Chris McDonald the frontrunner to be next science minister, reports @robinbisson.bsky.social. Strong background in industry research: former laboratory manager in Tata Steel’s research division and chief executive of Materials Processing Institute. www.researchprofessionalnews.com/rr-news-uk-p...

Chris McDonald in frame to be UK science minister - Research Professional News

MP appointed to new business and science department has industrial research background

researchprofessionalnews.com

Almost exactly 6 months ago, RPN was leaked a document presented to STFC staff that said the council had to reduce spending by £162m by 2029-30 That kicked off months of debate on how cuts would be made But only now has it become clear the total cost savings needed over 4 years is in fact £684m 🧵

Burnham's decision to abolish Dsit has taken some flak from science leaders. But big picture behind it is Burnham's vision on the economy - in particular on remedying the legacy of Thatcher-era deindustrialisation. This may mean controversial changes on balance and geography of research funding.

There was already huge concern about impact of STFC cuts on UK science. Now @robinbisson.bsky.social reveals its true cost overrun is nearly £700m over four years. STFC and UKRI leadership previously cited figure of £162m savings by end of 29-30. www.researchprofessionalnews.com/rr-news-uk-r...

Jonathan Reynolds, now the secretary of state for business, innovation, science and trade, has moved to allay fears from science leaders about Dsit abolition. Bringing business and science together in one department "a big win for science", he says. www.researchprofessionalnews.com/rr-news-uk-p...

Jonathan Reynolds named science secretary as Dsit abolished - Research Professional News

Reynolds will lead Department for Business, Innovation, Science and Trade after Burnham shakeup

researchprofessionalnews.com

Some of the UK funding for major international and domestic science in line for cuts, under STFC cost-savings plan being announced by UKRI today. As previously revealed by @resprofnews.bsky.social, @francesjones.bsky.social @robinbisson.bsky.social www.researchprofessionalnews.com/rr-news-uk-r...

Major science facilities to be scaled back, UKRI confirms as it unveils final STFC cost-savings plan. STFC will also reduce project spending, despite £135m of fresh money. @francesjones.bsky.social got hold of details ahead of imminent announcement. www.researchprofessionalnews.com/rr-news-uk-r...

Major science facilities to be scaled back, UKRI confirms - Research Professional News

Science and Technology Facilities Council will also reduce project spending, despite £135m of fresh money

researchprofessionalnews.com

British participation in Cern set to decline, while major UK research facilities such as Lovell Telescope also set to be hit, after govt approves UKRI's proposal to save £160m at STFC. By @robinbisson.bsky.social @francesjones.bsky.social www.researchprofessionalnews.com/rr-news-uk-r...

UK research at Cern to shrink as government approves STFC cuts - Research Professional News

Exclusive: Science department approves UKRI’s cost-saving proposal, with major UK facilities also facing cutbacks

researchprofessionalnews.com

UK 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...

UK research at Cern to shrink as government approves STFC cuts - Research Professional News

Exclusive: Science department approves UKRI’s cost-saving proposal, with major UK facilities also facing cutbacks

researchprofessionalnews.com

Very sad to be sharing this news: Research Professional News to discontinue publication at end of 2026. www.researchprofessionalnews.com/rr-news-uk-o...

Research Professional News to discontinue publication at end of 2026 - Research Professional News

A message for readers about the publication’s closure and continued community access to past reporting

researchprofessionalnews.com

Andy Burnham set out ambitions to put universities "at the heart of local economies" and make the UK the world's leading "innovation nation", in a speech making those goals central to his vision for rolling out "Manchesterism" across the UK. www.researchprofessionalnews.com/rr-news-uk-p...

Burnham: ‘UK can be world’s leading innovation nation’ - Research Professional News

PM-in-waiting wants universities “at heart of local economies” but pledges education shift beyond “university route”

researchprofessionalnews.com

Burnham: "growth cannot be ordered from the top down...it can only be nurtured from the bottom up". Among the sources of growth he lists: "Placing our universities at the heart of local economies, as all our mayors do, and leading the innovation economy better through start-ups and scale-ups."

Brexit 10 years on: as bad as universities feared? A decade after the #Brexit vote, universities are still grappling with consequences in research and recruitment. We take a deep dive into how the research sector has fared. www.researchprofessionalnews.com/rr-news-uk-u...

Brexit 10 years on: as bad as universities feared? - Research Professional News

A decade after the vote, universities are still grappling with consequences in research and recruitment

researchprofessionalnews.com

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...

STFC evaluation lays bare ‘huge damage’ if cuts go ahead - Research Professional News

Advisers warn of “major crisis” for UK research as impact assessment is sent to ministers

researchprofessionalnews.com

Lots of important insight in this from @johnmorgan3.bsky.social Not least this from @richardaljones.bsky.social: “The Manchester success story is real—there is a productivity increase” Starmer was criticised for lacking a clear economic plan Will devolved R&D be part of Burnham's alternative?

Could Andy Burnham deploy R&D ‘Manchesterism’ across the UK? - Research Professional News

Starmer resignation spotlights ministers’ futures and potential for R&D funding devolution under a Burnham premiership

researchprofessionalnews.com

Peer-reviewed papers are ‘old hat science’, says millionaire investor. Candy Crush businessman Mel Morris says universities “must embrace AI” to transform into economic powerhouses. www.researchprofessionalnews.com/rr-news-uk-i...

Peer-reviewed papers are ‘old hat science’, says millionaire investor - Research Professional News

Candy Crush businessman Mel Morris says universities “must embrace AI” to transform into economic powerhouses

researchprofessionalnews.com

‘More radical’ approach urged to cope with rising research grant bids. Universities must help ‘limit the flow’ of applications as funders grapple with volume, experts say. www.researchprofessionalnews.com/rr-news-uk-r...

‘More radical’ approach urged to cope with rising research grant bids - Research Professional News

Universities must help ‘limit the flow’ of applications as funders grapple with volume, experts say

researchprofessionalnews.com

I spoke to a few people involved in randomisation in research funding in some way for this piece, none of whom seemed to be aware that UKRI had moved towards lotteries being an optional tool in grant assessment Most were also supportive of the idea in general, but there were plenty of questions 🧵

Research Professional News@resprofnews.bsky.social · 3mo ago

UKRI urged to be ‘transparent’ after adopting grant lotteries. Funder’s quiet introduction of randomisation option across opportunities prompts questions, plus support for “innovative” action. www.researchprofessionalnews.com/rr-news-uk-r...

The European Research Council is reversing controversial restrictions on grant applications it announced last week. ERC president Maria Leptin makes clear that opposition from researchers drove the reversal. Story by @francesjones.bsky.social www.researchprofessionalnews.com/rr-news-euro...

FT article effectively sets out the stats on explosion of university business courses, pinpointing student number control abolition in 2015 as key. Given DWP now in charge of skills and Milburn reviewing youth unemployment for DWP, this view seems significant for unis: www.ft.com/content/e199...

Orbán's defeat has big implications for universities and research, in Hungary and across the West. Here, five Hungarian and European scholars and experts weigh up the damage done to universities by his authoritarianism, and what needs to change. www.researchprofessionalnews.com/rr-news-euro...

After Orbán: what next for Hungary’s researchers? - Research Professional News

Five experts weigh up the damage done by authoritarianism, and what needs to change

researchprofessionalnews.com

There is "deep concern" from researchers over the European Research Council's restrictions on grant applications - particularly on the retroactive impact for previously unsuccessful applicants. @francesjones.bsky.social hears about the worries. www.researchprofessionalnews.com/rr-news-euro...

Breaking: Looming physics cuts a ‘failure’, says science committee chair. Chi Onwurah says science minister and UKRI leadership must “bear responsibility” and “win back trust”. www.researchprofessionalnews.com/rr-news-uk-p...

Something of a Friday 13th for the science department today - Chi Onwurah has lambasted Patrick Vallance over "wholly unacceptable" physics cuts - The NAO has reported a £5.6bn repair backlog to uni infrastructure - MPs have said regional growth is suffering from poor data on R&D spending 🧵 ...

Really stinging criticism by @chionwurah.bsky.social of Dsit, UKRI and STFC leadership over cuts to physics funding. The Commons science committee chair writes in a new letter to Patrick Vallance and UKRI's Ian Chapman:

University job cuts are leading to cuts in academics' research time, spotlighted here by @resprofnews.bsky.social. At the very same time the govt is looking for more economic return from the R&D budget, UK research capacity is being cut. Here's Kent as an example:

Tipping point reached in the university exodus from X? More universities "now off X than on it", finds @andytattersall.bsky.social analysis. www.researchprofessionalnews.com/rr-news-uk-u...

Most UK universities now inactive on X - Research Professional News

Tipping point reached as shift away from Elon Musk’s social media platform continues

researchprofessionalnews.com

Birmingham v-c Adam Tickell made some really interesting comments at @britishacademy.bsky.social conference. Called university languages closures a "national catastrophe", said uni mergers may be needed to address it. Not many v-cs are willing to take public stand on national sector issues.

Significant from Patrick Vallance at Lords science committee: He is "determined that UKRI must find a way to look after" STFC's physics, astronomy and nuclear grants. "Tension" between STFC facilities and grants funding "needs to be resolved". www.researchprofessionalnews.com/rr-news-uk-r...

Vallance: UKRI ‘must find a way’ to protect physics grants programme - Research Professional News

Curiosity-driven research “cannot suffer” from budget pressures, science minister tells Lords committee

researchprofessionalnews.com

UUK chief exec Vivienne Stern asked, at British Academy event, if govt should review HE system: Risk of "opening up Pandora's Box". Don't review "if you don't know what's going to come out of it". Plan 2 loans pressure such there's "real danger Treasury will think only way out is another review".