It's clear that there are particularly acute issues in funding for the humanities and arts, but I've also always found it eye-opening to speak to scientists about how bad things are getting in their disciplines. A general crisis. - ThreadSky

daveaddison.bsky.social • 66 days ago

It's clear that there are particularly acute issues in funding for the humanities and arts, but I've also always found it eye-opening to speak to scientists about how bad things are getting in their disciplines. A general crisis.

Reposted from Michael Peel

NEW

Fall in UK university core science courses stokes fears for industrial strategy

Chemistry courses have dropped a quarter and biosciences by 15% in past 5 years

www.ft.com/content/563f... via @financialtimes.com with @amyborrett.bsky.social & @pmdfoster.bsky.social

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merleeisenberg.bsky.social•66 days ago

I'm curious if the UK is like the US here. Is this because these sciences (like humanities & arts) in general discourse don't have immediate job prospects (putting reality aside)? Are your students doing more likely to do pre-professional STEM, business, etc?

daveaddison.bsky.social•66 days ago

It's a good question, and I am not sure I am the person to answer it. I don't detect a general disregard for subjects like Chemistry or Life Sciences in wider culture, though my ear is not really to the ground.

merleeisenberg.bsky.social•66 days ago

Well I think in the US at least, everyone pushes STEM all the time, but the number of majors is more theoretical STEM subjects (what is prized in discourse, so physics, etc.) are down. What is up are STEM degrees "leading" to obvious jobs and business degrees.

daveaddison.bsky.social•66 days ago

Anecdotally, I hear this from ECRs in e.g. Pure Mathematics. I think it's hit research funding hard for more 'abstract' sciences. But I do think there is a cultural difference with the US, wherein the most cliche 'elite' thing is still to send your kids to Oxbridge to do traditionally academic subs.

daveaddison.bsky.social•66 days ago

It's shifting, I think, but much less quickly than the US. American visiting students I taught in Oxford often noted the difference.

merleeisenberg.bsky.social•66 days ago

Yea I assume the difference is the fees. 9k for the UK is still (relatively) cheap for most US unis, which run 20k+ very often. Oxford is like Pton in that those from elite backgrounds will use networking so specific degree matters less

daveaddison.bsky.social•66 days ago

I think it's basically an issue of internal university finances. It's often a loss-making exercise to teach UK students in the current regulatory climate, and Chemistry is an expensive lab-based subject, and harder to scale up than a lecture-based humanities course without adding extra resource.

daveaddison.bsky.social•66 days ago

Of course the Humanities that are being cut used to cross-subsidise these expensive subjects (especially those that attracted international student fees).

merleeisenberg.bsky.social•66 days ago

I think you're right on the financials. Labs are expensive, so humanities subsidize. What I find most fascinating - this reflects my academic interests - are the differences b/w discourse & empirical outcomes. Politicians here say "do STEM to get a job" but that has turned into just do a business BA

daveaddison.bsky.social•66 days ago

Yes, it is a fascinating disconnect. Business courses are growing a lot here, too. This looks useful: https://www.thebritishacademy.ac.uk/publications/business-and-management-provision-in-uk-higher-education/

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