Dear Tim, Your mail begins with:
Let me put this in a context for non-UK readers of this list.
I think I qualify on both counts, I am a non-UK reader, and still on this list. But then you continue with:
Various=20 bodies in the UK are asking for `impact' as part of their assessment of=20 research. This is in particular true of the REF exercise.
I'm afraid I don't know what is=20 research and REF exercise. It seems very important since you say:
(Perhaps=20 someone else can comment on this as well as I am `out of this', having=20 been a victim of a previous round of such `exercises'.)
This importance is attested by:
We all know that=20 mathematics is central to modern technological developments,
And=20 occurs in your mail more than 20 times. Could you, or any one on the list, please explain briefly to a french mathematician what=20 mathematics, pure and applied, and REF exercises are? Many thanks, and best regards, Jean [For admin and other information see: http://www.mta.ca/~cat-dist/ ]