Engineering, physical sciences and mathematics have been identified as areas where shortages pose a “significant risk to the UK research base and economic productivity” in a report by the UK’s Research Councils.
According to The Health of Disciplines: Annual Report 2006, there are a number of persistent problems, which the Research Councils are working to address.
Problems include student numbers in these areas not keeping up with the growth in other disciplines and declining numbers of academic staff in engineering/technology, mathematical sciences and physics.
According to Professor Ian Diamond, chair of the Research Councils UK there are problems with recruitment. “Shortages of talented researchers in key areas present a serious drag on the competitiveness of the UK research base,” said Diamond.
“For example the Diamond Light Source, a £500m project in Oxfordshire, has faced major problems in recruiting skilled engineers. This situation must be addressed.”