President of the Royal Astronomical Society, Professor of Space Physics at Lancaster University and lover of all things spacey. Fell-runner, EV enthusiast, film/soundtrack geek and curry fan. My own views etc.
A colleague remarked how unusual it is for a government to argue that a bank isn't too big to fail. Then again, most banks don't spend their time expanding humanity's understanding of the Universe. www.researchprofessionalnews.com/rr-news-uk-r...
Jodrell Bank telescope loses funding as STFC confirms cuts - Research Professional NewsScience and Technology Facilities Council announces nine projects “not prioritised for further funding”www.researchprofessionalnews.com"A recent survey found that nearly 80% of early-career physicists were considering leaving the UK after the funding crisis. The loss of even a fraction of that would be a blow for UK science and also national growth. The task now is to persuade them to stay." www.theguardian.com/science/2026...
World-class Jodrell Bank is under threat and UK risks a physics brain drainFunding crisis could lead to an exodus that would be a blow for British science and national growthwww.theguardian.comIf you have been watching today's news coverage of STFC's cuts to astronomy projects, I invite you to step into my time machine and review this 2008 BBC report. Sounds familiar, right?
Prof Jim WildGiven recent UKRI and STFC announcements, looking back at this 2008-vintage BBC Newsnight report about the crisis arising from the formation of STFC, it’s hard not to (a) feel a sense of Déjà vu and (b) that lasting lessons were not learned. youtu.be/Ot60dIdI1Ds?...
Like many colleagues across our community, I’m dismayed by these cuts. The UK should be building on its scientific strengths, not retreating from them, especially as a new government and new science minister seek to define the country’s future ambitions.
Royal Astronomical SocietyThe Royal Astronomical Society is shocked and dismayed to hear that the UK's iconic Jodrell Bank Observatory is at risk of closure amid a slew of catastrophic budget cuts. Read our full statement here: ras.ac.uk/news-and-pre...
Just off #BBCR4 World at One, arguing the importance of discovery science (like Jodrell) for long-term economic growth. I said I was heartbroken at the news: evidence just look at how exceptionally excited me & @mamaphysikerin.bsky.social were when we got to stand inside Lovell back in 2017 🥰 🔭🧪
Astronomer Royal for Scotland | Catherine HeymansI'm absolutely devastated for colleagues at Jodrell Bank who found out this morning that funding for the UK's e-MERLIN radio telescope array will be terminated. This is a short-sighted move, to save a tiny fraction of the overall UK science budget. #SaveJodrellBank 🔭🧪 www.bbc.co.uk/news/article...
Community Session #NAM2026 on UK astro-funding and govt support (or not) for sector. Great observations from @astroroyalscot.bsky.social and updates from @ukspaceagency.bsky.social #stfc - “watchful waiting” but praise for @royalastrosoc.bsky.social actions in raising the profile of the sector
Really looking forward to welcoming Julia to @lancasteruni.bsky.social School of Physics and Astronomy in the autumn! 👏 www.lancaster.ac.uk/news/bell-bu...
Bell Burnell Scholarship enables PhD after thirty years - Lancaster UniversityLancaster PhD student Julia Riley has been awarded a scholarship set up by leading physicist Professor Dame Jocelyn Bell Burnell and the Institute of Physics (IOP).www.lancaster.ac.uk
A day after the World Cup closing ceremony, the opening ceremony of NAM2026 officially gets us under way... ⚽️ ➡️ 🪐 Talks began at 9am but Prof Paul Newman from the University of Birmingham welcomes everybody to the conference and our President @jim-wild.bsky.social gives an opening address. 1/2 ⤵️
My first National Astronomy Meeting as President of the @royalastrosoc.bsky.social. Looking forward to talking to folks - please come and say hello!
Royal Astronomical SocietyNAM2026 is here! 🎉🚀 Welcome everybody to the @unibirmingham.bsky.social for this year's National Astronomy Meeting, the largest astronomy conference of its kind in the UK. 💫🪐🔭 We've got a jam-packed week of talks – see the programme of what's on and where via the link in the comments. 🔗👇
Last week, Alice Power, our newly promoted Deputy Head of Publishing at RAS Journals, attended SPIE spie.org/conferences-... on behalf of RAS Journals to promote in particular RAS Techniques and Instruments (#RASTI). It was good to see all the visitors at the stand. @royalastrosoc.bsky.social
"Fundamental research should not be allowed to decline through attrition while public statements continue to suggest it is being protected." @jim-wild.bsky.social in @resprofnews.bsky.social today. Well worth a read. www.researchprofessionalnews.com/rr-news-uk-v...
Only long-term funding will save UK's fundamental science - Research Professional NewsJim Wild explains what the STFC settlement tells us about the future of fundamental research funding policy in the UKwww.researchprofessionalnews.comFundamental science needs long-term thinking! In my op-ed for RPN I argue that short-term funding cycles undermine discovery, skills development and the UK's future research capacity. If we want world-leading science, we must invest for the long haul.
Only long-term funding will save UK's fundamental science - Research Professional NewsJim Wild explains what the STFC settlement tells us about the future of fundamental research funding policy in the UKwww.researchprofessionalnews.comToday's STFC announcement brings relief for many but not all in UK astronomy, but the headlines mask a great deal of uncertainty. The full consequences won't be clear for some time yet. My thoughts are with colleagues in parts of the research system facing much more difficult outcomes today.
Royal Astronomical Society📣 Astronomy funding update 📣 The RAS cautiously welcomes the decision by @ukri.org/STFC to largely protect UK astronomy from the catastrophic cuts previously under consideration. It follows months of campaigning amid fears UK astronomy would be hit by a budget reduction of around 30 per cent. ⤵️
Our new @solarstormwatch citizen science project launched today! Can you spare time to help us identify times when the skies in the Arctic are clear? You will see beautiful #aurora and will help us to improve our #spaceweather research. www.zooniverse.org/projects/lep...
Clear Skies - Kiruna | Zooniverse - People-powered researchCan you tell us when the skies are clear? You may even see an aurora!www.zooniverse.orgIf this leaked info is to be trusted, we'll soon be adding #SaveJodrellBank to #SaveUKAstronomy🔭. I fear this is UKRI "rolling the pitch" to prepare us for the official announcement of unpleasant news😔 There is still a little glimmer hope though: A DSIT spokesperson said: "This is speculation".
Research Professional NewsUK research at Cern to shrink as government approves STFC cuts. 🚨Exclusive: Science department approves UKRI’s cost-saving proposal, with major UK facilities also facing cutbacks. www.researchprofessionalnews.com/rr-news-uk-r...
At today's UKRI board meeting, the fate of UK particle physics and astronomy will likely be decided. Have we done enough to convince the powers-that-be to halt the proposed funding cuts? 🤞 Read Prof. Hiranya Peiris in Nature today eloquently explaining why these cuts are wrong.🧪🔭⚛️ 📖: rdcu.be/friwM
Royal Astronomical SocietyStars of physics are in Westminster right now to call on the Government to halt funding cuts to astronomy and particle physics research. Professor Brian Cox called them "inexplicable", urging the Government to instead "trust, inspire and continue to invest in the next generation of scientists".
"Restructuring research funding as a choice between discovery and application gets the economics wrong, the evidence wrong and the people wrong." Timely piece by Hiranya Peiris in Nature Reviews Physics as we await UKRI/STFC's decisions on what to cut. rdcu.be/friwM
Discovery is not the opposite of applicationNature Reviews Physics - Restructuring research funding as a choice between discovery and application gets the economics wrong, the evidence wrong and the people wrong.rdcu.be