Conor Fitzpatrick
@fitzparticle.bsky.social
Particle physicist (he/him)
Reposted by Conor Fitzpatrick
Letters from astronomers, particle physics and @iop.org ⬇️: the dangers to skills, knowledge, leadership and our future economy and society; the impacts of "uncontrolled and irreversable damage".
www.theguardian.com/education/20...
www.theguardian.com/education/20...
Funding cuts will devastate the next generation of scientists | Letters
Letters: Physics research drives technological innovation, from medical imaging to data processing, write Dr Phil Bull and Prof Chris Clarkson; plus letters from Tim Gershon and Vincenzo Vagnoni, and ...
www.theguardian.com
February 12, 2026 at 6:53 PM
Letters from astronomers, particle physics and @iop.org ⬇️: the dangers to skills, knowledge, leadership and our future economy and society; the impacts of "uncontrolled and irreversable damage".
www.theguardian.com/education/20...
www.theguardian.com/education/20...
Funding cuts will devastate the next generation of scientists | Letters www.theguardian.com/education/20...
Funding cuts will devastate the next generation of scientists | Letters
Letters: Physics research drives technological innovation, from medical imaging to data processing, write Dr Phil Bull and Prof Chris Clarkson; plus letters from Tim Gershon and Vincenzo Vagnoni, and ...
www.theguardian.com
February 12, 2026 at 5:52 PM
Funding cuts will devastate the next generation of scientists | Letters www.theguardian.com/education/20...
@thetimes.com letters to the editor 10/02/26: @ukri.org "...has announced a 30 per cent funding cut to particle physics, astrophysics and nuclear physics...This is not merely a blow to “blue-skies” research; it is a direct assault on economic growth." www.thetimes.com/comment/lett...
Times letters: Labour Party plotters and Starmer’s reprieve
Write to letters@thetimes.co.ukSir, Plotting to remove a failing prime minister is nothing new (“PM comes out fighting as cabinet falls in line”, Feb 10). Attlee, Eden and Wilson, to name but three
www.thetimes.com
February 11, 2026 at 10:49 AM
@thetimes.com letters to the editor 10/02/26: @ukri.org "...has announced a 30 per cent funding cut to particle physics, astrophysics and nuclear physics...This is not merely a blow to “blue-skies” research; it is a direct assault on economic growth." www.thetimes.com/comment/lett...
For... reasons... I've been doing a bit of archaeology, @johnwomersley.bsky.social @iansample.bsky.social
February 9, 2026 at 11:02 PM
For... reasons... I've been doing a bit of archaeology, @johnwomersley.bsky.social @iansample.bsky.social
Reposted by Conor Fitzpatrick
This ⬇️, the other Infrastructure project deprioritisations, the 30% cuts planned at STFC, are not "doing fewer things better". These long term endeavours are already streamlined like a whippet. This UKRI funding rebalancing will result in the UK losing world leading science. #UKRI #STFC #physics
Loss of UK funds ‘will collapse’ Cern upgrade project.
Latest from the elected leader of the upgrade to the LHCb experiment at Cern. He tells me that 150 million Swiss francs in planned investment from international partners could “disappear”.
www.researchprofessionalnews.com/rr-news-euro...
Latest from the elected leader of the upgrade to the LHCb experiment at Cern. He tells me that 150 million Swiss francs in planned investment from international partners could “disappear”.
www.researchprofessionalnews.com/rr-news-euro...
Loss of UK funds ‘will collapse’ Cern upgrade project - Research Professional News
Elected project leader warns that planned investment of about 150 million Swiss francs could “disappear”
www.researchprofessionalnews.com
February 9, 2026 at 4:45 PM
Reposted by Conor Fitzpatrick
I, along with many other UKRI, STFC and RS fellows are signing this open letter on the STFC cuts. The proposed reductions will devastate UK astronomy and the researchers who make it possible. Please read, share, and, if a fellow, sign.
advancedfellows-openletter-stfc.github.io/index.html
#astro
advancedfellows-openletter-stfc.github.io/index.html
#astro
Advanced Fellows Response to UKRI Investment Approach
advancedfellows-openletter-stfc.github.io
February 6, 2026 at 3:41 PM
I, along with many other UKRI, STFC and RS fellows are signing this open letter on the STFC cuts. The proposed reductions will devastate UK astronomy and the researchers who make it possible. Please read, share, and, if a fellow, sign.
advancedfellows-openletter-stfc.github.io/index.html
#astro
advancedfellows-openletter-stfc.github.io/index.html
#astro
Reposted by Conor Fitzpatrick
Article from @physicsworld.bsky.social about the decision to withdraw UK funding from the @lhcb.bsky.social upgrade, without which LHCb will not be able to exploit the high luminosity LHC (which the UK has already paid for via the CERN subscription).
physicsworld.com/a/cern-upgra...
physicsworld.com/a/cern-upgra...
CERN upgrade to LHCb experiment threatened by UK funding cuts – Physics World
Upgrade to the UK-led project is unlikely to go ahead if UK funding cuts are not reversed
physicsworld.com
February 9, 2026 at 1:32 PM
Article from @physicsworld.bsky.social about the decision to withdraw UK funding from the @lhcb.bsky.social upgrade, without which LHCb will not be able to exploit the high luminosity LHC (which the UK has already paid for via the CERN subscription).
physicsworld.com/a/cern-upgra...
physicsworld.com/a/cern-upgra...
Reposted by Conor Fitzpatrick
But what also seems to be missing is an acknowledgement that STFC is providing facilities for researchers across almost all areas of research. Hence, why is the pain not being shared more equally, or why is there not some protection for the grants line in STFC?
February 3, 2026 at 2:55 PM
But what also seems to be missing is an acknowledgement that STFC is providing facilities for researchers across almost all areas of research. Hence, why is the pain not being shared more equally, or why is there not some protection for the grants line in STFC?
Reposted by Conor Fitzpatrick
Myth busting:
QR long predates the idea of 80% FEC. It was designed to sustain uni's as a national research capability, not to mop up funding shortfalls.
I’d like to think that's why QR is in UKRI's bucket 1, but I suspect it’s mainly to make the bucket bigger
en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Univers...
QR long predates the idea of 80% FEC. It was designed to sustain uni's as a national research capability, not to mop up funding shortfalls.
I’d like to think that's why QR is in UKRI's bucket 1, but I suspect it’s mainly to make the bucket bigger
en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Univers...
University Grants Committee (United Kingdom) - Wikipedia
en.wikipedia.org
February 8, 2026 at 8:00 PM
Myth busting:
QR long predates the idea of 80% FEC. It was designed to sustain uni's as a national research capability, not to mop up funding shortfalls.
I’d like to think that's why QR is in UKRI's bucket 1, but I suspect it’s mainly to make the bucket bigger
en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Univers...
QR long predates the idea of 80% FEC. It was designed to sustain uni's as a national research capability, not to mop up funding shortfalls.
I’d like to think that's why QR is in UKRI's bucket 1, but I suspect it’s mainly to make the bucket bigger
en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Univers...
Good article by @iansample.bsky.social but repeats the incorrect statement that subscriptions to international projects such as Cern and the European Space Agency rise with foreign exchange rates. CERN subscription has stayed flat by construction. www.theguardian.com/science/2026...
UK ‘could lose generation of scientists’ with cuts to projects and research facilities
UK’s research funding body says best scientists are taking posts overseas due to lack of job stability at home
www.theguardian.com
February 7, 2026 at 11:09 AM
Good article by @iansample.bsky.social but repeats the incorrect statement that subscriptions to international projects such as Cern and the European Space Agency rise with foreign exchange rates. CERN subscription has stayed flat by construction. www.theguardian.com/science/2026...
Appalling news. @ukri.org has some serious questions to answer. How was prioritisation made and how is UK's world leading international science programmes being tensioned against national facilities?
Science funding cuts in the UK are expected to be a "devastasting blow" for physics research, affecting international projects such as particle detection experiments at CERN
Physicists warn of 'catastrophic' impact from UK science cuts
Science funding cuts in the UK are expected to be a "devastasting blow" for physics research, affecting international projects such as particle detection experiments at CERN
www.newscientist.com
February 7, 2026 at 9:10 AM
Appalling news. @ukri.org has some serious questions to answer. How was prioritisation made and how is UK's world leading international science programmes being tensioned against national facilities?
Reposted by Conor Fitzpatrick
Conclusion: even if this is a fuck-up, it's a fuck-up whose outcomes are useful to some. It won't be reversed until the political pain of doing nothing about it becomes too great to continue. Dial up the political pressure. Don't let it get buried in the news cycle.
February 6, 2026 at 1:43 PM
Conclusion: even if this is a fuck-up, it's a fuck-up whose outcomes are useful to some. It won't be reversed until the political pain of doing nothing about it becomes too great to continue. Dial up the political pressure. Don't let it get buried in the news cycle.
Reposted by Conor Fitzpatrick
Some thoughts on the select committee appearance by the boss of UKRI, Ian Chapman yesterday. It’s a long watch but can be seen here: parliamentlive.tv/Event/Index/...
Thread 🧵
Thread 🧵
Parliamentlive.tv
Science, Innovation and Technology Committee
parliamentlive.tv
February 4, 2026 at 10:53 AM
Some thoughts on the select committee appearance by the boss of UKRI, Ian Chapman yesterday. It’s a long watch but can be seen here: parliamentlive.tv/Event/Index/...
Thread 🧵
Thread 🧵
Interesting that @ukri.org CEO thinks it would be too much effort to compare past funding allocation to future allocation. @chionwurah.bsky.social correctly notes accountability issue with this. Looking forward to seeing the comparison.
February 3, 2026 at 10:01 AM
Interesting that @ukri.org CEO thinks it would be too much effort to compare past funding allocation to future allocation. @chionwurah.bsky.social correctly notes accountability issue with this. Looking forward to seeing the comparison.
Reposted by Conor Fitzpatrick
Some initial reactions to the 'published on a Sunday afternoon' letter from the CEO of UKRI. 🧵
www.ukri.org/news/open-le...
www.ukri.org/news/open-le...
February 1, 2026 at 6:38 PM
Some initial reactions to the 'published on a Sunday afternoon' letter from the CEO of UKRI. 🧵
www.ukri.org/news/open-le...
www.ukri.org/news/open-le...
Reposted by Conor Fitzpatrick
"Physics isn't a luxury we can afford to throw away through confusion and cuts."
Following our response to STFC's funding reductions yesterday, it's great to see this news covered in @thetimes.com. (1/4)
www.thetimes.com/uk/politics/...
Following our response to STFC's funding reductions yesterday, it's great to see this news covered in @thetimes.com. (1/4)
www.thetimes.com/uk/politics/...
UK’s science superpower hopes hit as Labour slashes physics funding
University funding for astronomy and physics research cut by almost a third as government seeks to concentrate budget on areas that prioritise economic growth
www.thetimes.com
January 30, 2026 at 2:48 PM
"Physics isn't a luxury we can afford to throw away through confusion and cuts."
Following our response to STFC's funding reductions yesterday, it's great to see this news covered in @thetimes.com. (1/4)
www.thetimes.com/uk/politics/...
Following our response to STFC's funding reductions yesterday, it's great to see this news covered in @thetimes.com. (1/4)
www.thetimes.com/uk/politics/...
Reposted by Conor Fitzpatrick
Early Christmas present from LHCb: the update of our B->K*mumu analysis using the full dataset recorded by the first iteration of our machine!
Excitingly, we see significant deviations from Standard Model predictions - roughly '4 sigma' if you look at everything together.
arxiv.org/abs/2512.18053
Excitingly, we see significant deviations from Standard Model predictions - roughly '4 sigma' if you look at everything together.
arxiv.org/abs/2512.18053
A comprehensive analysis of the $B^0\to K^{*0}μ^+μ^-$ decay
An analysis of the $B^{0}\rightarrow K^{*0}(\to K^+ π^-)μ^{+}μ^{-}$ decay is presented using proton-proton collision data collected by the LHCb experiment, corresponding to an integrated luminosity of...
arxiv.org
December 23, 2025 at 10:11 AM
Early Christmas present from LHCb: the update of our B->K*mumu analysis using the full dataset recorded by the first iteration of our machine!
Excitingly, we see significant deviations from Standard Model predictions - roughly '4 sigma' if you look at everything together.
arxiv.org/abs/2512.18053
Excitingly, we see significant deviations from Standard Model predictions - roughly '4 sigma' if you look at everything together.
arxiv.org/abs/2512.18053
Congratulations to Dr. Horswill of @uomparticle.bsky.social on defending his thesis, and receiving the @lhcb.bsky.social early career scientist award!
July 15, 2025 at 8:23 PM
Congratulations to Dr. Horswill of @uomparticle.bsky.social on defending his thesis, and receiving the @lhcb.bsky.social early career scientist award!
Observing the good weather @jodrellbank.bsky.social
July 12, 2025 at 2:25 PM
Observing the good weather @jodrellbank.bsky.social
Now published (Open Access) in Comput Softw Big Sci. Congratulations Joshua! link.springer.com/article/10.1...
May 21, 2025 at 7:31 AM
Now published (Open Access) in Comput Softw Big Sci. Congratulations Joshua! link.springer.com/article/10.1...
Reposted by Conor Fitzpatrick
A new piece in the matter— #antimatter puzzle
The @lhcb.bsky.social experiment at CERN has revealed a fundamental asymmetry in the behaviour of particles called baryons.
Find out more: home.cern/news/press-r...
The @lhcb.bsky.social experiment at CERN has revealed a fundamental asymmetry in the behaviour of particles called baryons.
Find out more: home.cern/news/press-r...
March 25, 2025 at 4:07 PM
A new piece in the matter— #antimatter puzzle
The @lhcb.bsky.social experiment at CERN has revealed a fundamental asymmetry in the behaviour of particles called baryons.
Find out more: home.cern/news/press-r...
The @lhcb.bsky.social experiment at CERN has revealed a fundamental asymmetry in the behaviour of particles called baryons.
Find out more: home.cern/news/press-r...
Reposted by Conor Fitzpatrick
Fantastic @CommonsSITC visit to @CERN to see how brilliant scientist, engineers and technicians from across world (Inc lots from the UK) are working to unlock the wonders of the universe!
March 13, 2025 at 6:05 PM
Fantastic @CommonsSITC visit to @CERN to see how brilliant scientist, engineers and technicians from across world (Inc lots from the UK) are working to unlock the wonders of the universe!
@lhcb.bsky.social looking nice from the airport. I'm out again to do some @ukri.org supported policy work
March 2, 2025 at 3:18 PM
@lhcb.bsky.social looking nice from the airport. I'm out again to do some @ukri.org supported policy work
New preprint day: arxiv.org/abs/2502.09557. Congratulations to Joshua, who has automated the way in which @lhcb.bsky.social determines the real-time trigger thresholds for its physics programme. This work supported by the @erc.europa.eu starting grant 'Beauty2Charm', and @ukri.org STFC.
An Automated Bandwidth Division for the LHCb Upgrade Trigger
The upgraded Large Hadron Collider beauty (LHCb) experiment is the first detector based at a hadron collider using a fully software based trigger. The first `High Level Trigger' stage (HLT1) reduces t...
arxiv.org
February 14, 2025 at 9:50 AM
New preprint day: arxiv.org/abs/2502.09557. Congratulations to Joshua, who has automated the way in which @lhcb.bsky.social determines the real-time trigger thresholds for its physics programme. This work supported by the @erc.europa.eu starting grant 'Beauty2Charm', and @ukri.org STFC.
I've worked out how to get two Christmas puddings cooked in under a microsecond with this one weird trick. Merry Christmas!
December 24, 2024 at 11:46 AM
I've worked out how to get two Christmas puddings cooked in under a microsecond with this one weird trick. Merry Christmas!