Today’s physics news: A-level physics girls critically low; UK unis perform well on global table

Physics news for 11 September 2012.

Physics and engineering need to balance the equation

The lack of schoolgirls studying A-level physics and women students taking engineering degrees is said to be at a “critically” low level. The non-governmental Council for Industry and Higher Education, funded by Anglo American and Centrica, will reveal today that Britain is missing five key targets to get women into engineering and manufacturing.

The Times (Subscription)

UK universities take four of top six global rankings

UK universities have taken four of the six top slots in a global university “league table” for 2011-12. Cambridge – top last year – was second in the QS World University Rankings, which are based on a number of areas. UCL, Oxford and Imperial took fourth, fifth and sixth places respectively, with the US’s Massachusetts Institute of Technology top and Harvard third.

BBC