Astronomy hit by cuts

(RAS) president Professor Michael Rowan-Robinson has warned

astronomy research is to face large cuts.

‘I have it from a very reliable source that we are looking at a 25 per cent cut in grants over the next three years, plus programme cuts that could even result in some existing research grants being cancelled,’ said Rowan-Robinson. ‘Both of these are truly awful for universities.’

The cuts are a result of an unfavorable settlement with the Science and Technology Facilities Council (STFC), which was formed earlier this year to direct, coordinate and fund research in the UK. The council receives funding from the Department for Innovation, Universities and Skills (DIUS), which it allocates to research institutions and programmes particularly in the fields of astronomy, particle physics, space science and nuclear physics.

The STFC has received an over inflation rise in funding, but increased costs due to the running costs of new facilities such as the Diamond Light Source, have meant a seven per cent cut in the funding for research, leaving the council around £80m short of the maintaining the current level of funding.