Author Archives: Jon Butterworth

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About Jon Butterworth

UCL Physics prof, works on LHC, writes (books, Cosmic Shambles and elsewhere). Citizen of England, UK, Europe & Nowhere, apparently.

Stay broad in science, but focus the exploitation.

Posted on 15/02/2010 by Jon Butterworth

I have another piece in the New Scientists S-Word blog today, discussing Lord Drayson’s recent speech on science and economic return. My comments are intended constructively from the point of view of a committed scientist who believes that science is … Continue reading →

Posted in Politics, Science Policy | Tagged , | 3 Comments

What should have happened

Posted on 06/02/2010 by Jon Butterworth

Somewhere in HM Treasury or thereabouts, 2007. (Thanks to the Batman Comic generator)

Posted in Politics, Science Policy | Tagged , | 3 Comments

The STFC: what went wrong

Posted on 04/02/2010 by Jon Butterworth

There has been a great deal of speculation about how a major research funding body – the Science and Technology Funding Council – has lurched from one financial crisis to another. Yesterday in the evidence session of the Science and … Continue reading →

Posted in Politics, Science Policy | Tagged , , | 3 Comments

Strategy and Responsiveness in Science

Posted on 19/01/2010 by Jon Butterworth

One strand in the disastrous history of the Science and Technology Facilities council (STFC) is a tension between “top-down” and “bottom-up” research funding. The science minister and the chair of STFC are currently reviewing the structures; this tension is something … Continue reading →

Posted in Politics, Science, Science Policy | Tagged | 6 Comments