Prof Jim Wild

Can we rewind: are there three or four buckets?

Great summary of today's Science, Information & Technology Committee hearing (House of Commons) from @astroroyalscot.bsky.social.

It seems pretty clear that there have been serious structural and governance failures at STFC that have led to the current crisis.

Whether in times of plenty or hardship, I am always concerned when I hear that ECRs need to move around for the benefit of their careers. They need to be at the most appropriate place to do the research, which can mean *not* moving too!

4 March 2026 - Science, Innovation and Technology Committee - Oral evidence session - Committees - UK Parliament 09:00 - The Wilson Room, Portcullis House

Bravo to the scientists, @astroroyalscot.bsky.social, @jonbutterworth.bsky.social and Simon Williams who gave such compelling and clear evidence to the House of Commons SIT Committee this morning 👏
committees.parliament.uk/event/26683/...

People sat in rows a committee hearing - all smartly dressed

Here is my run-down of today's Science and Technology Committee hearing (House of Lords) where "considerable disquiet in the science community" was raised with Sir Patrick Vallance. Really great to see the public gallery packed with physicists!

Universities use QR funding for a wide array of costs to support their research. The idea that it all goes to “curiosity driven research” is totally wrong.

Either UKRI knows this and is deliberately misleading Parliament, or, perhaps worse, it doesn’t.

🧪

committees.parliament.uk/publications...

I'm sure we'll all agree that everything is now super clear 😵‍💫

High res version here: committees.parliament.uk/publications...

UKRI shares first detailed comparisons of past and future spending under new ‘bucket’ model - Committees - UK Parliament Professor Sir Ian Chapman, Chief Executive of UKRI, has written to the Committee Chair, Dame Chi Onwurah, to provide previously unavailable information about its new 'bucket'-led approach to funding r...

Just published: Professor Sir Ian Chapman, Chief Executive of UKRI, has written to the Science, Innovation and Technology Committee Chair, Dame Chi Onwurah, to provide previously unavailable information about its new 'bucket'-led approach to funding research.
committees.parliament.uk/committee/13...

Well, it's been a busy day prepping for my upcoming appearance in Westminster👇. The chocolate is all gone. This thread contains evidenced statistics to support the continued (not cut) funding for UK particle, astro and nuclear physics (PPAN). Thanks to everyone who contributed today! 🧵

It's extraordinary that this House of Commons select committee session will include evidence from both the Astronomer Royal of Scotland (Prof Heymans) on the impact of STFC's proposed cuts, and evidence from the UK Astronomer Royal (and STFC Chair, Prof Dougherty) on why they are necessary.

4 March 2026 - Science, Innovation and Technology Committee - Oral evidence session - Committees - UK Parliament 09:00 - The Wilson Room, Portcullis House

Astronomers take note: The Science, Innovation and Technology Committee are having another session on Wednesday, taking evidence from (among others) the Prof Catherine Heymans @astroroyalscot.bsky.social and STFC Executive Chait Prof Michele Dougherty.

committees.parliament.uk/event/26683/...

Good luck Catherine - you’ve got this 🫡

Another aspect of the economic argument: it’s hard to pick winners! 20 years ago, the leader of an earlier incarnation of STFC said that solar-terrestrial physics was low value and shouldn’t be supported. Within 5 years “severe space weather” was included in the UK Government National Risk Register!

STFC CEO responds to @jonbutterworth.bsky.social

"it is important for all of our ... programmes ... to contribute to us making savings across our entire portfolio"

No mention that *all* is disproportionately falling on the particle-astro-nuclear programme 🤷‍♀️😡

www.theguardian.com/science/2026...

Shocking from UKRI: no more aircraft observations, investing in "land-based capabilities and remote sensing equipment."

The atmosphere is not land-based(!) and remote sensing can only provide an approximation of what FAAM could do. And I say that as someone who should gain from such a pivot.

When and where to see the Northern Lights in the UK in 2026 Experts say 2026 will be a peak year for aurora spotting as the Sun reaches the maximum of its cycle.

Some great advice from Lancaster’s @jim-wild.bsky.social on how to get the best view of the Northern Lights in 2026, as told to BBC News Online 🌌

www.bbc.co.uk/news/article...

'Reverse the cuts': RAS urges Vallance to avert scientific crisis The Royal Astronomical Society (RAS) has called on science minister Patrick Vallance to step in and prevent the "catastrophic damage to astronomy and space science" ...

We have written to Science Minister Lord Patrick Vallance urging him to step him and help reverse the cuts to astronomy and space science proposed by the Science and Technology Facilities Council last month.

Read the letter in full 👉️ ras.ac.uk/news-and-pre...

Today the astro-community discussed the devastating proposed 30% cuts to our research funding, cuts that will be offsetting (some of the) rising costs at UK facilities that we don't use. Hard not to feel victimised when those same facilities make a fanfare announcement about an expensive facelift. 🔭

Photocall: the recently rediscovered portrait of British astronomer Richard Carrington (the father of #spaceweather), legendary space physicist and President of the Royal Astronomical Society Prof Mike Lockwood, and me 😁@royalastrosoc.bsky.social #astronomy #space

“it's the same science that explains how stoves and fridges work, and I have never met a single person who believed that stoves and fridges were a myth”

Met Office blog post 13 February 2026 The school-taught physics that helps us understand space weather

In the first of a new series of Deeper Dive YouTube exclusives, Alex Deakin had an in-depth discussion with Professor Craig Rodger from the University of Otago, an expert on space weather and its impacts on the electricity network.

Read more: www.metoffice.gov.uk/blog/2026/de...

Professor Mike Cruise. Credit: Lucinda Douglas Menzies.

The RAS was saddened to hear of the passing of our former President, Professor Mike Cruise, who has died aged 78.

"Kind, thoughtful and honourable", Mike was a "stalwart of the RAS". Our thoughts are with his family, friends and all who had the privilege to know him.

ras.ac.uk/news-and-pre...

It increasingly seems like that is the case John.

spot on Professor Rice

UK ‘could lose generation of scientists’ with cuts to projects and research facilities UK’s research funding body says best scientists are taking posts overseas due to lack of job stability at home

Start your weekend with @iansample.bsky.social’s coverage of the financial problems faced by UK astronomers, with contributions from RAS President Mike Lockwood and Astronomer Royal for Scotland Catherine Heymans @astroroyalscot.bsky.social

www.theguardian.com/science/2026...

If you are an early-career researcher worried about the threats to funding in Astronomy, nuclear and particle physics, you should consider signing this open letter👇

Thanks to @iansample.bsky.social at the Guardian for covering the devastating funding cuts that are being proposed for UK (astro)physics, and the dire impact these would have on young researchers. Will UKRI/STFC reconsider? Will the UKGov step in?🤞👩‍🔬🧪⚛️🔭

www.theguardian.com/science/2026...

Thanks for highlighting @telescoper.bsky.social and @astroroyalscot.bsky.social. Very interesting to see this insight shared.

Featuring the then RAS President and then Astronomer Royal, the late Patrick Moore, a fresh-faced @profbriancox.bsky.social and many others. I can be seen mixing my metaphors about jam and mustard towards the end.