The University鈥檚 Vice鈥揅hancellor鈥� Professor Sir William Wakeham鈥� has been appointed chair of SEPnet鈥� a HEFCE鈥揻unded consortium of six university physics departments across the south鈥揺ast.
SEPnet stands for South East Physics Network. The six partners work together to promote excellence in physics. They are the physics departments of the Universities of Kent鈥� Queen Mary鈥� Royal Holloway鈥� Southampton鈥� Surrey and Sussex.
The network is supported by a five鈥搚ear HEFCE grant of 拢12.5 million. Its four main initiatives are:
鈥� an outreach programme to increase student enrolment in physics;
鈥� the development of a graduate school offering a two-year MSc in physics based on the European Credit Transfer and Accumulation System (ECTS);
鈥� a collaborative research programme at PhD level;
鈥� an undergraduate programme of employer engagement to increase career prospects.
Sir William said: 鈥淎s a physicist by training, having taken both my first and higher degrees in physics, I am both honoured and delighted to chair this important partnership of university physics departments.
鈥淭he national review of physics that I conducted for the Government a year ago showed us that UK physics enjoys excellent international standing and that the role of physics and physicists is vital for other disciplines. However, for the future of physics to be assured, there is a strong need for universities to work collaboratively.鈥�
David Sweeney, Director at HEFCE for Research, Innovation and Skills, said:
鈥淲e warmly welcome Sir William’s appointment as Chair of SEPnet. Since it was set up last year the six universities have demonstrated that by working together they can achieve greater levels of activity by building on the strengths of the individual departments. Under Sir William’s leadership we look forward to SEPnet continuing to strengthen and broaden the contribution of physics in the south-east through both research and the development of highly skilled students.鈥�