The Science, Innovation & Tech committee have written the most amazing letter to DSIT/UKRI/STFC:
"What is clear is that, despite your assertions to the contrary... widespread cuts have been proposed before adequate consultation with those affected was undertaken. This is wholly unacceptable" 💪🔭⚛️🧪
I wrote something .... andthentheresphysics.wordpress.com/2026/02/08/s...
My colleague Davide Costanzo is collecting news items relating to STFC budgetary pressures on PPAN science, especially those linked to particle physics sites.google.com/view/particl...
The STFC Funding Crisis – Guest Post by George Efstathiou
The following guest post by George Efstathiou is a response to the current STFC funding crisis I blogged about here, and specifically to a letter by the Executive Chair of STFC, Professor Michele Dougherty. I include the letter here for…
An excellent open-letter enumerating the dangers to early career researchers and then wider society of proposed changes to UK science funding
ecr-openletter-stfc.github.io
Early-career researchers may like to add their signatures
🧪⚛️🔭 #AcademicSky #UKpol
The Royal Astronomical Society is gravely concerned at the drastic cuts to support for UK astronomy outlined by the Science and Technology Facilities Council.
Read our statement 👉 ras.ac.uk/news-and-pre...
Graphic promoting the 'Early Career Event' Specialist Discussion Meeting arranged by the Royal Astronomical Society.
Attention early career researchers! 🧑🔬🪐🌋
On 14 November we're hosting an event you might be interested in...
Networking ✅
Career panel advice ✅
Open discussions ✅
Want to come along? Grab a ticket via: ras.ac.uk/early-career...
The article is 12 months old so the outlook is generally a little bleaker than portrayed (e.g. chemistry in Hull at risk -> consultation -> closure confirmed late last year)
N: Tallinn
S: Wellington
E: Rotorua
W: Kaua'i
The Thirty Meter Telescope, long slated for construction in Hawaii, might be getting a new home
go.nature.com/3GII1wB
Change of ICE in Frankfurt on epic train journey from Vienna to Sheffield
We are delighted to announce that @jim-wild.bsky.social has been appointed as President-Elect of the @royalastrosoc.bsky.social 🗳️🔭
He will serve in the role for 12 months, before succeeding current President Mike Lockwood following the conclusion of the latter's two-year term in May 2026.
👏
ESA is organising at Town Hall on the Habitable Worlds Observatory (HWO) at 2pm CEST on Fri 16 May. For registration and further details see: www.cosmos.esa.int/web/hwo_town...
RAS Fellows should have received an email reminder yesterday that we're into the final couple of weeks of voting for @royalastrosoc.bsky.social Council in 2025/26. Deadline noon on Thu 8 May.
En route to La Palma for workshop celebrating 4 decades of research into hot luminous stars by the Munich group led by Rolf Kudritzki and Jo Puls meetings.iac.es/munichfest20...
Stargazing 4 xkcd.com/3072
As we approach Hubble's 35th anniversary, the first of our ESA/Hubble mini-series of newly-processed images (incl. new data) is of NGC 346 & out today ✨ #Hubble35 #50YearsOfESA
Gaia spacecraft in space in front of the Milky Way galaxy
Today we say goodbye to ESA’s Milky Way-mapper Gaia! The Gaia spacecraft has completed its sky-scanning and will be switched off this morning.
I'm thrilled to be standing as President-Elect in the @royalastrosoc.bsky.social Council Elections.
I'm standing unopposed, but encourage Fellows of the society to take look at the CVs/statements of the candidates who are standing for other Council roles.
E-mail screenshot stating (excerpts): ...the whole Atomic Spectroscopy Group will be laid off in a few weeks... since our work is not considered... to be essential for the NIST mission. ...our primary goal at this moment is to preserve as much of the acquired scientific knowledge as possible. ...
Wednesday in science.
The atomic spectral lines in this app come from the NIST atomic spectroscopy group, which has provided the world with spectroscopic measurements for 120 years.
Today we got word that the federal government is laying off the entire group. 🔭🧪
Could Le Centre de Données astronomiques de Strasbourg keep ADS afloat if NASA had pull the plug?
Twin Magellan telescopes at summit of LCO
View over Las Campanas near sunset
View over mountains from hotel at Las Campanas
View of Laa Campanas telescopes from hotel
First post coincides with visit to Las Campanas Observatory in Chile to use Magellan Clay telescope tonight (31 Dec) and tomorrow (1 Jan). LCO closes for Christmas but very much open for new year. Beautiful surroundings day and night
