Future of UK physics threatened by ‘ruinous’ funding cuts, says Institute of Physics
The cuts at UK Research and Innovation have resulted in the cancellation of several significant international projects The post Future of UK physics threatened by ‘ruinous’ funding cuts, says Institute of Physics appeared first on Physics World .
The Institute of Physics (IOP) has expressed deep concern over recent funding cuts by the Science and Technology Facilities Council (STFC), which threaten the UK's international reputation in physics and the ability to attract people to the field. The STFC's budget for 2026-2030 will only rise by £7m to £842m, despite the UK Research and Innovation (UKRI) having received a record £39bn investment.
The cuts, which will see a 30% reduction in the core science budget by 2024/2025 levels, could put future economic growth at risk and damage the UK's scientific reputation. Physics World reports that the STFC's decision to cut support for several high-profile international projects, including the LHCb experiment at CERN and the Electron-Ion Collider at Brookhaven, will have a significant impact on the UK's scientific capabilities and ability to collaborate with other nations.
The IOP's president, Paul Howarth, has called for the government to review these "ruinous" decisions, stating that they will cause real damage to the UK's scientific reputation and put future economic growth at risk.
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