The UK's scientific landscape is facing a period of significant uncertainty following UK Research and Innovation's (UKRI) announcement regarding the Science and Technology Facilities Council (STFC) budget. The funding package has elicited a divided response from experts, with some expressing profound concern over the future of foundational physics, while others in the astronomy community have voiced a degree of relief.
Paul Howarth, President of the Institute of Physics, issued a stark warning, stating that the decisions made by UKRI will create "long lasting uncertainty and damage in UK science." He highlighted deep cuts to crucial facilities and projects, predicting a detrimental impact on physics, the economy, and society at large. Howarth also cautioned that the package could undermine the UK's international standing, threaten the closure of important scientific institutions, and deter young people from pursuing careers in science and physics-related fields. He urged the government to act on recent parliamentary statements by Science, Innovation and Technology Secretary Liz Kendall, who emphasised physics' central role in the nation's future.
In contrast, the Royal Astronomical Society (RAS) and The Astronomer Royal for Scotland offered a more tempered reaction. Professor Jim Wild, RAS President, expressed relief that the severe cuts anticipated by the astronomy community had largely not materialised. He attributed this outcome to extensive efforts by scientists to communicate the value of discovery research. However, Professor Wild cautioned against triumphalism, acknowledging that colleagues across STFC, UKRI, and the wider research system face a challenging road ahead, and stressed the importance of ensuring all parts of the scientific ecosystem can flourish.
Professor Catherine Heymans, The Astronomer Royal for Scotland, echoed this sentiment, noting that while the headline settlement appears to preserve much of the UK's astronomy capability, important questions persist regarding the impact on facilities, technical expertise, and the broader research environment. She emphasised the need to ensure the UK's long-term capacity for world-leading discovery is not eroded, particularly in training the next generation of researchers.
Professor James Naismith, a Professor of Structural Biology and Visiting Investigator at the Rosalind Franklin Institute, acknowledged the extensive consultations with the science community to manage STFC's financial problems. While recognising the government's continued support for science, he stated that given the scale of the challenges, the announcement could not be entirely positive. He noted that additional funds from other parts of UKRI would provide time for adjustment but would inevitably limit ambition in other significant scientific areas, despite largely protecting the Particle Physics, Astronomy and Nuclear Physics (PPAN) budget for curiosity science and international subscriptions.