The UK Government last week published the Blackett review of UK computational modelling capabilities.

This report sets out the findings of a study of the rapid evolution of UK computational modelling capability, and how it could be better used in both the public and private sectors.

One of the authors of that report was the University's Muffy Calder, Vice Principal & Head of College of Science & Engineering and Professor of Formal Methods (Computing Science). Here she reflects on the process.

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The UK Government report on the importance of computational modelling, Computational Modelling: technological Futures has just been published. I had the pleasure of being one of the authors of the report, which is formally classified as a “Blackett Review”. These are expert-led, independent studies that aim to answer specific scientific or technological questions, provide fresh thinking, and inform policy-makers. They are so-called after Lord Patrick Blackett, an experimental physicist who developed the area of operational research, and made major contributions during World War II advising on military strategy, especially the effectiveness (or otherwise) of bombing strategies and protecting convoys. 

This was my third Blackett review and by far it was the one that involved the most work for me. But also it was the most interesting for me, and close to my own research. The whole process took about a year: informal discussions started in December 2016, with the first formal meeting of the expert panel in February 2017. There followed regular, intense panel meetings and loads of email and circulation of drafts. The panel was chaired by Sir Mark Walport, and supported by the UK Government Office of Science. Panel members covered a wide range – from academia, industry, government and arms length bodies. I was assigned specific responsibility for two chapters (I will let you can guess which ones). Over the summer a professional science writer was brought in to help; he was fabulous and I learned a lot watching him. We are all very proud of the report, and have also produced a shorter version that has been submitted as a journal paper (we await the reviews).

While most of us on the panel knew one or two other people (on the panel), we had never met before as a group and one of the most positive outcomes of the review, for me, was the formation of a new community of people working in modelling – from computer science, to engineering and manufacturing, environment and insurance, finance and social policy. We so enjoyed working together we have agreed to meet again, even though the work report has long been completed.

Working on the review has been very rewarding. My recommendation, if you ever get ask to join a Blackett review, is say “yes”!

First published: 26 February 2018

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