STFC Cuts Confirmed

The Science and Technology Facilities Council is to go ahead with planned funding cuts, it reported on 26 January. In its press release, the Council said that these included 'a “managed withdrawal” from some projects and programmes, and reduction in support for others. STFC is committed to extensive consultation with affected communities to ensure as sensitive a transition as possible. Of necessity, the detailed implementation of some measures requires input from these stakeholder discussions.'
More detail of where the cuts fall is available here.

Further Cuts at the STFC

Following on from the news that their current awards would be time-limited, the STFC has announced further cuts and a retreat from expensive, long-term commitments overseas. In an attempt to block the £40m hole in its budget, the Council announced yesterday that it would be withdrawing from 24 projects, totalling some £115m over 5 years, including the Gemini telescopes, the NLS, and UKIRT. Elsewhere, physicists and astronomers should expect a 25% cut in studentships and fellowships and a 10% cut in grants next year.

Not that you would immediately get this from their press release which, to put it mildly, accentuates the positive.

Become a Research Council Member

A call's been announced for the annual round of appointments to the Research Councils. This round usually commences in October and takes place in two parts. BBSRC, EPSRC, MRC and STFC first, followed by AHRC, NERC and ESRC slightly later. This round may be supplemented by competitions for individual or groups of posts as necessary.
All appointments are initially for a period of up to four years, and members are eligible for re-appointment for a further period of up to four years. Members of Council are part-time and are expected to spend some 20 days each year on Council business. An annual honorarium of £6,740 is paid to council members and £8,970 is paid to members who chair boards.
I'd encourage all senior staff to consider applying; as I've said before, involvement with the Councils is incredibly valuable not only for raising your profile (and that of the University), but also for gaining an insight into the way the Councils work. More details of the call, specification, and forms are available here.

STFC Grant Funding Cut

The Science and Technology Facilities Council (STFC) has announced a cut to grant funding. New grants will be issued only to October 2010 in the first instance. According to a press release the temporary measure has been implemented with immediate effect and will stay in place “pending the outcome of the prioritisation exercise” which will end in the New Year. However, there's no guarantee that funding will return to previous levels afterwards. STFC has fallen foul of the fall in the strength of the pound, as it is committed to international subscriptions to facilities abroad.
It has cut funding before; in 2007 it cut grants funding by 25%, to the consternation of the Royal Society and the Royal Astronomical Society.