004
  This publication is to mark the 20th anniversary of the UK Research Councils in Brussels. It gives a brief flavour of the work of the Research Councils and the work UKRO undertakes on behalf of them.

• Vision for Research - Dec 2003
  This publication articulates what the Councils collectively see over the next 10-20 years as the grand challenges for UK research and the benefits that will come from them.

• Synthesis of Strategies - Nov 2003
  This publication gives both a simple overview of individual Research Council strategies and research portfolios as well as identifying areas of common interest.

Reports

• STFC Organisational Review - Dec 2008
  The organisational review of the Science and Technology Facilities Council (STFC) was announced by STFC in June 2008.

• Independent study into open access - Oct 2008
  An independent study into open access, which was conducted by SQW Consulting and LISU, Loughborough University.

• Public Attitudes to Science 2008 - Mar 2008
  Public Attitudes to Science 2008 is a national survey commissioned by the Research Councils UK (RCUK) and the Department for Business, Innovation and Skills (BIS). It is the third survey in a series.

• Study on the economic impact of the Research Councils - Sep 2007
  This report sets out the findings of PA Consulting Group/SQW Consulting on the economic impact of the Research Councils.

• Knowledge Transfer Categorisation and Harmonisation Project - Sep 2007
  In response to a number of government recommendations RCUK undertook a project to look simplify the presentation of information of the Research Council Schemes and look at opportunities to rationalise or harmonise KT Schemes.

• Research Councils UK annual review - Jun 2007
  The RCUK Annual Review provides an insight into the increase in the joint activities of the Research Councils since RCUK was formed in 2002, from collaborative multidisciplinary research programmes, training and science in society to greater harmonisation to increase collective efficiency and effectiveness.

• Excellence with Impact - Oct 2007
  This report documents progress in implementing the recommendations of the Warry report and next steps in increasing the economic impact of the Research Councils.

• RCUK Review of Physics - Oct 2007
  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

• Researchers: What is the situation? Annual Report 2006/2007 - Jul 2007
  The Annual Report to the UK Research Base Funders’ Forum: Researchers: What is the situation? provides an overview of the current situation regarding research staff in the UK.

• Health of Disciplines: Previous Annual Report - Mar 2007
  The UK is regarded as one of the best places in the world to undertake research. This reputation is based on the international standing of our universities, laboratories and facilities and on the world class reputation of our scientists, academics and support staff.

• Increasing the Economic Impact of the Research Councils - Jan 2007
  This document sets out an action plan to demonstrate and increase the economic impact of the UK Research Councils as recommended in the report of a group chaired by Peter Warry in 2006.

• Academic Fellowships scheme Report - Jul 2006
  This report provides a breakdown of the Academic Fellowships scheme by discipline, region and the background of fellows.

• RCUK Efficiency and Value for Money of Peer Review Project - Jun 2006
  Peer review contributes to the success the UK has had in developing a world class research base. It is fundamental to the work of the Research Councils and they are fully committed to its use as the principal mechanism for allocating research funds.

• Impacts of the Roberts Review - Apr 2006
  The Research Councils funded a study to assess the initial impact of enhanced salaries and stipends on the recruitment and retention of postgraduate and postdoctoral researchers in key shortage areas.

• Adding Value: how the Research Councils benefit the economy - Apr 2006
  This document details ways in which the Research Councils benefit the economy.

• The Warry Report - Feb 2006
  The Report celebrates the Research Councils' achievements and makes clear that they are starting from a position of strength.

• Parliamentary scrutiny 2005 - Feb 2005
  As publicly-funded bodies, the Research Councils are held accountable to Parliament for their investments in research. In 2005 RCUK was scrutinised by the House of Commons Science and Technology Select Committee as part of their rolling programme of scrutiny of the Research Councils.

• Ensuring UK research works successfully in the global context - Jul 2004
  This document demonstrates, by way of examples, how the Research Councils are pursuing opportunities for international partnership.

• Material World: Knowledge Economy - May 2004
  This document demonstrates to the business community ways in which research funded by the Councils has benefited the UK economy in private, public and policy arenas.

• Science Delivers - Nov 2002
  From beetles that have helped develop more efficient ways of collecting water in hostile environments to algae whose ability to screen out ultraviolet light holds lessons for makers of sun block, this publication shows how research has delivered.

• Dialogue with the Public: Practical guidelines - Aug 2002
  This guide covers the issues that any activity organiser might expect to encounter. Each chapter follows a similar format with a brief discussion followed by some guidelines on issues to think about, some examples and an organiser’s checklist.

• Quinquennial Review (QQR) - Apr 2001
  The Quinquennial Review of the Grant Awarding Research Councils was published in two stages, you can download these as well as the implementation plan from this page.

Researcher Resources

• Dialogue with the Public: Practical guidelines - Aug 2002
  This guide is intended primarily for those relatively new to communicating science or who are making the first steps to move from a monologue approach to a dialogue style.