Mood

“The scientists at the Wellcome Genome Campus are aiming to make healthcare breakthroughs — but first they must grapple with how to get to the office” www.ft.com/content/3bf2...

Today in political history: 25 March is the five year anniversary of Charles Walker’s ‘pint of milk protest’ “For the next few days I am going to walk around London with a pint of milk on my person, because that pint will represent my protest”

This is my life now 100jumps.org

Just realised that the 3 Lions ‘30 years of hurt’ is 30 years ago this year. They were singing about something as recent as 1996 is now.

Excellent example of select committee scrutiny through an incisive follow-up letter on cuts to particle physics and astronomy at STFC. A great set of questions here after last week’s session. committees.parliament.uk/publications...

As EU #research funding shifts toward #competitiveness, support for global challenges is tightening. A report from Centre for European Policy Studies argues that the next Horizon Europe should formally integrate philanthropy to help fill the gap:

And on how often Astronomer Royals go into battle - it does happen, most recently in the late 90's during the "Observatory Wars". They decided to close one of the Royal Observatory's (Greenwich vs Edinburgh). Edinburgh won the case and became the very wonderful UK Astronomy Technology Centre.

Some good UK science policy select committee sessions to look forward to next week, in both the Commons and the Lords: 🍿 Tuesday 3 Mar - Lords S&T Committee quizzing Liz Kendall, Patrick Vallance and Emran Mian (DSIT Perm Sec). I imagine they'll be trying to get a handle on those buckets (ahem).

Kanishka Narayan said that STFC is “currently consulting with the scientific community about spending priorities within their settlement ahead of determining final allocation” And DSIT is in “active dialogue with UKRI to ensure that any implications from funding decisions are fully understood” ...

Ian Chapman makes the case that he would not be doing his job properly if he didn't deal with the cost overruns at STFC, which are causing so much grief to physicists Physics groups are calling on ministers to intervene (presumably with more cash) And there is now a response from a minister ...

There's a risk UK participation rates in Horizon Pillar II becoming a self-fulfilling prophecy - the more we create fresh uncertainty about future participation because of low success, the more we disrupt potential collaboration. So maybe... let's not do that?

Chi Onwurah notes a strong alignment between the UK's three 'buckets' for R&D investments and the three 'pillars' of Horizon Europe. On the balance between the buckets - Ian Chapman highlights the contirbution that other govt depts make to Bucket 2 if you were to look beyond UKRI

Ian Chapman: no move away from applicant-led funding at UKRI. BBSRC funding pause is a temporary - 'a matter of a few weeks' before they move to an always-open system (as at e.g. EPSRC, AHRC). MRC pause will extend to early summer, and then will open again.

[email protected] asks Ian Chapman whether the National Science and Technology Council - a UK Cabinet Cttee - is still meeting & if he presents to it? Ian can't answer - but that's because the NSTC was quietly scrapped in November, and no-one has noticed yet www.gov.uk/government/p...

Some initial reactions to the 'published on a Sunday afternoon' letter from the CEO of UKRI. 🧵 www.ukri.org/news/open-le...

CaSE: “UKRI need to explain how the cuts detailed in this letter are consistent with the commitment to protect curiosity-led research […] “The information we have had so far is a failure in communication and transparency” www.sciencecampaign.org.uk/press/detail...

Quite timely that Sir Ian Chapman, UKRI CEO, will be in front of the House of Commons Science, Innovation and Technology Committee on Tuesday next week… 👀

Big development with some major consequences for British physics research STFC is asking asking leaders of projects it funds "to identify how their project would respond to flat cash and reductions of 20 per cent, 40 per cent and 60 per cent" Major UK science facilities are also facing cuts

If you're looking for a sign to switch careers: this is the sign.

Who could fail to enjoy Wikipedia’s ‘List of lists of lists’, which of course includes the article itself on the list, goven that it is a list of lists en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of...

After a period of inactivity, we are reactivating this account as a primary channel for connecting with the research community. We'll be sharing new outputs, our latest guidance, and commentary on all things research integrity. Give us a follow and join the conversation💬

Interesting article. Splitting UKRI into three completely separate orgs would require primary legislation - but altering the structure of UKRI itself to reflect the 3 buckets (ie ditching the research council structure) can be done by secondary legislation…

📢 Applications for our Policy Officer role are still open! If you're passionate about driving change in government, and ensuring people have access to the heart care they need, we want to hear from you ❤️ Click the link below for more information and to apply 🔗 jobs.bhf.org.uk/vacancies/19...

'The UK is now between a rock and a hard place: how can it support the volume and focus of research needed to grow the knowledge-based economy of our UK industrial strategy, while also addressing the financial deficits that even the existing levels of research create?'

Possible restaurant names: Prawn Hundred and Eighty Double Fourtune Cookie Rice to the Challenge You Dim Sum, You Lose Some Panda to the Crowd The Hong Kong Oche Club www.bbc.co.uk/sport/darts/...

UKRI's allocation of budget up to 2030 just out. More about 'buckets' than just allocations for individual research councils this time round. Spending on curiosity-driven research flat, while budget linked to govt priorities, innovation will rise. www.researchprofessionalnews.com/rr-news-uk-r...

Easy to miss, but Research England will now require "minimum standards" on research culture as a condition of funding Collecting baseline data was mooted as part of REF, but dropped "to keep REF focused on its core purpose" Instead RE will "establish rigorous standards” on culture in 2026

REF 2029 will still move the needle on research culture. Despite word ‘culture’ disappearing from the environment element, its essence remains, write Karen Stroobants, Yolana Pringle and Elizabeth Gadd. www.researchprofessionalnews.com/rr-news-uk-v...

🎉Measures of research environments are now going to play a bigger part in the REF. Improving research culture is the foundation of future excellence - everyone involved in research culture should be pleased with today's Announcement. Brace yourself for my SPRE acronym quip... #culture

AI accidentally manages to add another layer to this poem. A profound message for our times.

“Big change sometimes results from small steps. Incorporating a supportive research culture into the REF is one such step. Bullying and harassment are serious problems, and excellence in research and a supportive environment are not mutually exclusive” www.nature.com/articles/d41...

‘We know this funding works. Every £l spent on public R&D generates £8 in benefits for the country over the long term’ says Secretary of State for Science and Technology @lizforleicester.bsky.social www.thetimes.com/article/c9e4...

UK health research is getting a £27 million boost. We’re partnering with @acmedsci.bsky.social to support biomedical and health researchers across the UK. From cross-sector collaboration to support for clinical academics, this funding will address some of UK health research’s biggest challenges.

Accurate AI summary of the entirety of Twitter

Is it 'online training course'?

The latest @rorinstitute.bsky.social/STEaPP seminar 'Science advice in a populist age' has a stellar line up to discuss this critical topic. Book now for 01 Dec to avoid disappointment. Free, but places are limited. www.eventbrite.co.uk/e/science-ad...

Public support for R&D is ‘broad but shallow’, report warns. Highlight personal connections and local links to protect investment from political shifts, Case advises. www.researchprofessionalnews.com/rr-news-uk-i...

It’s official! Switzerland joins #HorizonEU & #Euratom Research & Training, the EU’s programmes for R&I! Swiss researchers & organisations can now fully collaborate on research, innovation & digital transformation, driving solutions across Europe. 🔗 link.europa.eu/G4Jfjw

Players from Patcham Silver Band supporting the Salvation Army today in Brighton for Remembrance Sunday. Bram (in the SA hat) has played the Last Post here since 1967

“Science has recently been the professed interest of just a handful of MPs… But this year, something has changed.” Our Director Tracey Brown explores Parliament's growing interest among MPs in science and research, and how #EvidenceWeek helps bridge the gap between policymakers and researchers.

The Riker minifig comes with a lil’ trombone 😍 www.lego.com/en-gb/produc...

'Music and modern foreign languages degrees are among courses being suspended at the University of Nottingham, with the institution saying it “cannot rely on additional income” from the coming tuition fee rises.' 1/3

'Nottingham put part of the blame for the continued financial uncertainty on the proposed international student fee levy, pointing out that it will “wipe out any benefits” that will come from the Westminster government’s recent decision to link fees to inflation.' 3/3

With more and more countries pursuing policies aimed at attracting the most highly skilled workers, the UK and US need to realise that perceptions also matter, and — in the UK’s case — that this is just one more area where a bit of economic growth would help. My column: www.ft.com/content/d70c...

NEW from me: Political hostility, high visa fees and (in the case of the UK) stagnant incomes are making the UK and US less attractive destinations for top international talent. That steep decline in the appeal of moving to the US after 2016 is 👀

"Dsit’s assessment is that every £1 of civil public R&D investment generates £8 in economic benefits. This rather raises the question of why we don’t just bosh it another £3bn and wipe out the budget deficit, but we’re probably oversimplifying things" www.researchprofessionalnews.com/rr-he-govern...

‘The CBI and Universities UK… said universities already subsidised research by £5.4 billion a year, largely through international student income. A levy would "accelerate contraction" in research and innovation, they warned.’ www.thetimes.com/article/95f2...

But while Brits see research as a core role of universities, awareness is fairly low: less than half of non-graduates say they are “fully aware” of the research that universities do, while a fifth say they are “not at all” aware. In focus groups research was often an afterthought

Asked about the most important roles of universities, their wider national (and international) contributions are the top: training professionals and researching new medicines are main reasons, followed by the benefits they provide to students.