The Other Lab: Declining Chemistry

Down the pub that evening…


‘Ow you doing Bill?

Oh, not so bad Jim, thanks, how’s you then?

Not so bad. Bit worried about this business at Sussex though.

What’s that then, Jim?

Only gonna close down the Chemistry department, that’s all.

Oh that. Yeh, terrible business. All down to the declining popularity of chemistry at undergraduate level, apparently. Not sure what we can do about it though really.

Ah, true enough. Disappointing though in it?

Oh yeh, grim times, Jim. What we needs is stronger national guidelines, that what I reckon. Otherwise, they’ll be more closures, you mark my words.

You reckon?

Yep. You see. I reckon the government has failed to give the Higher Education Funding Council the powers or political support it needs to fulfil its function effectively.

Ah, you’re not wrong there, Bill, you’re not wrong there. It doesn’t have the teeth, the tools, nor the will to do its job effectively, that’s the trouble.

That’s right, couldn’t have put it better meself. What’s the world coming to, eh Jim? In an area of higher education crucial to our future industrial strength there is now a bloomin policy failure!

Too true. Pathetic in it? The trouble is, you see, the costs of operating a chemistry department don’t match the price that HEFC pays a university to educate chemistry students.

Too right, Jim, too right.

The mismatch of income and expenditure is what leads vice-chancellors to consider closing departments. I notice that no closures happen in low-cost subjects.

Ah true enough, true enough ! [heavy sigh]. So what about England’s performance in the World Cup then?

Not interested meself. Too much going on in higher education to be concerned about bloody football… fancy another pint?

Wouldn’t say no, Jim, wouldn’t say no.




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