British research funders have decided not to renew support for the e-MERLIN radio astronomy network, whose headquarters sit at Jodrell Bank Observatory, home of the Lovell telescope. The decision, announced July 27, means current funding ends in March 2028, and the University of Manchester is now seeking alternative backing for the observatory and its iconic dish.
The Science and Technology Facilities Council (STFC), the agency that distributes UK government funding across particle physics, astronomy, and nuclear physics, listed e-MERLIN as “not prioritised for further funding” in its prioritisation outcomes for 2026 to 2030, published in July. The council’s wider package of measures aims to bring STFC to a balanced position by financial year 2029 to 2030, with the particle physics, astronomy, and nuclear physics science budget decreasing 2.7 percent over four years and the multidisciplinary facilities budget reducing 15 percent. STFC attributes the pressure to rising energy and labour costs and foreign exchange pressures on international subscriptions such as CERN.
The decision lands on one of the most recognisable instruments in British astronomy. The Lovell telescope, completed in 1957, tracked the Sputnik launch and remains a familiar landmark of UK astronomy. Jodrell Bank is a UNESCO World Heritage Site and attracts more than 100,000 visitors each year, according to the university. The observatory’s work spans radio astronomy, cosmology, pulsars, exoplanets, astrophysics, and solar physics.
The University of Manchester, which operates the site, said it is working with partners to secure the future of the Lovell telescope and e-MERLIN. Sarah Sharples, dean of the Faculty of Science and Engineering, said the university has been working behind the scenes with UKRI, the STFC, and other partners and will continue to pursue routes with government, public agencies, industry, and philanthropic funders. She described Jodrell as an iconic part of the university’s contribution to science and society, and said the institution is committed to doing everything it can to protect the observatory’s standing as a leading scientific facility. The Jodrell Bank Centre for Engagement is separate from UKRI funding and remains open to visitors.
The Guardian’s editorial board weighed in on July 31, arguing the cuts to physics funding are damaging both to science and to the politics of research. The editorial, which responds to the STFC decision, notes the projected annual savings from ending the Lovell funding are roughly 2.8 million pounds within a package aimed at saving about 160 million pounds over four years, and argues the decision reflects a larger shift in what kind of science the government prioritises. The editorial position is that the choice damages a national scientific asset for modest savings.
Whether the telescope continues operating past March 2028 now depends on the university’s search for alternative funding. The university’s statement stresses that Jodrell Bank is not closing, that it continues to play a nationally important role, and that the funding decision, while significant, does not shut the observatory.
Sources
1. UKRI, “Explainer: STFC prioritisation outcomes 2026 to 2030”: https://www.ukri.org/publications/explainer-stfc-prioritisation-outcomes/explainer-stfc-prioritisation-outcomes-2026-to-2030/
2. The Guardian, “The Guardian view on the Lovell telescope: budget cuts to physics are bad science and worse politics | Editorial”: https://www.theguardian.com/commentisfree/2026/jul/31/the-guardian-view-on-the-lovell-telescope-cuts-physics-bad-science-politics
3. University of Manchester, “Our response to the UKRI/STFC e-MERLIN funding announcement”: https://www.staffnet.manchester.ac.uk/news/display/?id=34217