The
BGS and many other geological surveys are in the process of "upping their
game" as scientific research institutes. BGS intends to be the
"preeminent research active geological survey" and announced this as
part of a study in developing its business planning going forwards. We
anticipate that public based funding in the UK and elsewhere, is probably
becoming tighter and we will need to diversify our science funding base. The key
will be to maintain excellence in a competitive research market and minimise
drift towards science consultancy.
Paramount
in doing this is to have excellent scientists and to be a good place to work.
Three news stories from the BGS underline this:
Dr Andy Chadwick a world renowned expert in Carbon Capture and Storage (CCS) was
recognised by the NERC individual merit promotion panel. These posts are highly
competitive and Andy will develop a far reaching programme in modelling CCS and
storage volumes in the UK and globally which will help underpin a zero carbon
emissions future for fossil fuels.
Dr Mathew Hall who works at the University of Nottingham and BGS and directs our
joint centre for CCS, the Nottingham Centre for Carbon Capture and Storage, was awarded a Royal Academy of Engineering Senior Research Fellowship.
This award will allow him, to devote himself to researching several of our priority areas, such as CCS, shale gas, gas hydrates and energy storage.
BGS
was one of the six UK publicly funded research institutes that received an
award from the Athena SWAN programme which acknowledges our efforts for
promoting good employment practices for women in science. Well done to all involved.
