Physics at risk: UK science leader on what's wrong with the latest funding cuts

"It feels, at the moment, that this move is overly burdensome on the key areas of particle physics, astronomy and nuclear physics, collectively known as PPAN, which are looking at 30% cuts. I would argue that those fields are of fundamental importance and key to physics as a whole. Also, from my point of view, those disciplines help to attract young people into physics in the first place."

"Given where we are with the process, it's just too early to say with any certainty. I would go one step further and say the government has not published those figures. The IoP is working with the scientific community to understand the impacts of the various levels of budget reductions they have been asked to consider."

UK Research and Innovation, the country's largest research funder, has suspended grant review processes across medicine, biosciences, engineering, and physical sciences while cutting investment in particle physics, astronomy, and nuclear physics. The government is directing UKRI to prioritize studies generating economic growth. The Science and Technology Facilities Council faces significant cuts affecting UK physicists' participation in international projects like CERN. Paul Howarth, newly appointed president of the Institute of Physics, criticizes the approach as irresponsible. Fields collectively known as PPAN face 30% cuts despite their fundamental importance to physics and their role in attracting young scientists. The government has not published impact analyses, and the Institute of Physics is working to model potential consequences including job losses.

Read at Nature