From Neil Cape
As a research scientist living in Scotland, I face a conundrum with regard to the upcoming referendum on Scottish independence (31 May, p 12).
If I vote “yes” there is the possibility of reduced funding from the UK research councils or their successors, given that Scotland receives a disproportionately high share of the UK research budget.
The professed ambition of the Scottish Nationalists is to make science one of the bases for a reformed economy in Scotland, so that shortfall may or may not be significant.
However, if I vote “no” and the UK as a whole then votes in 2015 to leave the European Union, I will be cut off from the valuable international collaboration and funding that stems from Europe-wide research involvement.
Penicuik, Midlothian, UK
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