Chemistry reprieve at Sussex?

The threatened closure of Sussex University's chemistry department - a controversy pushed into national and international spotlights by RSC actions - might now not happen as a result of wide publicity and resultant enquiries.

The RSC blew the whistle over leaked reports that the University of Sussex was axing chemistry to save money despite high student applications this year and an illustrious history, boasting three Nobel Prize winners and a coveted 5-rating for recent research.

The subsequent furore spawned an urgent House of Commons select committee enquiry at which the vice-chancellor was quizzed closely and to the setting up of a university review to examine the closure proposal.

The Times Higher newspaper and The Guardian (27 April 2006) focus on informal reports that the review group is to propose to the critical meeting of the university senate, that the closure plan be dropped and that more investment be made in chemistry with more funds and new staff.

Dr Richard Pike, RSC chief executive, said: "We take no pleasure from seeing Sussex University or its vice-chancellor going through these trials but we are gratified that, having pushed the issue into the public arena, this all-important matter might be heading for a constructive outcome.

"Our primary case is that there must be more government funding for chemistry provision at UK universities to prevent more vice-chancellors trying to balance budgets by abandoning chemistry.

"Chemistry might be more expensive to teach at universities and at schools but without a continued flow of talented chemical scientists from our campuses it will be even more expensive to the nation further down the line when we cannot compete internationally in areas demanding chemical science skills.

"Chemists are vital to the future health and wealth of the country and we will continue to press home that fact to the government, to the funding council, to vice-chancellors and to the public whenever and wherever we have the opportunity."

Related links 

Education Guardian
Sussex VC reprimanded in Commons report - 27 April 2006