Reposted by Harry Cliff
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...
Reposted by Harry Cliff
From John S. Tregoning, professor of vaccine immunology at Imperial College London.
Physics is not the only one concerned. Sir Ian Chapman should listen. #stfc #ukri #saveSTFC @ukri.org
Science funding needs fixing — but not through chaotic reforms www.nature.com/articles/d41...
Physics is not the only one concerned. Sir Ian Chapman should listen. #stfc #ukri #saveSTFC @ukri.org
Science funding needs fixing — but not through chaotic reforms www.nature.com/articles/d41...
Science funding needs fixing — but not through chaotic reforms
The changes announced by a major UK science funder are putting scientists — and the future of research — in a difficult position.
www.nature.com
February 12, 2026 at 1:27 PM
From John S. Tregoning, professor of vaccine immunology at Imperial College London.
Physics is not the only one concerned. Sir Ian Chapman should listen. #stfc #ukri #saveSTFC @ukri.org
Science funding needs fixing — but not through chaotic reforms www.nature.com/articles/d41...
Physics is not the only one concerned. Sir Ian Chapman should listen. #stfc #ukri #saveSTFC @ukri.org
Science funding needs fixing — but not through chaotic reforms www.nature.com/articles/d41...
Reposted by Harry Cliff
The RAS @royalastrosoc.bsky.social is encouraging physics teachers to sign our open letter - if you believe astronomy and space science inspire young people then help us fight the UKRI / STFC cuts. ras.ac.uk/news-and-pre...
Open letter on astronomy cuts from UK physics teachers
drupal-media[data-view-mode=half_page_width] { display: inline-block; width: 50%; } The Royal Astronomical Society is encouraging physics teachers in the UK
to sign ...
ras.ac.uk
February 11, 2026 at 6:17 PM
The RAS @royalastrosoc.bsky.social is encouraging physics teachers to sign our open letter - if you believe astronomy and space science inspire young people then help us fight the UKRI / STFC cuts. ras.ac.uk/news-and-pre...
Reposted by Harry Cliff
This ⬇️; the impacts of sudden, unprepared cuts to projects. It's not just science that's lost. It's people. Skills. International collaboration. Opportunity. Futures. Future growth.
Physics cuts put livelihoods, investment and reputation at risk www.researchprofessionalnews.com/rr-news-uk-v...
Physics cuts put livelihoods, investment and reputation at risk www.researchprofessionalnews.com/rr-news-uk-v...
Physics cuts put livelihoods, investment and reputation at risk - Research Professional News
Cutting the UK out of the Electron-Ion Collider project will damage science, says Daria Sokhan
www.researchprofessionalnews.com
February 10, 2026 at 12:40 PM
This ⬇️; the impacts of sudden, unprepared cuts to projects. It's not just science that's lost. It's people. Skills. International collaboration. Opportunity. Futures. Future growth.
Physics cuts put livelihoods, investment and reputation at risk www.researchprofessionalnews.com/rr-news-uk-v...
Physics cuts put livelihoods, investment and reputation at risk www.researchprofessionalnews.com/rr-news-uk-v...
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 Harry Cliff
I wrote something .... andthentheresphysics.wordpress.com/2026/02/08/s...
STFC funding crisis ….. again!
When I first came to work in the UK, Astronomy research was mostly funded through the Particle Physics and Astronomy Research Council (PPARC). In 2007, PPARC was merged with the Council for the Cen…
andthentheresphysics.wordpress.com
February 8, 2026 at 4:36 PM
I wrote something .... andthentheresphysics.wordpress.com/2026/02/08/s...
Reposted by Harry Cliff
🎙️Our ECR open letter now has a sibling: an open letter from advanced fellows!👥📣
ECRs: ecr-openletter-stfc.github.io/index.html
Adv. Fellows: advancedfellows-openletter-stfc.github.io/index.html
Together, we hope UKRI and the government will hear the many voices across the PPAN community. 🔭🧪📡⚗️
ECRs: ecr-openletter-stfc.github.io/index.html
Adv. Fellows: advancedfellows-openletter-stfc.github.io/index.html
Together, we hope UKRI and the government will hear the many voices across the PPAN community. 🔭🧪📡⚗️
Advanced Fellows Response to UKRI Investment Approach
advancedfellows-openletter-stfc.github.io
February 7, 2026 at 9:30 AM
🎙️Our ECR open letter now has a sibling: an open letter from advanced fellows!👥📣
ECRs: ecr-openletter-stfc.github.io/index.html
Adv. Fellows: advancedfellows-openletter-stfc.github.io/index.html
Together, we hope UKRI and the government will hear the many voices across the PPAN community. 🔭🧪📡⚗️
ECRs: ecr-openletter-stfc.github.io/index.html
Adv. Fellows: advancedfellows-openletter-stfc.github.io/index.html
Together, we hope UKRI and the government will hear the many voices across the PPAN community. 🔭🧪📡⚗️
Reposted by Harry Cliff
Thanks to @iansample.bsky.social at the Guardian for covering the devastating funding cuts that are being proposed for UK (astro)physics, and the dire impact these would have on young researchers. Will UKRI/STFC reconsider? Will the UKGov step in?🤞👩🔬🧪⚛️🔭
www.theguardian.com/science/2026...
www.theguardian.com/science/2026...
February 7, 2026 at 8:08 AM
Thanks to @iansample.bsky.social at the Guardian for covering the devastating funding cuts that are being proposed for UK (astro)physics, and the dire impact these would have on young researchers. Will UKRI/STFC reconsider? Will the UKGov step in?🤞👩🔬🧪⚛️🔭
www.theguardian.com/science/2026...
www.theguardian.com/science/2026...
Reposted by Harry Cliff
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 Harry Cliff
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 Harry Cliff
STFC still believed in partitions in 2024: see Mark Thomson's slides here.
indico.cern.ch/event/134850...
indico.cern.ch/event/134850...
February 6, 2026 at 3:04 PM
STFC still believed in partitions in 2024: see Mark Thomson's slides here.
indico.cern.ch/event/134850...
indico.cern.ch/event/134850...
Reposted by Harry Cliff
Excellent indeed! One might also ask:
- who decided to get rid of the 'partitions' in the STFC budget which we put in place after 2010 to stop grants being used as a balancing line?
- what is the point of having UKRI if all problems need to be solved at the STFC level
- who decided to get rid of the 'partitions' in the STFC budget which we put in place after 2010 to stop grants being used as a balancing line?
- what is the point of having UKRI if all problems need to be solved at the STFC level
February 6, 2026 at 1:21 PM
Excellent indeed! One might also ask:
- who decided to get rid of the 'partitions' in the STFC budget which we put in place after 2010 to stop grants being used as a balancing line?
- what is the point of having UKRI if all problems need to be solved at the STFC level
- who decided to get rid of the 'partitions' in the STFC budget which we put in place after 2010 to stop grants being used as a balancing line?
- what is the point of having UKRI if all problems need to be solved at the STFC level
Reposted by Harry Cliff
I also gather (and @georgeefstathiou.bsky.social may or may not want to confirm) that many STFC staff fully expected STFC to be split up - to separate the grants and facilities as part of the way forward. Ian Chapman shelved this idea, saying no structural change at this time.
February 6, 2026 at 1:24 PM
I also gather (and @georgeefstathiou.bsky.social may or may not want to confirm) that many STFC staff fully expected STFC to be split up - to separate the grants and facilities as part of the way forward. Ian Chapman shelved this idea, saying no structural change at this time.
Signed. Thanks to all those who organised this.
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 6:59 PM
Signed. Thanks to all those who organised this.
Insightful piece by George Efstathiou, who argues that devastating UK government cuts to physics and astronomy are due to conflicts of interest at STFC.
telescoper.blog/2026/02/06/t...
telescoper.blog/2026/02/06/t...
The STFC Funding Crisis – Guest Post by George Efstathiou
The following guest post by George Efstathiou is a response to the current STFC funding crisis I blogged about here, and specifically to a letter by the Executive Chair of STFC, Professor Michele D…
telescoper.blog
February 6, 2026 at 6:39 PM
Insightful piece by George Efstathiou, who argues that devastating UK government cuts to physics and astronomy are due to conflicts of interest at STFC.
telescoper.blog/2026/02/06/t...
telescoper.blog/2026/02/06/t...
Great to see this letter about loss of young researchers due to deep cuts to physics and astronomy getting noticed in the press: www.theguardian.com/science/2026...
February 6, 2026 at 6:28 PM
Great to see this letter about loss of young researchers due to deep cuts to physics and astronomy getting noticed in the press: www.theguardian.com/science/2026...
Reposted by Harry Cliff
Listeners to Radio 4’s Inside Science today get an essay from me in defence of astronomy as pure research. Please listen in and let me know what you think.
Show starts 4.30pm GMT here: www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/b...
Show starts 4.30pm GMT here: www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/b...
BBC Radio 4 - BBC Inside Science
A weekly programme looking at the science that's changing our world.
www.bbc.co.uk
February 5, 2026 at 2:07 PM
Listeners to Radio 4’s Inside Science today get an essay from me in defence of astronomy as pure research. Please listen in and let me know what you think.
Show starts 4.30pm GMT here: www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/b...
Show starts 4.30pm GMT here: www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/b...
Reposted by Harry Cliff
Open letter from Early Career Researchers to the UKRI investment plan.
We can't let young people pay the price of "outcome-driven strategies". #stfc #ukri
ecr-openletter-stfc.github.io
If you are a postdoc or PhD, read and sign! 🧬🔭🔬⚗️🧪📡🛰️
We can't let young people pay the price of "outcome-driven strategies". #stfc #ukri
ecr-openletter-stfc.github.io
If you are a postdoc or PhD, read and sign! 🧬🔭🔬⚗️🧪📡🛰️
Early Career Researchers Response to UKRI Investment Approach
ecr-openletter-stfc.github.io
February 4, 2026 at 5:52 PM
Open letter from Early Career Researchers to the UKRI investment plan.
We can't let young people pay the price of "outcome-driven strategies". #stfc #ukri
ecr-openletter-stfc.github.io
If you are a postdoc or PhD, read and sign! 🧬🔭🔬⚗️🧪📡🛰️
We can't let young people pay the price of "outcome-driven strategies". #stfc #ukri
ecr-openletter-stfc.github.io
If you are a postdoc or PhD, read and sign! 🧬🔭🔬⚗️🧪📡🛰️
Reposted by Harry Cliff
UKRI to realise that they’re about to decimate areas of research because they happen to be in the same council as a bunch of fixed costs would be nice. Especially as most of the lab costs are not supporting STFC research areas
February 1, 2026 at 8:27 PM
UKRI to realise that they’re about to decimate areas of research because they happen to be in the same council as a bunch of fixed costs would be nice. Especially as most of the lab costs are not supporting STFC research areas
Reposted by Harry Cliff
Thanks, Harry! Glad to have inspired you bookdna.com/book/the-mag...
Harry is a particle physicist at the University of Cambridge @harrycliff.bsky.social
Harry is a particle physicist at the University of Cambridge @harrycliff.bsky.social
January 29, 2026 at 11:18 AM
Thanks, Harry! Glad to have inspired you bookdna.com/book/the-mag...
Harry is a particle physicist at the University of Cambridge @harrycliff.bsky.social
Harry is a particle physicist at the University of Cambridge @harrycliff.bsky.social