{
  "id": 3930609,
  "title": "With e-MERLIN facing the axe, what next for Jodrell Bank and UK astronomy?",
  "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/08/28/with-e-merlin-facing-the-axe-what-next-for-jodrell-bank-and-uk",
  "topic": "science",
  "section": "Science",
  "published": "2026-08-28T09:30:18.000Z",
  "source": {
    "name": "Physics World",
    "slug": "physics-world",
    "url": "https://physicsworld.com/a/with-e-merlin-facing-the-axe-what-next-for-jodrell-bank-and-uk-astronomy/"
  },
  "original_language": "en",
  "account": "The UK Science and Technology Facilities Council (STFC) recently announced funding cuts that will affect various physics and astronomy projects, with a notable casualty being e-MERLIN, a network of seven radio telescopes spanning the UK, including the famous Lovell Telescope at Jodrell Bank. To gauge the impact of these cuts on UK science and the careers of those involved, podcast host Andrew Glester interviewed two astronomers at Jodrell Bank: Simon Garrington, e-MERLIN director, and David Williams-Baldwin, an e-MERLIN research support scientist.\n\nThe cuts have sparked significant concern among scientists due to e-MERLIN's crucial role in producing high-resolution radio images of the Universe, comparable to the Hubble Space Telescope. Currently, funding for the telescope array is set to expire in March 2028, which leaves the network's future and scientific operations at Jodrell Bank in a state of uncertainty. Jodrell Bank, which received UNESCO World Heritage status in July 2019, has a long history of contributions and technical ingenuity in astronomy since the 1940s.\n\nThe situation presents a challenging time for Jodrell Bank, as the cuts leave its financial stability in question. The astronomy community in the UK is mobilizing to oppose the cuts, recognizing that the consequences could extend far beyond Jodrell Bank. This development could have broader implications for UK astronomy and science as a whole, as the loss of e-MERLIN could hinder research and discoveries that the network has made possible.",
  "summary": "Exploring the fallout from STFC funding cuts that have left one of the UK’s most iconic scientific facilities facing an uncertain future The post With e-MERLIN facing the axe, what next for Jodrell Bank and UK astronomy? appeared first on Physics World .",
  "key_points": [
    "e-MERLIN, a UK radio telescope network, faces funding cuts.",
    "Lovell Telescope at Jodrell Bank, part of e-MERLIN, may close.",
    "UK astronomy community mobilizes against cuts, fearing broader impacts."
  ],
  "editors_take": null,
  "illustration": null,
  "coverage": {
    "outlets": 1,
    "also_reported_by": []
  },
  "ai_generated": true,
  "disclaimer": "Summaries, key points and the editor’s take are written by software from other outlets’ reporting and may contain errors — always check the linked original."
}