STFC PPAN Programme Evaluations

A process has been agreed, by STFC Science Board and Executive Board, for a three yearly cycle of detailed programme evaluations of the STFC specific research disciplines to complement the Balance of Programme (BoP1) exercise, published in 2017.

The purpose of the programme evaluations is to look at the portfolio and science strategy to define a balanced programme of excellent science within a realistic financial planning envelope for each scientific discipline. The evaluations will generate detailed information and data on specific research disciplines and will be used to feed into the next Balance of Programmes (BOP2) exercise which will take place in 2019. The evaluations will complement the evaluation of skills that was undertaken within STFC. The evaluations will provide advice on the shape of the programme.

Each evaluation will be carried out by its own panel, which will be chaired by a member of the STFC Science Board. The Terms of Reference can be found on the website linked below. The evaluations will be completed by May 2019 to enable the information to feed into BoP2, which will begin in spring 2019 and report to Science Board in December 2019.

Whilst the Programme Evaluations reports will have a similar and standardised process and format, it is acknowledged that some additional information, such as tensioning new projects, will be specific to certain research disciplines and that a certain level of flexibility will be required. Consideration will also be given as to whether each project still sits within the appropriate research area for future budgetary tensioning.

The agreed timeline for starting each evaluation is listed below. Each evaluation will be expected to last around five/six months.

Computing QTR 4 2017
Particle Astrophysics QTR 1 2018
Nuclear Physics QTR 2 2018
Particle Physics QTR 3 2018
Astronomy QTR 3 2018
Accelerators QTR 4 2018

Details of the process can be found at the PPAN Evaluations website, which will be updated throughout the duration of the exercise. This will shortly include additional information such as Panel Membership.

For more information contact Malcolm Booy.

https://www.stfc.ac.uk/about-us/our-purpose-and-priorities/planning-and-strategy/programme-evaluation/balance-of-programme-exercise-ppan/