High ratings for ORC in RAE 2008
The quality of the research carried out at the Optoelectronics Research Centre has once again been highlighted through excellent ratings in the Research Assessment Exercise (RAE) 2008.
ORC research was submitted to the RAE jointly with the Universityâs School of Electronics and Computer Science (ECS) and with the School of Physics and Astronomy (Physics).
A total of 32 ORC staff returned their research, 23 with ECS and 9 with Physics.
The research submitted with ECS was ranked joint second in the country, with 85% of the research work either receiving the top 4* or 3* ratings.
Over half of the research submitted via the School of Physics and Astronomy was rated as World Leading (4*) or Internationally Excellent (3*), for the second RAE running.
ORC Director, Professor David Payne said: â?It is gratifying to see ORC research ranked so highly despite the extraordinary difficulties we have had over the three years following the fire that destroyed half of our laboratories. Together with that in Physics and ECS, our research clearly continues to rank at the highest international level and confirms the ORC standing as one of the premiere photonics research laboratories in the world.â?
The RAE is a UK Government-backed assessment carried out by independent reviewers. The results of the RAE will be used to determine future funding for research groups from 2009.