Re: [kent-grads] Chemistry

[Brian Meadows <brian@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx>]

On Tue, 28 Dec 2004 15:38:28 +0000 (GMT), Huge wrote:

>
>You recall right. Even in 1975 (when I left), biology was encroaching
>across the bridge into the Chemistry lab. 

I didn't know/had forgotten that, but then they had all the
Chemical Physics people on the first floor. Apart from the
occasional hunt for liquid nitrogen when ours ran out, as far as
I was concerned chemistry might have been a two-storey building. 

>I assume it's all "Biological
>Sciences" now. (BTW, I'd better admit my colours - I was a biochemist.)
>
>Are they still doing the General Sciences first year, then? And how
>can they, without a Chemistry department? I guess the Biological
>Sciences people have to get their own Organic Chemistry course..?
>

There are still a few names I recognise from Chemistry listed on
the school of physical sciences website. 

>> It seems crazy to me. I suppose you can't blame the universities
>> too much, if the financial straitjacket is impossible to resist
>> then there's no doubt that chemistry is an expensive degree to
>> teach, but even so... The Guardian (or at least its web site, all
>> I can get over here) ran an article a couple of weeks ago in
>> which they said that 29 chemistry courses had closed down, with
>> more to follow. 
>
>Simple solution; allow unis to charge what they like. 
>
Maybe kids grow up with different ideas these days. I know that
if I'd have been faced with the prospect of unregulated fees and
an inadequate grant when I started university, followed by a
large chunk of debt when I graduated, I'd have said the hell with
it, and looked for a job instead. In my opinion, unregulated fees
just means you'll get the richest rather than the brightest.
Public money put me through my B.Sc., and were I still in the UK,
I'd be all in favour of proper funding for universities and
decent grants for students. Fat chance of that happening under
Blair! 

>> No doubt the cycle will reverse and in a few years the government
>> will be bleating about the lack of science graduates.
>
>They already are.
>

How the hell they can do so and keep a straight face is beyond
me. 


Brian. 
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