Realised during a little local jog today that it’s two years ago this weekend that I successfully completed a Bob Graham Round! Need to find another challenge 🤔
Prof Jim Wild
@jim-wild.bsky.social
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.
Speaking in an interview for Times Radio, Lord Martin Rees (the UK’s previous Astronomer Royal and a former President of the Royal Astronomical Society) notes that UKRI “does have a reputation for rather poor decision-making”. youtu.be/8NLQTi-2h-I?...
The Shutting Of Jodrell Bank Is A Mistake | Lord Rees
YouTube video by Times News
youtu.be
Strongly recommend Sarah Perry on the wonder of Jodrell 🔭 observer.co.uk/news/nationa...
Earth to Whitehall: the wonder and knowledge of Jodrell B...
The threatened closure of the world-famous radio telescope is symptomatic of a drive against learning and inquiry that is making us sicker as a society
observer.co.uk
"UKRI wants to tell a big story about science funding going up, but instead is mired in a row over a fairly minor sum that has angered scientists and sections of the public. One does not have to be an astronomer to know that optics matter." 💯
The Guardian view on the Lovell telescope: budget cuts to physics are bad science and worse politics | Editorial
Editorial: Funders have picked a damaging fight with scientists and the public. They should reconsider their plans
theguardian.com
Sadly it's not just #JodrellBank losing funding, with deep cuts across the board for UK astronomy. One example is the HiPERCAM project whose funding has been entirely cut to save £50K/yr - peanut-levels of £s. Spectacular fast transient science lost, for what? 🔭😡 www.zmescience.com/science/astr...
One of Astronomy’s Fastest Cameras May Stop Operating Over a $67,000 Funding Gap
The camera that checked JWST’s clock is losing its funding.
zmescience.com
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 News
Science and Technology Facilities Council announces nine projects “not prioritised for further funding”
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 drain
Funding crisis could lead to an exodus that would be a blow for British science and national growth
theguardian.com
If 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 Wild@jim-wild.bsky.social · 6mo agoGiven 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 Society@royalastrosoc.bsky.social · last wk.The 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 Heymans@astroroyalscot.bsky.social · last wk.I'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...
Preparing to head home from NAM 2026 in Birmingham. Conversations reflected the challenges facing our community, but the sense of optimism remains. The science was outstanding and the passion and talent of students and early career researchers were impossible to miss. Tired but re-energised!
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 University
Lancaster 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).
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 Society@royalastrosoc.bsky.social · 2w agoNAM2026 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 News
Jim Wild explains what the STFC settlement tells us about the future of fundamental research funding policy in the UK
researchprofessionalnews.com
Fundamental 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 News
Jim Wild explains what the STFC settlement tells us about the future of fundamental research funding policy in the UK
researchprofessionalnews.com
Today'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@royalastrosoc.bsky.social · 4w ago📣 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 research
Can you tell us when the skies are clear? You may even see an aurora!
zooniverse.org
If 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 News@resprofnews.bsky.social · 4w agoUK 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 Society@royalastrosoc.bsky.social · 2mo agoStars 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 application
Nature 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
A very valuable resource. This is the discussion of UKRI unchecked.uk/public_body_...
Prof Christina Pagel@chrischirp.bsky.social · last mo.📢NEW RESOURCE: A new web resource and accompanying report to explore the vulnerabilities to political interference of 33 key UK scientific public bodies & 11 scientific advisory committees! unchecked.uk/public_body_... 1/7
Congratulations to my colleague Prof. Isobel Hook on securing a €2.5M ERC Advanced Grant. SPARKLES will study supernovae and their environments to explore dark energy and the accelerating Universe ✨ www.lancaster.ac.uk/physics/abou...
Lancaster astrophysicist awarded €2.5 million for supernovae project - Lancaster University
Professor of Astrophysics Isobel Hook has been awarded €2.5 million for research into supernovae and dark energy by the European Research Council.
lancaster.ac.uk
Some LU updates: our Physics Department is now the School of Physics & Astronomy - a brilliant milestone after years of building a strong astronomy programme. I’m also delighted to be taking over as Head of School from 1 Sep. Really looking forward to helping this fantastic community keep thriving!
Physics Department renamed as the School of Physics and Astronomy - Lancaster University
The University’s Senate has formally approved the renaming of the Department of Physics as the School of Physics and Astronomy, recognising the strength, scale, and breadth of activity across both dis...
lancaster.ac.uk
It was inevitable, wasn't it🙄 Of course the Telegraph would run with something like this👇 So let's remove some of the rose-tinted spectacles and also look at some of that data comparing 1976 with modern heat waves Because the 1976 nostalgia porn is wearing a bit thin at this stage 🧵1/23
'A senior member of one of STFC’s advisory bodies told RPN that the..exercise represents “a major crisis for the UK"...all of the outcomes modelled are “shocking”....the government would be “committing an act of national self-harm by imposing these cuts”.' 🙏 @francesjones.bsky.social
Research Professional News@resprofnews.bsky.social · last mo.Exclusive: STFC evaluation lays bare ‘huge damage’ if cuts go ahead. Advisers warn of “major crisis” for UK research as impact assessment is sent to ministers. www.researchprofessionalnews.com/rr-news-uk-r...