Today’s physics news: How the 4G windfall could help Britain recover its cutting edge; Britain joins nuclear debate

Here is our physics news roundup for Wednesday 31 October 2012.

How the 4G windfall could help Britain recover its cutting edge

In this comment piece, Imran Kahn says the estimated £4bn windfall from the UK government’s sale of the 4G network may be a drop in the ocean for repaying the national debt, but it could mean radical changes in the UK’s science and technology landscape. “With this money, we could virtually guarantee that the UK has the best-trained workforce in the world. It could buy us 1,500 extra science and maths teachers, lots of new long-term collaborations between industry and academia, and 75 new globally recognised fellowships for the most creative young researchers,” Kahn writes.

The Guardian

Britain joins nuclear debate

A controversial nuclear conference is being attended by Britain’s National Nuclear Laboratory for the first time. The government agency has sent Tim Tinsley, a technology expert, to the International Thorium Energy Organisation conference in China — a four-day meeting about a radioactive material whose advocates say could provide a clean, safe and plentiful source of nuclear power.

The Times  (Subscription only)

Maths A-level could include more ‘real world’ problems to attract pupils

Sixth formers could be asked to work out the chances of their next holiday flight crashing or discuss whether they should trust political opinion polls under plans to persuade more pupils to study maths after the age of 16 through the use of innovative, real world problems. The Department for Education is to fund an education charity to suggest ideas for a new maths curriculum suitable for all students who gained at least a C grade in the subject at GCSE. It follows a speech last year by the education secretary, Michael Gove, who argued that the “vast majority” of 17- and 18-year-olds should continue to study maths even if they don’t pursue it as an A-level.

The Guardian

Timetable for A-level reform is ‘highly risky’ says head of Ucas

Making A levels much harder could deter students from taking them, the head of university applications said yesterday. Mary Curnock Cook, chief executive of the Universities and Colleges Admissions Service (Ucas), said bringing in new A levels on a subject by subject basis carried a risk. Those introduced later could be perceived as easier and lose value.

The Times (Subscription only)

Sort out airports or risk the recovery, says Michael Heseltine

In a  new report entitled No Stone Unturned in Pursuit of Growth, Lord Heseltine has called on the government to make it easier for businesses to negotiate the immigration system to hire foreign graduates, especially engineers.

The Times  (Subscription only)

Cable admits AAB will save government money

Vince Cable, the business secretary, has admitted that the government will spend less on higher education as a result of this year’s shortfall in student numbers, caused partly by the government’s own AAB “experiment”. Mr Cable faced questions from MPs on the Business, Innovation and Skills committee today, looking at issues arising from the publication of the department’s annual report and accounts.

Times Higher Education