Adverse reaction among the chemistry set

The Society of Chemical Industry says the "hard sciences", particularly chemistry, are stuck in a "downward spiral" of declining popularity, "with fewer science graduates leading to fewer suitably qualified science teachers able to stimulate and inspire interest among students". …

Scientists elsewhere said it typified the country's uncoordinated approach to providing university courses in strategically important and vulnerable subjects.

Dr Andrea Sella [UCL Chemistry] says: "This is just the latest episode in the systematic destruction of academic chemistry in the UK driven largely by university heads (vice-chancellors) who see chemistry as an expensive, dated and unfashionable subject to be profitably replaced by popular low-cost subjects."

Clive Cookson and Jon Boone, 'Financial Times', 15 March 2006