Published by The Institute of Physics (IOP) and the Science and Technology Facilities Council (STFC), the report aims to introduce a wider audience to the economic and societal benefits of particle physics research.
Commenting on the move, Tajinder Panesor, manager, science policy at the Institute of Physics, said: “Many more people are now familiar with the ‘Big Bang’ machine and the hunt for the ‘God’ particle but we feel that there are still some questions around why so much effort is expended on this type of activity.
“We want everyone logging onto the Web or going to the hospital for a scan to know that what they’re experiencing has only been made possible through particle physics research.”
Including interviews with over 800 physics undergraduates, the report highlights how the discipline is an integral part of areas such as communications, healthcare and much more.
The publication follows on from a report compiled by the Department for Innovation, Universities and Skills which suggests that the UK will need almost one million more STEM (science, technology, engineering and mathematics) graduates by 2017, many of which will be from physics.
Read the full Particle physics - it matters report here.
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Date Published: May 28, 2009
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