Conor Fitzpatrick

Particle physicist (he/him) @LHCbPhysics @UoMPhysics. #UKRIFLF, @ERC_Research Starting Grant BEAUTY2CHARM PI. Same handle on other platforms

[Brian Cox @ProfBrianCox]

This is indeed a superb letter from The Astronomer Royal of Scotland. “Someone, somewhere, has taken the decision to defund astrophysics research in the UK, but no-one seems quite sure who that was, or why.” I agree - my colleagues in particle physics have also tried, without success, to discover who owns the decision to damage physics research in the UK, perhaps irreparably, at a time when our economy desperately needs the skills and knowledge we develop and teach. @UKRI_News need to get a grip urgently and fix the problem someone, somewhere, has created.

[Madalin Blidaru @blidaru]

Incredible the backlash against very basic academic standards. Incredible this discussion around the standard norms added by @arxiv takes place in 2026 not a hundred years ago. Funny the people scandalised that they have to read and understand the papers they quote. #arxivgate

[Conor Fitzpatrick @Fitzparticle]

Another great read from @frances_jones00. @UKRI_News seems to treat PPAN as an inconvenience they want to shrink and bury rather than the skills pipeline that powers their wider ambitions

[Research Fortnight @ResFortnight]

STFC advisers ‘vehemently’ oppose transfer of grants programme to EPSRC

Removal of mechanism protecting physics grants also branded a “huge mistake” by former leader @JohnWomersley

https://t.co/vsu6YjCvBa

[Conor Fitzpatrick @Fitzparticle]

@JohnWomersley Thanks for this @JohnWomersley. It's clear that the Drayson partitions are being scrapped because they were doing what they were supposed to.

[Conor Fitzpatrick @Fitzparticle]

This, from an ex- STFC executive, is the clearest description of why the Drayson partitions are needed as much now as they ever were.

[John Womersley @JohnWomersley]

I just sent this letter to the Science Minister and the CEO of UKRI concerning STFC's budgets

[Frances Jones @frances_jones00]

Removal of STFC grants protection raises long-term fears

Ending of mechanism shielding grants from rising costs “central to this funding crisis”, say researchers - my latest on physics and astronomy funding

https://t.co/1MxTrn0upj

[Research Fortnight @ResFortnight]

Removal of STFC grants protection raises long-term fears.

Ending of mechanism shielding grants from rising costs “central to this funding crisis”, say researchers.

https://t.co/ACjozsunYL

[Conor Fitzpatrick @Fitzparticle]

Details will be important here. Does this include lost FTE from infrastructure projects? Particle experiment CG would still mean a cut since 25/26 levels were already dropped by 25% for responsive posts alone. Glad that someone has finally listened to the community though!

[Conor Fitzpatrick @Fitzparticle]

Finally a sign of movement from UKRI on the STFC situation. "we commit to maintaining postdoctoral researchers across PPAN at least at the same level as last year (financial year 2025 to 2026) and hope to be able to increase this over time." https://t.co/Vv7VecHjIH

[Conor Fitzpatrick @Fitzparticle]

"We need a credible plan for science funding in the UK" Excellent letters in the @guardian from Prof Ruben Saakyan and Prof Sheila Rowan on the cuts to UKRI - STFC PPAN science https://t.co/PtBlSPBHQr

[Conor Fitzpatrick @Fitzparticle]

"We need a credible plan for science funding in the UK" Excellent letters in the @guardian from Prof Ruben Saakyan and Prof Sheila Rowan on the cuts to UKRI - STFC PPAN science https://t.co/PtBlSPBHQr

[Patrick Koppenburg 🐧 @PKoppenburg]

@guardian The paper is here https://t.co/jCznhWb6Hp

[Conor Fitzpatrick @Fitzparticle]

I hope the @CommonsSITC investigates this further in their followup, as 20 postdoc positions is the number *after* the cut, this is not 'typically', it was three times that prior to the cut, that Lord Vallance's letter also claims hasn't happened yet. 3/3

[Conor Fitzpatrick @Fitzparticle]

On Friday Lord Vallance responded to Dame @ChiOnwurah and @CommonsSITC to claim that 'there are typically ~20 particle physics theory post-doctoral researchers funded
by UKRI each year' https://t.co/f1FVOgpPQY 1/3

[Conor Fitzpatrick @Fitzparticle]

This has been debunked already by @frances_jones00 at @ResProfNews 'This is a drop of 67 per cent compared with the 58.3 years of postdoctoral research time funded per year in the previous grant round, which spanned 2023 to 2026.' https://t.co/B3lxww0XaU 2/3

[Conor Fitzpatrick @Fitzparticle]

'...the UK has traditionally led the world: think Stephen Hawking, Peter Higgs, Roger Penrose and Paul Dirac. These cuts attack the very pipeline of talent that the government wants to encourage.' Jeff Forshaw and @ProfBrianCox on @UKRI_News cuts https://t.co/co7KYP6sHn

[Conor Fitzpatrick @Fitzparticle]

'...the UK has traditionally led the world: think Stephen Hawking, Peter Higgs, Roger Penrose and Paul Dirac. These cuts attack the very pipeline of talent that the government wants to encourage.' Jeff Forshaw and @ProfBrianCox on @UKRI_News cuts https://t.co/co7KYP6sHn

[Brian Cox @ProfBrianCox]

Excellent ongoing work from @CommonsSITC on the ongoing physics funding crisis in the UK. It’s also worth noting that the crisis is not one of funding for science overall - rather it stems from hasty and ill-informed decision making. One senior person I talked to used the term ‘bull in a china shop’. Not good when we’re talking about one of the foundations of our fragile economy.

[Conor Fitzpatrick @Fitzparticle]

Today, Lord Vallance and Sir Ian Chapman's letter in response to the select committee stated 'no decisions have yet been taken on the funding
committed to PPAN projects'. @guardian shows otherwise: https://t.co/co7KYP6sHn

[Science, Innovation and Technology Committee @CommonsSITC]

We’ve written to @SciTechgovuk minster Lord Vallance and @UKRI_News, pressing for urgent clarification on science research funding cuts.

Find out more: https://t.co/BA7WsNttWt