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Published online 11 December 2007 |
Nature
| doi:10.1038/news.2007.366
Corrected online: 12 December 2007
News
Physics and astronomy research face "catastrophic" cuts
UK government plans to scrap future collider and slash astronomy grants.
Physicists and astronomers in the United Kingdom are expressing shock at a plan to slash their budgets and end involvement in a number of programmes.
The Science and Technology Facilities Council, which coordinates large-scale facilities and much of Britain’s research in the physical sciences, announced the cuts today.
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The STFC announcement and all it implies is indeed a tragedy for the UK Physics community, especially particle physics as this looks like it will be hit particularly hard by the proposed cuts. But it's important to clarify one point - the shortfall is not a result of a cost overrun at Diamond, the report mentioned to in the article refers to estimates made over 10 years ago, before Diamond was even in the design phase. In fact realistic construction and operating costs for the facility were agreed with the government in 2003. The decision was made to build world-class facility, and Diamond has delivered this, to this budget. Staying at the forefront of R&D requires commitment to both cutting edge facilities and academia-based research programmes and trying to pitch one against the other can only be divisive and damaging to the whole UK physics community.
From STFC This story incorrectly suggests that two STFC funded facilities, Diamond and ISIS are running over budget. Both have agreed operating budgets that have been known for some years. On Diamond specifically, STFC CEO Professor Keith Mason has said " As the major shareholder in Diamond Light Source Ltd, we would like to stress that Diamond has been built on time, on budget and to specifications. Recent mentions in the press of costs overruns in operational costs are inaccurate and relate to estimates made far before Diamond Light Source was created and the final scope agreed. The actual costs of operation have been known for a long time and have not changed. We will work with Diamond to identify options to share expertise and infrastructure across the Harwell Campus to reduce the financial pressures we are under."