Sign in

Clare Burrage

@clareburrage.bsky.social
312 followers 460 following 34 posts

Cosmologist at the University of Nottingham

PostsRepliesMedia
Reposted by Clare Burrage
Institute of Physics @iop.org · 16/09/2026
Scotland recruited just 28 trainee physics teachers this year against a target of 131. Without action, shortages will continue to impact pupils, schools & future workforce. @iopscotland.bsky.social's new report calls for a 10-year plan focused on Retention, Recruitment & Retraining: bit.ly/4h3M2K0
bit.ly
Retaining, Recruiting, and Retraining Physics Teachers for Scotland’s Future
Read our report to see how the Scottish Government can get physics teaching in Scotland on a more sustainable footing.
075
Clare Burrage @clareburrage.bsky.social · 08/09/2026
Anyone know what this means for STFC? "UK Research and Innovation (UKRI) is also allocating £190m to astronomy and space science research. This sum will be drawn from existing budgets."
211
Reposted by Clare Burrage
21 Group @21group.bsky.social · 11/08/2026
Cambridge Whistleblowing Tribunal Handling of grievances at Cambridge University has left many people without the means to challenge what happened to them, particularly early-career scholars & those without access to financial backing This victory is for them 21percent.org?p=4153
01611
Reposted by Clare Burrage
Margot Finn @eicathomefinn.bsky.social · 11/08/2026
Cambridge in the whistleblowing dock: employment tribunal finds unanimously for the (whistleblowing) claimant.
21percent.org
2132
Reposted by Clare Burrage
21 Group @21group.bsky.social · 10/08/2026
Breaking news Cambridge University loses the whistleblowing tribunal Vice Chancellor Deborah Prentice is among the respondents found to have retaliated against a whistleblower Never rains but it pours 21percent.org?p=4148
42814
Reposted by Clare Burrage
Bryn Jones @bryn00.bsky.social · 05/08/2026
Letters to The Guardian newspaper about United Kingdom state funding for basic science, including one from Prof. George Miley: www.theguardian.com/science/2026... #UKScienceCuts #STFCFundingCrisis
theguardian.com
Science funding cuts will harm Britain’s global standing | Letters
Letters: Readers respond to an editorial about the threat to research funding, including plans to close the Jodrell Bank Observatory
053
Reposted by Clare Burrage
Tara Shears @tarashears.bsky.social · 03/08/2026
Good letter from @lhcb.bsky.social deputy spokesperson Paula Collins in the Guardian (scroll down): "The UK’s leadership in LHCb was built through decades of sustained investment. The UK should now reap the returns." www.theguardian.com/science/2026...
theguardian.com
Science funding cuts will harm Britain’s global standing | Letters
Letters: Readers respond to an editorial about the threat to research funding, including plans to close the Jodrell Bank Observatory
072
Clare Burrage @clareburrage.bsky.social · 03/08/2026
From the FT's editorial board: "Curiosity-driven research remains the wellspring from which wealth-creating technologies will emerge."
021
Reposted by Clare Burrage
Glen O'Hara @gsoh31.bsky.social · 31/07/2026
The University of Surrey, which was built up to provide for advanced science and technology in the 1950s and 1960s, has been in difficulties since 2019 and is suppressing... science and maths. Britain really is the thickest country in the world. www.timeshighereducation.com/news/course-...
timeshighereducation.com
Course closures at University of Surrey raise concerns
Science and maths programmes among those suspended in recent months, with UCU claiming decisions are being made ‘in haste’
24517
Reposted by Clare Burrage
Margot Finn @eicathomefinn.bsky.social · 29/07/2026
'Strip away the grandiose language and a pattern emerges – some combination of fewer, larger modules, almost always wedges of 30 credits, an all-core or heavily prescribed first year, reduced optionality in later years, curated pathways instead of individual module choice... [cont.] 1/4
wonkhe.com
Curriculum reform is a wedge issue
With curriculum reform converging on fewer, larger modules across the sector, Jim Dickinson argues that consolidation solves institutional problems while reallocating regret onto students least able t...
45135
Reposted by Clare Burrage
Conor Fitzpatrick @fitzparticle.bsky.social · 28/07/2026
DBIST Sec to @pallabg.bsky.social "I am committed to working with UKRI to ensure the UK remains able not only to sustain its world-leading research capabilities, but also to invest in the next generation of scientific facilities and infrastructure" @lhcb.bsky.social upgrade is next generation!
bbc.com
Jodrell Bank's Lovell telescope faces axe in science cuts, BBC understands
Astronomers warn it would tear the heart out of UK science, and leave a generation untrained.
073
Reposted by Clare Burrage
Kirsty Grainger @kirstygrainger.bsky.social · 27/07/2026
Earlier this year UKRI launched a funding call to invest £40M in ONE AI lab. www.ukri.org/opportunity/... For some unknown reason they decided to fund TWO AI labs at the cost of £60M. An extra £20M. Just found. That's the equivalent of 7 more years of Jodrell Bank. www.ukri.org/news/ukri-la...
ukri.org
UKRI launches two AI research labs to stay ahead in global race
Two new labs will back British researchers to develop next generation artificial intelligence (AI) systems, helping secure the UK’s position as a global leader.
10433250
Reposted by Clare Burrage
Jennifer Williams @jenwilliamsft.bsky.social · 27/07/2026
If I was an agency wanting to be disbanded, I would choose the moment just after a new man of the ppl PM from the NW arrived - with a defining mission to rebalance the country and make agencies accountable - to pull £ from the world renowned telescope visited by generation upon generation of NW kids
2431894
Reposted by Clare Burrage
Prof Jim Wild @jim-wild.bsky.social · 27/07/2026
Like many colleagues across our community, I’m dismayed by these cuts. The UK should be building on its scientific strengths, not retreating from them, especially as a new government and new science minister seek to define the country’s future ambitions.
14214
Clare Burrage @clareburrage.bsky.social · 27/07/2026
I'm a theorist not an observer, but Jodrell Bank was my introduction to science and space on trips with my grandparents when I was little. Anytime we travel through the north west it's a stunning visual reminder that there's so much still to be discovered by looking up!
040
Reposted by Clare Burrage
Astronomer Royal for Scotland | Catherine Heymans @astroroyalscot.bsky.social · 27/07/2026
I'm absolutely devastated for colleagues at Jodrell Bank who found out this morning that funding for the UK's e-MERLIN radio telescope array will be terminated. This is a short-sighted move, to save a tiny fraction of the overall UK science budget. #SaveJodrellBank 🔭🧪 www.bbc.co.uk/news/article...
bbc.co.uk
Jodrell Bank's Lovell telescope faces axe in science cuts, BBC understands
Astronomers warn it would tear the heart out of UK science, and leave a generation untrained.
561345704
Clare Burrage @clareburrage.bsky.social · 22/07/2026
This is excellent news! Congratulations to @jonbutterworth.bsky.social !
020
Reposted by Clare Burrage
Robin Bisson @robinbisson.bsky.social · 21/07/2026
Very clear from Burnham in this written statement to parliament that science has gone into the business department for "commercial application and job creation" Signal of a longer term rebalancing of the science budget towards applied research? questions-statements.parliament.uk/written-stat...
112
Reposted by Clare Burrage
Research Professional News @resprofnews.bsky.social · 20/07/2026
News emerging that Patrick Vallance has resigned as science minister. Last month we heard fears that a Vallance departure would hit science policy stability. www.researchprofessionalnews.com/rr-news-uk-p...
researchprofessionalnews.com
‘Loss of Vallance as minister would hit science policy stability’ - Research Professional News
Birmingham vice-chancellor appeals for science minister to remain in post under an Andy Burnham government
078
Reposted by Clare Burrage
Hetan Shah @hetanshah.bsky.social · 17/07/2026
Speculation that we may get BEIS recreated. If there is going to be a machinery government change in this area my plea is that we reunite science/research with universities. The disconnect between these briefs is causing all sorts of loss to research capacity www.ft.com/content/fec8...
As business secretary, he could be given greater responsibility for some science policy after speculation swept Whitehall about the future of the Department for Science, Innovation and Technology.
Some officials and party figures believe that parts of DSIT could be added on to the business department. "It needs to be mainstreamed and there is the sense that
DSIT has not been firing on all cylinders," said one senior Labour source.
69625
Reposted by Clare Burrage
Tara Shears @tarashears.bsky.social · 13/07/2026
Comment from SITC chair @chionwurah.bsky.social about the STFC funding cuts: "At a time of rising science spend and given the commitments made the committee regarding investment in curiosity driven research, these cuts shouldn’t be happening." committees.parliament.uk/committee/13...
committees.parliament.uk
UKRI Chair and STFC Chair write to Committee outlining science research funding cuts - Committees - UK Parliament
Correspondence: research funding cuts  
033
Reposted by Clare Burrage
Pallab Ghosh @pallabg.bsky.social · 09/07/2026
he UK‘s research funding agency @UKRI_News has received a record increase for funding Science by the government. Why then is it having to cut the budget of some of the most important labs in the country?🧪 www.bbc.co.uk/news/article...
bbc.co.uk
UK science research labs hit by £160m cut despite record spending
Some of Britian's biggest labs face cuts even though government science spending is at record levels.
13212
Reposted by Clare Burrage
shefmarkh.bsky.social @shefmarkh.bsky.social · 07/07/2026
I was sat next to a student on the front lines of these cuts to physics on the plane back from CERN last week. A second year undergraduate at Nottingham wondering what's going to happen to his course if lots of the academics are being made redundant. This won't just impact academics and postdocs.
252
Reposted by Clare Burrage
Robin Bisson @robinbisson.bsky.social · 07/07/2026
For 6 months the line from DSIT & UKRI on STFC cuts has been that no final decisions have been taken That is no longer the case, after DSIT approved UKRI's proposal for how to save £162m British research at Cern will be hit, along with UK science facilities Scoop by me & @francesjones.bsky.social
researchprofessionalnews.com
UK research at Cern to shrink as government approves STFC cuts - Research Professional News
Exclusive: Science department approves UKRI’s cost-saving proposal, with major UK facilities also facing cutbacks
01019
Reposted by Clare Burrage
Conor Fitzpatrick @fitzparticle.bsky.social · 07/07/2026
UK research vandalism update. Surprising that such callous and unnecessary damage is being pushed through by a department ahead of a change in leadership.
12213
Reposted by Clare Burrage
Margot Finn @eicathomefinn.bsky.social · 05/07/2026
'If Nottingham or anywhere else closes down a modern foreign language degree, middle-class children might go elsewhere. But working-class children won’t.' (Estelle Morris) 2/3
1239
Reposted by Clare Burrage
Margot Finn @eicathomefinn.bsky.social · 05/07/2026
'David Blunkett, the Labour education secretary from 1997 to 2001, said: “Instead of the current tendency to go for retrenchment as the only way of balancing the books, we need universities to think really creatively. [Cutting courses] precludes you from a joined-up approach to learning.' 1/3
1158
Reposted by Clare Burrage
Astronomer Royal for Scotland | Catherine Heymans @astroroyalscot.bsky.social · 04/07/2026
🔊Calling #Nottingham. Get yourself down to Speakers Corner on King Street today between 11am-2pm for #SoapboxScience. It's free. It's fun. Awesome science shared by awesome scientists! #SciComm 👩‍🔬
A schedule of female speakers covering topics from parasites that make you sleepy to can we predict responses to weight loss surgery using urine!
23418
Reposted by Clare Burrage
Michael Merrifield @astromikemerri.bsky.social · 01/07/2026
A damning critique of the University of Nottingham’s plans to make staff in physics redundant, from both a Nobel Laureate and a former university president… who happen to be the same person. 🧪 (www.timeshighereducation.com/news/nobelis...)
13912
Clare Burrage @clareburrage.bsky.social · 01/07/2026
Well said Brian Schmidt! "Sovereign research capacity must be funded by the government – you can’t rely on other foreign countries to invest in your research base [through student fees].” www.timeshighereducation.com/news/nobelis...
timeshighereducation.com
061
Reposted by Clare Burrage
Richard Easther @rjme.bsky.social · 01/07/2026
Piece on the UK's mistakes in science funding, which parallel the disaster we have made for ourselves in New Zealand. (Written by the awesome Hiranya Peiris) www.nature.com/articles/s42...
nature.com
Discovery is not the opposite of application - Nature Reviews Physics
Restructuring research funding as a choice between discovery and application gets the economics wrong, the evidence wrong and the people wrong.
1248
Reposted by Clare Burrage
New-Cleckit Dominie @ncdominie.bsky.social · 30/06/2026
I've now seen the management proposals for maths at Dundee. Basically: shutter the UG degrees; lose 3FTE (on a headcount of 16); maths continues "as a discipline" but only for service teaching, "interdisciplinary contribution" and MScs including, inevitably, one in AI.
32715
Reposted by Clare Burrage
Jonathan Pritchard @pritchardjr.bsky.social · 24/06/2026
Horrified to learn that the Particle Physics and Astronomy groups at Sussex University are facing a proposed 35% cut in staff numbers! That would be devastating to a high quality department.
13416
Reposted by Clare Burrage
Mike Boylan-Kolchin @mbkplus.bsky.social · 29/06/2026
I hate that this — urgent pleas to save prestigious departments from drastic cuts — is becoming a regular occurrence. A program like this takes decades to build and a few strokes of a pen to destroy.
sussexphysics.github.io
Save Sussex Physics
Save Sussex Physics - Open Letter
215069
Reposted by Clare Burrage
Linn Boldt-Christmas @nplinnspace.bsky.social · 29/06/2026
🔭 Truly horrific how regular this has become, but please consider signing this letter. I did my undergrad at Sussex Physics & Astronomy and can honestly say I would not have finished my BSc (let alone subsequent PhD!) w/o the genuinely compassionate, supporting staff there. They do not deserve this.
0188
Reposted by Clare Burrage
Kirsty Grainger @kirstygrainger.bsky.social · 24/06/2026
And I'm sure the STFC community are interested in how £20m can just be found....
272
Reposted by Clare Burrage
Research Professional News @resprofnews.bsky.social · 24/06/2026
Exclusive: STFC evaluation lays bare ‘huge damage’ if cuts go ahead. Advisers warn of “major crisis” for UK research as impact assessment is sent to ministers. www.researchprofessionalnews.com/rr-news-uk-r...
researchprofessionalnews.com
STFC evaluation lays bare ‘huge damage’ if cuts go ahead - Research Professional News
Advisers warn of “major crisis” for UK research as impact assessment is sent to ministers
11115
Reposted by Clare Burrage
Astronomer Royal for Scotland | Catherine Heymans @astroroyalscot.bsky.social · 24/06/2026
'A senior member of one of STFC’s advisory bodies told RPN that the..exercise represents “a major crisis for the UK"...all of the outcomes modelled are “shocking”....the government would be “committing an act of national self-harm by imposing these cuts”.' 🙏 @francesjones.bsky.social
33718
Reposted by Clare Burrage
Prof Jim Wild @jim-wild.bsky.social · 04/06/2026
📣 Calling UK particle physics, astronomy and nuclear (PPAN) researchers. The @royalastrosoc.bsky.social is co-hosting an event for MPs on 15 June as part of our campaign to reverse catastrophic funding cuts. Write to your MP and encourage them to attend! Full details at ras.ac.uk/news-and-pre...
ras.ac.uk
Call for MPs to join Westminster astronomy cuts event
The Royal Astronomical Society (RAS) is co-hosting a parliamentary drop-in event on 15 June as part of an ongoing campaign to reverse catastrophic funding cuts plan...
1127
Reposted by Clare Burrage
Times Higher Education (THE) @timeshighered.bsky.social · 03/06/2026
With hundreds of jobs on the line and dozens of courses at risk, Nottingham staff living through one of the biggest university restructuring projects of recent years fear they are shouldering the blame for wider failures. Juliette Rowsell reports ow.ly/OrVG50Z6KJ1
0711
Reposted by Clare Burrage
Astronomer Royal for Scotland | Catherine Heymans @astroroyalscot.bsky.social · 29/05/2026
If you haven't already, please support our campaign by writing to your MP to tell them that funding fundamental physics is crucial and important for both science and the economy. 🔭 ℹ️: ras.ac.uk/news-and-pre...
The UK’s extensive and leading role in the international endeavour to understand the Universe and our place in it is something to truly celebrate. With less than 0.1% of the UKRI budget, the future of UK astrophysics could be saved, alongside the equally groundbreaking and world-class research in particle physics and nuclear physics, which faces the same existential crisis. If you agree with the UK Minister of State for science, that curiosity-driven research “matters enormously” as it “ultimately creates wealth”, please support our campaign by writing to your MP. Tell the government that they should be proud to invest in blue-skies physics and astronomy research, as humanity’s innate curiosity about the cosmos is the inspirational gateway, for so many, into our science ecosystem.
03313
Reposted by Clare Burrage
Astronomer Royal for Scotland | Catherine Heymans @astroroyalscot.bsky.social · 29/05/2026
"Someone, somewhere, has taken the decision to defund astrophysics research in the UK, but no-one seems quite sure who that was, or why." The latest on the impact of the catastrophic funding cuts to UK astrophysics, by me, in @natastron.nature.com 👩‍🔬🧪🔭 ✒️ www.nature.com/articles/s41...
World View:  A change in UK policy jeopadizes the future of UK astrophysics - By Catherine Heymans

The latest budget proposal announced by the largest UK science funding agency threatens to severely affect UK astrophysics research. My colleagues and I are fighting back.
16311166
Clare Burrage @clareburrage.bsky.social · 29/05/2026
Letter to The Times this morning about the cuts to Nottingham Physics. "Killing a goose that lays golden eggs is a short-sighted response to difficulties paying for goose feed." www.thetimes.com/comment/lett...
thetimes.com
Times letters: Youth employment and the welfare system
Write to letters@thetimes.co.uk Sir, Alan Milburn’s report on young people not in education or training (Neets) has rightly been warmly welcomed but it falls short of suggesting that benefits
074
Reposted by Clare Burrage
Lucien Heurtier @lucienheurtier.bsky.social · 28/05/2026
If 2,700 signatories, including six physics Nobel laureates, are not enough to convince them, then I don't know what they need... Hopefully this will end well 🤞 If not, many UK academics should fear for the stability of their careers these days... 🧪🔭
284
Clare Burrage @clareburrage.bsky.social · 28/05/2026
www.thetimes.com/uk/education...
thetimes.com
University of Nottingham under fire for cuts to physics department
Leading scientists, including eight Nobel prizewinners, say a plan to axe jobs amounts to ‘intellectual vandalism and self-harm’
012
Reposted by Clare Burrage
Margot Finn @eicathomefinn.bsky.social · 22/05/2026
'Proposed staff cuts at some of the UK’s leading science departments should prompt ministers to reconsider whether the future of subjects key to industrial strategy ambitions are left to the markets, experts have said.' 1/2
timeshighereducation.com
Science job losses ‘at odds with Labour’s industrial strategy’
Ministers urged to intervene as proposed cuts to highly regarded chemistry departments threaten UK government’s skills and growth plans
12715
Clare Burrage @clareburrage.bsky.social · 20/05/2026
www.researchprofessionalnews.com/rr-news-uk-u...
researchprofessionalnews.com
Nobelists and BBC physicists decry axing of Nottingham staff - Research Professional News
Jim Al-Khalili warns compulsory redundancies in physics department would be “highly damaging to the UK”
032
Reposted by Clare Burrage
Alexander Kasprzyk @amkasprzyk.bsky.social · 19/05/2026
@uniofnottingham.bsky.social in the news again. physicsworld.com/a/nottingham...
physicsworld.com
Nottingham physics redundancies 'an act of academic sabotage', warn scientists – Physics World
Univeristy plans to cut almost 30% staff in the physics department
066
Reposted by Clare Burrage
Tara Shears @tarashears.bsky.social · 16/05/2026
Boosting this into everyone's weekend timelines ⬇️. There are world-leading scientists here; the very people who keep a University vibrant, attractive, world class and a national asset. (and if you're a chemist, there's a letter here: nottinghamchemistry.github.io/Open_Letter/)
nottinghamchemistry.github.io
Save Nottingham Chemistry
156
Reposted by Clare Burrage
Lucien Heurtier @lucienheurtier.bsky.social · 15/05/2026
This petition reached the thousand signatories in two days only. Keep sharing and talking about it to your fellow physicists.🧪🔭 This career path is too hard to accept that universities can lightly fire so many faculty members who worked so hard to get there. Stand with our Nottingham colleagues ✍🏻
297