Manchester University has sought to increase its profile through the appointment of Nobel laureates, with the first appointee to be paid an initial package worth £250,000 ("Manchester offer entices laureate", December 2).
This is an obscene amount for an individual to be paid. This could employ ten lecturers and provide opportunities for those who are trying to start their careers. I think Manchester's efforts to increase its profile through such appointments represents misplaced priorities and is another example of the damaging influence of the research assessment exercise.
Alan Petersen
Plymouth University
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