More money needed for campus chemistry RSC tells minister

The RSC has told the UK's Higher Education minister that more Government money is needed to fund the country's university chemistry departments.

The meeting with Bill Rammell happened after the RSC had raised the alarm on hearing reports that the University of Sussex was to close its chemistry department - which has sound income and healthy recruitment figures - to save money.

Chief Executive of the RSC, Dr Richard Pike was joined by its President, Dr Simon Campbell at the meeting with the higher education minister.

The RSC believes that the central funding given to universities for physical sciences - chemistry and physics - is inadequate and has been for years.

Chemistry courses are more expensive than other subjects to teach because campuses have to provide safe, modern laboratories, equipment, technicians and supervisors. 

HEFCE, the Higher Education Funding Council, provides 1.7 times the amount for a physical science course as for non laboratory-based subjects. 

The RSC believes this is insufficient to cover the full cost of teaching and that the weighting should be greater.

The RSC is currently preparing its submission to the Government's 2007 Comprehensive Spending Review, which sets spending plans for 2008-2011 and will ask for more money to support the cost of physical science. 

The minister will be meeting the RSC again at a later date for a more in-depth discussion.