Scientists' movements need closer monitoring

A Europe-wide study has revealed a lack of information about the flow of scientists and technologists into and out of higher education, making the assessment of skills shortages or over-supply difficult.

The Institute for Employment Studies, based in Brighton, which carried out the research for the European Commission, called for a European science and technology observatory to report on supply and demand trends and imbalances across Europe.

The study found that the number of research scientists and engineers in Europe grew from 500,000 in 1985 to 800,000 in 1995.