Mark Whitehead

Lecturer in Particle Physics

[Mark Whitehead @DrMarkWhitehead]

@PeterTFortune @BromleyTories Thank you for standing up for those of us under threat from @STFC_Matters and @UKRI_News cuts.

[Peter Fortune MP @PeterTFortune]

The Government’s cash settlement for STFC risks cutting-edge scientific research being dropped and the closure of laboratories and scientific facilities like Jodrell Bank across the country.

We are world-leading in science training and research - to throw that away is foolhardy.

[Conor Fitzpatrick @Fitzparticle]

For those keeping up with the #STFC omnishambles, the latest excuse is defense. Does this make the previous statements (no cuts, record settlement for UKRI) untrue? https://t.co/J63ycVVO79

[Lucien Heurtier @LucienHeurtier]

🚨What happens to UK science when its next generation sees a future elsewhere?

69% of the PhD students and postdocs we surveyed seriously consider their next job abroad. Just 1 in 20 are confident about suitable UK opportunities.

#UKRI #STFC @CommonsSITC @Scientists4Lab

[Mark Whitehead @DrMarkWhitehead]

@Fitzparticle @biztradegovuk @UKRI_News @RobinBisson What a shock, it benefits fusion.

[Mark Whitehead @DrMarkWhitehead]

@LucienHeurtier @timeshighered Frankly I'm surprised it isn't higher. Very sad state of affairs.

[Mark Whitehead @DrMarkWhitehead]

@NobelPrize Hey @UKRI_News, fundamental physics research still wins Noble prizes. Maybe you should take another look at the terrible cuts to STFC projects!

[Times Higher Education @timeshighered]

Leading Chinese physicists have condemned UK Research and Innovation’s “irresponsible” decision to withdraw funding from an upgrade to an experiment at Cern, Europe’s world-leading particle physics facility #UKRI #Cern #physics #research
https://t.co/L2tieAT0pM

[Mark Whitehead @DrMarkWhitehead]

@LucienHeurtier @Scientists4Lab @jreynoldsMP Quite, it isn't exactly easier for me to get behind this group at the moment!

[Mark Whitehead @DrMarkWhitehead]

@Fitzparticle @LHCbExperiment @LHCb_UK Big day, good luck!

[Conor Fitzpatrick @Fitzparticle]

@PeterTFortune hits the nail on the head. The total cost of these cuts is peanuts on the scale of the budget, but the consequences for the UK's science leadership are dire.

[Mark Whitehead @DrMarkWhitehead]

@andyburnham If you could get around to reviewing the mess created by UKRI and STFC w.r.t. LHCb Upgrade 2 and other science funding that'd be great - or point your new DBIST ministers in the right direction.

[Mark Whitehead @DrMarkWhitehead]

@Fitzparticle Quite right, why should anyone trust UKRI to hold up their end of the deal at present?

[Mark Whitehead @DrMarkWhitehead]

@biztradegovuk Perhaps you should reconsider the cuts to the STFC programme to enable the training of highly skilled PhD graduates to work in these companies too.

[Mark Whitehead @DrMarkWhitehead]

@SMC_London Do you really believe announcing cuts and important news just before Christmas holidays or the parliament summer break is good communication?!

[Mark Whitehead @DrMarkWhitehead]

@biztradegovuk Looking forward to hear your solutions to the absolute mess created by STFC and UKRI over the last 9 months.

[Conor Fitzpatrick @Fitzparticle]

Great to see the select committee is still hard at work. We need adequate scrutiny of @ukri_news and action from @biztradegovuk to correct this mess. https://t.co/OARXWbnNpp

[Mark Whitehead @DrMarkWhitehead]

@Fitzparticle @LHCbExperiment Better late than never, won't hold my breath for an apology though.

[Mark Whitehead @DrMarkWhitehead]

No mention at all of @LHCbExperiment here? Remember that we should be committed until 2033, before the Upgrade 2 project you cancelled takes over. Trying to sweep us under the carpet already?

[UK Research and Innovation @UKRI_News]

As discussions continue on STFC prioritisation decisions, we've put together an overview on its investment in discovery & curiosity-driven research in PPAN: https://t.co/hmgZvOF0Xv

Here are the facts on STFC’s funding relating to e-MERLIN & Jodrell Bank: https://t.co/Gp7GtgjvtA

[Mark Whitehead @DrMarkWhitehead]

@stianwestlake @ProfBrianCox On the topic of good communication, then why were the UKRI infrastructure grants cancelled the day before Christmas holidays and then the STFC prioritisation letters sent out as parliament closes for Summer? I'm certain it is not a coincidence...