From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia Science and Engineering Research Council
Science and Engineering Research Council
The Science and Engineering Research Council (SERC SERC) In 1981, to reflect the increased emphasis on engi-
used to be the UK agency in charge of publicly funded neering research, the SRC was renamed Science and Engi-
scientific and engineering research activities including neering Research Council.
astronomy, biotechnology and biological sciences, space Then in 1994 the new Director General of Research
research and particle physics. The SERC had oversight Councils was charged with reorganization of the then
of the Royal Greenwich Observatory, Royal Observatory four Research Councils, and this resulted in the SERC
Edinburgh, the Rutherford Appleton Laboratory and the being split into the Particle Physics and Astronomy Re-
Daresbury Laboratory. search Council (PPARC), the Engineering and Physical
From its formation in 1965 until 1981 it was known Sciences Research Council (EPSRC) and the Biotechnolo-
as the Science Research Council (SRC). The SRC had been gy and Biological Sciences Research Council (BBSRC). The
formed in 1965 as a result of the Trend Committee en- two Observatories were moved under the aegis of PPARC,
quiry into the organisation of civil science in the UK. and the Laboratories initially into EPSRC and later into
Previously the Minister for Science had been responsible their own organization, the Council for the Central Labo-
for various research activities in the Department of Sci- ratory of the Research Councils (CCLRC).
entific and Industrial Research (DSIR) and more loosely In 2007 CCLRC and PPARC were merged to form the
with a variety of agencies concerned with the formula- Science and Technology Facilities Council (STFC), with
tion of civil scientific policy. One of the main problems responsibility for nuclear physics being transferred from
addressed by the enquiry was how to decide the piorities EPSRC to STFC.
for government funding across all areas of scientific re-
search. Previously this task had been the responsibility
of the Treasury without direct scientific advice. The oth-
External links
er research councils formed in 1965 were the Natural En- • The Science and Technology Facilities Council
vironment Research Council, and the Social Science Re- • Engineering and Physical Sciences Research Council
search Council which joined the Medical Research Coun- • Biotechnology and Biological Sciences Research
cil which had existed since 1920, and the Agricultural Re- Council
search Council.
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• Scientific institutions
• Science and technology in the United Kingdom
• Public bodies and task forces of the United Kingdom government
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