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John Womersley

@johnwomersley.bsky.social

Special Advisor, University of Edinburgh. Former Director General of European Spallation Source and CEO of Science and Technology Facilities Council. Physicist and cynic. Posting in a personal capcity.

111 Posts96 Follower33 Folgt
John Womersley@johnwomersley.bsky.social · 2mo ago

Juxtaposition of these two stories in my timeline seems highly ironic. If the UK can’t afford (or doesn’t want to) properly operate big facilities like Diamond which clearly support our industrial strategy, how can we even contemplate a multi billion share of a new particle accelerator?

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John Womersley@johnwomersley.bsky.social · 3mo ago

There is absolutely no reason to transfer PPAN grants to EPSRC - especially right now, as the funding associated with any transfer would undoubtedly be at the planned reduced level and hence too low to sustain them properly. It would simply move the problem from one council to another within UKRI.

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

STFC advisers ‘vehemently’ oppose transfer of grants programme to EPSRC Removal of mechanism protecting physics grants also branded a “huge mistake” by former leader @johnwomersley.bsky.social www.researchprofessionalnews.com/rr-news-uk-r...

Lucien Heurtier@lucienheurtier.bsky.social · 3mo ago

What is the "Drayson Partition", why was it created, and what was it guaranteeing? 👉@johnwomersley.bsky.social makes it clear to UKRI and STFC after they seem to have abandoned it. ⏪In case you missed it: particle physics, astronomy, and nuclear physics research are facing huge cuts in the UK...

John Womersley@johnwomersley.bsky.social · 3mo ago

I just sent this letter to the Science Minister and the CEO of UKRI concerning STFC's budgets

John Womersley@johnwomersley.bsky.social · 6mo ago

I understand the angle here, but I wouldn't want people to think that all this furore is just about LHCb. STFC plans to cut particle physics and astronomy research in the UK by 30%. That means one in three researchers risk losing their jobs. One in three university groups may close. Serious shit.

Harry Cliff@harrycliff.bsky.social · 6mo ago

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...

Research Professional News@resprofnews.bsky.social · 6mo ago

STFC ‘has chosen facilities over saving grants’, claims ex-adviser. Cambridge astrophysicist says science board was told of “long-term cut” to external grants programme. www.researchprofessionalnews.com/rr-news-uk-r...

STFC ‘has chosen facilities over saving grants’, claims ex-adviser - Research Professional News

Cambridge astrophysicist says science board was told of “long-term cut” to external grants programme

researchprofessionalnews.com

Astronomer Royal for Scotland | Catherine Heymans@astroroyalscot.bsky.social · 6mo ago

🔊 Calling UK early career researches in astro, particle & nuclear physics. Please sign this open response to the proposed cuts at STFC ⚛️🧪🔭 "Protecting the UK's reputation as a science superpower requires not only investment, but continuity, confidence, and people" ✍️ ecr-openletter-stfc.github.io

Christopher Berry@cplberry.bsky.social · 6mo ago

An excellent open-letter enumerating the dangers to early career researchers and then wider society of proposed changes to UK science funding ecr-openletter-stfc.github.io Early-career researchers may like to add their signatures 🧪⚛️🔭 #AcademicSky #UKpol

John Womersley@johnwomersley.bsky.social · 6mo ago

I think a lot of the physicists here had written popular books on fundamental physics. They enjoyed outreach and presenting science. I imagine the chance to share one's ideas and present them to people like Bill Gates was attractive in itself

LeithMotive@leithmotive.bsky.social · 6mo ago

Something which is intriguing me from a professional perspective is why almost all the scientists who involved themselves either physicists or psychologists? Why not biologists or chemists. Plenty of weird people and weird theories in those disciplines that might have appealed to Epstein.

Chris Havergal@chrishavergal.bsky.social · 8mo ago

“The reality must be that this work stream had drifted really far off course for this kind of dramatic action to be felt necessary so late in the process,” says @johnwomersley.bsky.social www.timeshighereducation.com/news/last-mi... via @jgro-the.bsky.social

Last-minute REF changes ‘show how far things drifted off course’

Decision to row back reforms demonstrates difficulties of using process to engineer social change, critics say, with little clarity over how newly revised ‘people’ section will work

timeshighereducation.com

John Womersley@johnwomersley.bsky.social · 9mo ago

My thoughts on how UKRI might use the REF (QR funding) and grants to drive universities to specialise more - via @timeshighered.bsky.social @jgro-the.bsky.social

Times Higher Education (THE)@timeshighered.bsky.social · 9mo ago

“No university wants to get put in the polytechnic box by abandoning the breadth of provision that you associate with a university” #AcademicSky #highered Read our latest in-depth on the UK skills White Paper: https://ow.ly/6f7450XovmZ

Robin Bisson@robinbisson.bsky.social · last yr.

John Womersley on what the future holds for UK R&D "In this new world, expect big shifts in funding towards research needed to underpin new defence capabilities, basic industrial capacity, food security, medicines manufacturing, data centres and national artificial intelligence capabilities"

UK science policy has a new priority: national survival - Research Professional News

Tight funds and crazy world might force universities into some uncomfortable allegiances, says John Womersley

researchprofessionalnews.com