FOI release

FOI2026/00630: Statement relating to Computability theory expertise

This request was refused in part, so we didn't provide some of the information the requester asked for. This may include information where we can neither confirm nor deny that we hold it.

Case reference FOI2026/00630

Received 24 July 2026

Published 22 September 2026

Request

Request received: 24 July 2026

I note that on your publicly available "Logic and combinatorics" area of investment and support page (last updated 7 March 2025, available at https://www.ukri.org/what-we-do/browse-our-areas-of-investment-and-support/logic-and-combinatorics/ you state:

> "UK expertise in model theory continues to be world-leading, while strength remains in proof and set theory, but computability theory expertise has declined."

Given that it is unusual for a public funder to explicitly state that expertise in a specific subfield has declined, I would like to request all recorded information held by EPSRC relating to this statement.

1. Evidence base for the statement

Please provide all recorded information used to support the conclusion that "computability theory expertise has declined", including but not limited to:

- Any internal reports, briefing notes, or memoranda that analyze the UK's computability theory workforce, research output, or international standing
- Any data analysis, bibliometric studies, or expert consultation records that informed this conclusion
- Any "evidence sources" referenced in the Logic and combinatorics strategy that specifically relate to computability theory

2. Current state of computability theory in the UK

Please provide any recorded information held by EPSRC regarding the current state of UK computability theory research, including:

- Assessments of the current number, institutional distribution, and demographics of computability theory researchers in the UK
- Comparative analysis of UK computability theory research capacity relative to other countries (particularly the US and major European nations)
- Analysis of the reasons for the perceived decline (e.g., retirements, researchers moving to other fields, recruitment difficulties, funding trends)

3. Investment and support for computability theory

Please provide information on EPSRC's current and planned investment in computability theory, including:

- A list of grants funded by EPSRC in computability theory (and closely related areas) over the past 2 years (2024-2026), including grant reference, title, PI, and award value
- Any strategic actions or interventions EPSRC has taken, or plans to take, in response to the identified decline
- Any cross-disciplinary funding initiatives that connect computability theory to other areas (particularly Theoretical Computer Science)

4. Records of relevant discussions

Please provide any minutes, meeting notes, or briefing documents from EPSRC internal bodies (including but not limited to the Mathematical Sciences Strategic Advisory Team, Prioritization Panels, or any relevant committees) that discuss the state or future of computability theory.

I am not asking you to review individual grant proposals or reviewer comments. This request is limited to existing documents and evidence that underpin the public statement on your website.

 

Following our request for clarification for the time period for searches regarding question 4 on 24 August 2026, the requester responded:

 

You may disregard q4. Please continue processing parts 1-3 of my request.

Response

Response sent: 22 September 2026

Full details of this response are available in the attached documents.

Documents

• FOI2026_00630 Annex 1.xlsx (16.4 KB)
• FOI_Response_Letter - FOI2026_00630_Redacted.pdf (288.1 KB)

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