Last weekend my article was published discussing the potential closure of Jodrell Bank and the famous Lovell telescope. While it was a possibility, my feeling was that surely no-one would want to take such a drastic decision. To my great surprise today, the funding body responsible for this has published the decision that funding for the historic UNESCO World Heritage Site will be withdrawn, and that the site will close in April 2028 unless a new source of funding can be found.
Reaction to the decision
In their article announcing the news, the BBC quoted Professor Simon Garrington, associate director of the Jodrell Bank Observatory, who said that everyone at Jodrell Bank was “devastated” by the decision.
“It’s not just because of the fantastic science that we do, but Jodrell Bank and its telescope network [have been] a national capability for nearly 70 years and a beacon for science in the north-west [of England], attracting young people into science and engineering careers.”
Prof. Garrington went on to say that the decision would be challenged, and that alternative funding will be sought, but added “It is a huge hill to climb to try to establish a new way to fund this if UKRI will not fund any of it.”
The background to the decision
The cuts were made by a government body called the UK Research and Innovation Institute (UKRI). The Institute is faced with making a 2.7% cut in its £10 billion annual budget. The £2.8 million annual cost of running the observatory is to be cut.
The decision was taken after a consultation exercise. Prof Michele Dougherty, executive chair of the science and technology branch of UKRI, explained the decision as follows: “After listening to our community we have protected core discovery research. However, the situation does require some tough, but necessary, decisions.
“These are never easy choices, but we have made what we feel are the right decisions to bring… a sustainable financial position by 2029/30.”
Other reactions
The decision has caused considerable outcry in the wider scientific community. Scotland’s Astronomer Royal, Prof Catherine Heymans has described the decision by UKRI as a short sighted move, and “a real act of national self-harm”. Prof. Michael Kramer, a director of the Max Planck Institute for Radio Astronomy in Bonn has described the decision by UKRI as “scientifically, technologically as well as economically short-sighted. Internationally, people will look at that and will hardly believe it. You’re cutting off the radio astronomy capability in the country.”
Chris Lintott, astronomer and author called it short sighted, stupid, while the Royal Astronomical Society said to be shocked and dismayed.
A statement by Sarah Russell MP, MP for Congleton:
I share the deep disappointment and concern of residents, scientists and visitors following UK Research and Innovation’s (UKRI) decision to end funding for scientific research using the Lovell Telescope from April 2028.
The telescope is a world-leading scientific asset, has been an iconic part of the Cheshire landscape for 70 years, and is an inspiration to the 125,000 visitors, including 25,000 school pupils who visit each year. Before becoming an MP, I visited several times and have been honoured to visit in an official capacity as well as speaking about the importance of the work at Jodrell Bank in Parliament.
I have written to Ministers and am engaging with University of Manchester who run the e-MERLIN project using the 76m telescope. I’m pleased that funding is in place for Jodrell Bank to continue to host the Global Headquarters of the Square Kilometre Array Observatory (SKAO). But I do believe it is vital that a sustainable funding solution can be found to keep the Lovell Telescope and e-MERLIN in operation beyond 2028. I will keep residents updated.
The decision has stirred up debate on social media too, with some conspiracy theorists speculating that the closure may be linked to a residential housing planning application, based on an article published on 26 July. Others have called on public figures like PM Andy Burnham and Professor Brian Cox to save the observatory. Posting on social media Professor Cox wrote “This is the result of many bad legacy decisions taken by UKRI hastily and without proper consultation, overseen by a government department that no longer exists. Surely the new Andy Burnham government will want to take time to review this.”
Online petitions have already been set up to save Jodrell Bank.
A petition on Parliament.UK (this petition is currently being checked to make sure it meets the standards).
A Change.org petition to save Jodrell Bank.
Wider impact of the UKRI cuts
The cut to the UKRI funding for the e-Merlin network of radio telescopes is just a small part of a wider series of cuts to significant research projects. In the field of astronomy alone, the UK will be cutting funding in a discipline which it pioneered and at a time when new possibilities for international collaborative research is becoming increasingly possible due to new projects like the Square Kilometre Array (SKA). Other key cuts include passing up on a chance to participate in new experiments at CERN, as well as other projects such as involvement in the Vera Rubin Observatory project in Chile. As a science graduate it strikes me that these cuts will have a serious impact on our role in international scientific research leadership across more than one discipline.
A period of uncertainty
As the news breaks today it will be interesting how the story develops. The question perhaps is whether the outcry in social media and in the scientific community will have any impact on government investment policy. It’s possible that the science community may not have done the best job in communicating the value of this research, and that the political classes will seek to ride out the furore and wait for the news cycle to move on. For the present though, the future of Jodrell Bank and the UK’s leadership in radio telescopes looks far bleaker than it did a few days ago. We will continue to talk to the university press office to keep track of developments and discover whether there is a potential rescue for an icon of the North West. I for one would hate to see the demise of a much-admired friend. When it could be saved for less than £3million per year, this seems like a very short-sighted decision.
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