All articles tagged with #lovell telescope
Prime Minister Andy Burnham pledged to save Jodrell Bank Observatory after UKRI said the site would not be prioritised for funding beyond March 2028, vowing to find a way to keep the Lovell telescope operational and to arrange further talks with MPs to secure alternative funding as more than 150 public figures urge government support; without new funding, observations at Jodrell are set to cease on 1 April 2028.
UKRI's STFC plans to terminate £2.8m/year of funding for the e-Merlin network in 2028, risking the Lovell telescope at Jodrell Bank unless alternative funding is found. The move is part of broader PPAN cuts, including scrapping about £49m for a CERN LHCb upgrade and £58.8m for the US Electron-Ion Collider, while the SKA remains funded and UKRI plans to boost budgets for AI and quantum tech; officials say the reductions aim to protect postdocs and PhD opportunities and preserve UK leadership, even as energy costs and international memberships rise.
The UK government is cutting funding for the Jodrell Bank Observatory (owned by the University of Manchester), risking its research output and up to 28 jobs as investment shifts toward the Square Kilometre Array. While STFC continues some support for SKA-related work, critics warn the move could weaken the UK’s long‑term radio astronomy capabilities and training for young scientists.
The UK’s Jodrell Bank Observatory faces closure after UKRI cuts shave its £2.8m annual budget as part of a 2.7% reduction in astronomy and related research, risking 28 jobs and Britain’s radio astronomy capabilities—including the Lovell telescope, the e-Merlin network, and future SKA involvement—unless alternative funding is found.