09/07/08 RESEARCH DAY UK

Jodrell Bank's future secure after STFC agree on funding

The University of Manchester and the Science and Technology Facilities Council have come to an agreement over the funding arrangements for the Jodrell Bank Observatory.

The centre was facing an uncertain future after its eMerlin project was placed on a list of projects likely to lose funding under the STFC's programmatic review. The project is an upgrade to an existing network of seven radio telescopes, including the centre's famous Lovell antenna.

However, a peer review by the council highlighted the scientific importance of the project, and the university announced today that its funding is now secure. Full funding, provided by the STFC and the university, is in place for the next two years and details are being finalised for funding beyond that, the university said.

`We are delighted that the STFC has recognised the scientific importance of eMerlin and that they have provided a commitment to fund these important projects, which will guarantee the future of Jodrell Bank' Alan Gilbert, Vice-Chancellor of The University of Manchester said in a statement.

The announcement followed the STFC's town meeting on 8 July at which the council's chief executive, Keith Mason, presented the outcomes of the programmatic review. Mason said that the community panels that had contributed to the review would now become a permanent fixture.

John Womersley, director of science programmes at the STFC, said that none of the projects that had been cut were bad science and that the government should take note of the fact that the STFC has more excellent science on its books than it has the money to fund.