Doubts over UK research head
Parliamentary committee questions MRC chair's leadership
Written byStephen Pincock
| 2 min read
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Later, when discussing the process of appointing consulting firm Ernst & Young to help with a review of the MRC's activities, he could not explain some details, such as how MRC staff and other stakeholders were consulted. The committee listed other areas where they considered his responses inadequate. "His explanation for the policy decision to increase contingency funding was unsatisfactory and he lacked the necessary knowledge to discuss the MRC's relationship with the other Research Councils," they said.Such a personal attack is an unusual move for the committee, said Peter Cotgreave from the Campaign for Science and Engineering. "One has to take it seriously," he told The Scientist. "They don't say that kind of thing gratuitously."Cotgreave said he didn't have anything against Chisholm, but acknowledged that the MRC is at a critical juncture. "It is going to be important that whoever is leading the MRC is completely on top of all the issues," he said.A spokeswoman for the MRC said the council would not be commenting immediately. "The government will make a response to the report and we will feed into that response," she said.Stephen Pincock mail@the-scientist.comLinks within this article:P. Hagan, "MRC unveils changes at the top," The Scientist May 11, 2007. http://www.the-scientist.com/news/display/53189/Select Committee on Science and Technology Eighth Report http://www.publications.parliament.uk/pa/cm200607/cmselect/cmsctech/746/74603.htm#a1
S. Pincock, "Protect basic research: UK scientists," The Scientist March 15, 2007. http://www.the-scientist.com/news/display/52939S. Pincock, "MRC head to step down," The Scientist March 8, 2006 http://www.the-scientist.com/article/display/15387
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