International Review of UK E-Science programme reports
Tuesday 09 February 2010
Synchrotron data.
Image courtesy of the Synchrotron Radiation Source (SRS), Daresbury Laboratory.
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RCUK undertook an international review of the UK e-Science programme in December 2009 which delivered its draft report to the community today. The report was positive about the programme's achievements concluding that "the UK is an international leader in a broad range of areas in e-Science."
During the UK e-Science All Hands Meeting in December an international review panel chaired by Professor Daniel Atkins of University of Michigan heard presentations from projects funded by the UK e-Science programme and visited the major local centres including the STFC Rutherford Appleton Laboratory.
The panel consisted of sixteen academics and industrialists, whose expertise spanned the remit of the e-Science programme. This review was organised by the EPSRC on behalf of all UK Research Councils and in conjunction with the learned societies to provide an independent assessment of the quality and impact of the UK programme which has funded over £200 million worth of research since 2001.
Across disciplines the panel concluded that "High Energy Physics and Astronomy are quite far advanced in embracing e-Science while other areas need more time."
The panel reinforced the need for the international infrastructure STFC e-Science supports through the EGEE and EGI - "Since scientific research is intrinsically global, place great emphasis on creating UK e-infrastructure that harmonises with the e-infrastructure in other countries."
The panel also concluded that "The academic digital libraries centres might be encouraged to assume some major responsibility for scientific data. Seek and promote international cooperation. In all of this, plan for continued exponential growth in scientific data." and in particular that the UK e-Science community should "work with international standards activities especially for interoperable data." Both of these conclusions support the role of STFC e-Science in managing data from large facilities.
Although the panel were positive about the results of programme they showed strong concern that future funding is required to sustain the UK's achievements - "It is the Panel’s judgement that if we considered the top-ranked e-Science Institutions around the world, the top would be dominated by the UK. However, unless there is a stable, long-term continuation of such targeted support, there is a danger that the current efforts will be diluted and eroded over the next 5 years."
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