The UK’s Science and Technology Facilities Council (STFC) recently announced funding cuts to a range of physics and astronomy projects as it seeks to reduce costs. One of the most high-profile casualties is e-MERLIN, a network of seven radio telescopes spread across the UK, including the iconic Lovell Telescope at Jodrell Bank.
To discover what the cuts could mean for UK science and the livelihoods of those affected, podcast host Andrew Glester caught up with two astronomers at Jodrell Bank: Simon Garrington, e-MERLIN director, and David Williams-Baldwin, an e-MERLIN research support scientist.
They discuss why the cuts have caused such alarm among scientists, how the UK astronomy community is mobilizing in opposition, and why the consequences could extend far beyond Jodrell Bank.
Future of UK physics threatened by ‘ruinous’ funding cuts, says Institute of Physics
e-MERLIN combines signals from its telescopes to produce sharp radio images of the Universe – with a resolution comparable to that of the Hubble Space Telescope. As things stand, funding for the telescope array will run out in March 2028, putting the future of the network and scientific operations at Jodrell Bank in doubt.
It’s an uncertain time for an observatory that was granted UNESCO World Heritage status in July 2019 for its historical contributions and its technical and scientific ingenuity since the 1940s.
An STFC spokesperson emphasises that Jodrell Bank is “not closing” and “will continue to play an important role in UK science”. This includes the Square Kilometre Array Observatory that has its headquarters at Jodrell Bank as well as other radio astronomy research projects in the UK and elsewhere.
“We recognise the strength of feeling about Jodrell Bank and the e-MERLIN network, and the contribution they have made to UK science. The achievements of the scientists, engineers and staff who have supported e-MERLIN over many years are widely respected across the research community,” they add. “We are focusing on the next generation of radio astronomy to ensure UK researchers continue to be at the forefront of the field. Rising cost pressures mean that we have had to make difficult choices about STFC funding to make sure we are able to fund world class research sustainably into the future.”
