UKRI cuts Jodrell Bank e-MERLIN funding

United Kingdom — UK Research and Innovation (UKRI) announced on Monday that it will withdraw funding for the MERLIN radio astronomy network, operated by the University of Manchester at Jodrell Bank Observatory, when the current agreement ends in March 2028. The decision, made by UKRI's United Kingdom — Science and Technology Facilities Council (STFC), is part of a broader reprioritisation to address cost overruns from rising electricity and staff costs and high foreign exchange rates for international collaborations. The cuts threaten 28 jobs at the observatory and affect nearly 3,000 researchers who rely on its data. The Lovell Telescope, a Grade I-listed structure and UNESCO World Heritage Site, would cease scientific observations unless alternative funding is found. The move has drawn widespread criticism from scientists, including Brian Cox (actor), Catherine Heymans, and Michael Kramer, who called it 'national self-harm' and 'short-sighted'. The cuts also affect other facilities, including the Vera C. Rubin Observatory, the Next-Generation Transit Survey, the Extremely Large Telescope, and the Event Horizon Telescope. The University of Manchester said it will work with partners to secure the future of the Lovell telescope and MERLIN.