Because of international treaty-bound commitments, the 'headline' cuts in science funding for areas such as particle physics and astrophysics are falling disproportionately on British-led work. This translates into a roughly 25% cut in UK-led astrophysics, for example.
The 2008 allocation to STFC, which Lord Drayson presents as a 13.6% increase was not in 'spendable money'. The 'Near-Cash Increase' was well below inflation.
Other CERN, ESA, ESO etc. members do not pay for their subscriptions to these international projects from their national science budget. Their science budgets are thus protected e.g. from currency fluctuations.
UK science, particularly fundamental physics, is being faced with unsustainable cuts which will seriously damage not only research, but recruitment of young people into science. There is a double blow because our economic competitors such as the USA are boosting science funding to help stimulate their economies. The funding proposals from the Government essentially sells off the future of UK fundamental physics to pay for their current economic failures.
Written as a former astrophysicist ...
The 2008 allocation to STFC, which Lord Drayson presents as a 13.6% increase was not in 'spendable money'. The 'Near-Cash Increase' was well below inflation.
Other CERN, ESA, ESO etc. members do not pay for their subscriptions to these international projects from their national science budget. Their science budgets are thus protected e.g. from currency fluctuations.
UK science, particularly fundamental physics, is being faced with unsustainable cuts which will seriously damage not only research, but recruitment of young people into science. There is a double blow because our economic competitors such as the USA are boosting science funding to help stimulate their economies. The funding proposals from the Government essentially sells off the future of UK fundamental physics to pay for their current economic failures.