Gareth Roberts (physicist)

Professor Sir Gareth Roberts, FRS FREng, (16 May 1940 – 6 February 2007 [cite web | url = http://www.wolfson.ox.ac.uk/president/ | title = The College is deeply saddened to announce the death of Sir Gareth Roberts, President | date = 2007-02-06 | accessdate = 2007-02-07 ] ), was a Welsh physicist specialising in semiconductors and molecular electronics, who was influential in British science policy through his chairmanship of several academic bodies and his two reports on the future supply of scientists and how university research should be assessed. He was knighted in 1997 for his services to higher education.

Academic and public service career

Born in Penmaenmawr, Caernarvonshire, North Wales, he studied physics to PhD level at the University College of North Wales, Bangor, graduating in 1964.

Following posts at the New University of Ulster and the University of Durham, where he was elected a Fellow of the Royal Society in 1984 [cite web | url = http://www.royalsoc.ac.uk/view_fellow.cfm?FID=1266&N=r | title = Directory of Fellows and Foreign Members | work = The Royal Society | accessdate = 2007-02-11 ] , he was appointed to a Visiting Professorship in the Department of Engineering Science at Oxford and to a Fellowship at Brasenose College in 1986. He presented the Royal Institution Christmas Lectures in 1988.

He was a member of the Prime Minister's Advisory Council on Science and Technology from July 1989 to July 1992. [cite web | url = http://www.publications.parliament.uk/pa/cm199192/cmhansrd/1992-01-17/Writtens-1.html | title = Column 659 of House of Commons Hansard Debate for 17 Jan 1992 | date = 1992-01-17 | accessdate = 2007-02-11 ]

He was Vice-Chancellor of the University of Sheffield from 1991 to 2000. From 1995 to 1997 he was Chairman of the Committee of Vice-Chancellors and Principals (now called Universities UK). In 1997 he was also President of the Institute of Physics and was knighted for his services to higher education.

From August 1997 to August 2005 he was on the Higher Education Funding Council for England (HEFCE) Board, and chaired the Board's Research Committee. [cite web | url = http://www.dest.gov.au/NR/rdonlyres/73BC7A0C-5AA7-4F55-B89A-BAE3B9933298/14259/RQFUpdate06141aattachmentEAGmembership20Oct2006.pdf | title = Research Quality Framework Expert Advisory Group: Membership | work = DEST | accessdate = 2007-01-31 |format=PDF]

He was the founding president of the Science Council from 2000 to 2007.

He was appointed President of Wolfson College, Oxford in 2001 and died in office. He also held a Visiting Professorship in Science Policy at the Saïd Business School. [cite web | url = http://www.sbs.ox.ac.uk/faculty/Roberts+Gareth/ | title = Gareth Roberts biography | work = Said Business School | accessdate = 2007-02-11 ]

He was elected to the Fellowship of the Royal Academy of Engineering in 2003. In June 2006 he was elected chairman to Engineering and Technology Board, succeeding Sir Peter Williams. [cite web | url = http://www.etechb.co.uk/uploads/Catalyst%2025.pdf | title = Sir Gareth Roberts appointed as chairman | format = PDF | accessdate = 2007-02-08 ]

Industrial career

He has held two major industrial posts, the first in the United States, where he was senior research scientist with the Xerox Corporation and later as Director of Research and Chief Scientist of Thorn EMI.

Later, he was Chairman of cancer diagnostics and pathology specialist Medical Solutions plc, and of the management committee of the University of Oxford's Business Park, and was also a board member ISIS Ltd, the exploitation arm of the University.

Commissioned reviews

SET for Success

In March 2001, the UK Government commissioned Roberts to undertake a review into the supply of science and engineering skills in the UK. The final report, entitled SET for Success was published on 15 April 2003. [cite web | url = http://www.hm-treasury.gov.uk/documents/enterprise_and_productivity/research_and_enterprise/ent_res_roberts.cfm | title = SET for Success | work = HM Treasury |month=April | year=2005 | accessdate = 2007-02-11 ] The report set out thirty-seven recommendations to the Government, employers and other organisations about how to maintain and develop the supply of people with science, technology, engineering and mathematical skills into research and industry. All his recommendations were accepted by the Government. These included providing additional resources for schools, universities and research bodies, and the promotion of school/business links. [cite web | url = http://www.foundation.org.uk/events/pdf/20021022_Summary.pdf | title = Dinner Discussion Summary, Sir Gareth Roberts’ Review, Held Tuesday 22nd October 2002 | format = pdf | work = Foundation for Science and Technology |month=October | year=2002 | accessdate = 2007-02-11 ] The review led to increase of the stipend paid to PhD students, and a number of initiatives to encourage women and young people to consider a career in science. [cite web | url = http://www.theyworkforyou.com/wrans/?id=2007-01-26a.111196.h&s=%25s| title = Written answer, Trade and Industry, SET for Success | date = 2007-01-26 | accessdate = 2007-02-11 ]

The review of research assessment

In June 2002, after the Research Assessment Exercise (RAE) of 2001, the four funding bodies for UK higher education commissioned Sir Gareth Roberts to review the future of research assessment in the UK. The report "The review of research assessment" was issued for consultation in May 2003. [cite web | url = http://www.hefce.ac.uk/news/hefce/2003/rareview.htm | title = Funding bodies consult on the future of research assessment | work = Higher Education Funding Council for England | date = 2003-05-29 | accessdate = 2007-01-30 ] Many of Roberts' recommendations were implemented for the 2008 RAE, the first review following the completion of the consultation exercise. [cite web | url = http://www.hefce.ac.uk/News/HEFCE/2004/rae.asp | title = Quality profile will provide fuller and fairer assessment of research | work = Higher Education Funding Council for England | date = 2004-02-11 | accessdate = 2007-02-11 ]

References

External links

* [http://www.wolfson.ox.ac.uk/president/ Presentation from Wolfson College]
* [http://www.hepi.ac.uk/board.asp?ID=83 Bio] on Higher Education Policy Institute
* [http://www.rcuk.ac.uk/news/roberts.htm Research Councils UK]
* [http://www.ra-review.ac.uk/ Joint funding bodies’ Review of research assessment]
* [http://www.hm-treasury.gov.uk/documents/enterprise_and_productivity/research_and_enterprise/ent_res_roberts.cfm SET for Success] , Final Report of Sir Gareth Roberts' Review
* [http://www.grad.ac.uk/cms/ShowPage/Home_page/Universities/National_policy/Roberts_recommendations/p!elkFjXf;jsessionid=a630666230db$D3b5$40 Roberts recommendations] on the UK GRAD programme website
* [http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/main.jhtml?xml=/news/2007/02/22/db2202.xml Obituary] in "The Daily Telegraph", 22 February 2007
* [http://www.guardian.co.uk/obituaries/story/0,,2035998,00.html Obituary] in "The Guardian", 17 March 2007
* [http://news.independent.co.uk/people/obituaries/article2328765.ece Obituary] in "The Independent", 5 March 2007
* [http://www.wolfson.ox.ac.uk/obituary/ Obituary] in "The Times", 20 March 2007