@fionamcintyre
Features Editor at Research Professional News, @resprofnews.bsky.social. Previously at New Civil Engineer, @newcivilengineer.com.web.brid.gy. Looking for tips on how to keep houseplants alive. Story? Fiona.McIntyre@Clarivate.com
UK visa rules have ‘negative impact’, say prize-winning scientists.
Foreign-born winners of Blavatnik Awards for Young Scientists describe barriers to working in UK.
www.researchprofessionalnews.com/rr-news-uk-p...
There is a “national catastrophe” unfolding as universities close modern languages courses.
University of Birmingham VC Adam Tickell told the @britishacademy.bsky.social conference that important “cultural assets” are being lost “by stealth”.
www.researchprofessionalnews.com/rr-news-uk-u...
Birmingham v-c Adam Tickell made some really interesting comments at @britishacademy.bsky.social conference.
Called university languages closures a "national catastrophe", said uni mergers may be needed to address it.
Not many v-cs are willing to take public stand on national sector issues.
How can the EU hit its 3% R&D spending target?
Given the challenges facing Europe, that target has been described as the "bare minimum".
Great to speak to Mattias Björnmalm @bearore.bsky.social and others about this issue.
www.researchprofessionalnews.com/rr-news-euro...
UKRI details how ‘buckets’ model relates to previous spending
Comparison given after pressure from MPs, as experts question funder classifying QR as curiosity-driven research
www.researchprofessionalnews.com/rr-news-uk-r...
Fears over STFC cost-savings plan aired since September 2025.
Oversight body repeatedly raised concerns over “lack of transparency” with research community.
www.researchprofessionalnews.com/rr-news-uk-r...
Job losses at research-intensive universities doubled in two years.
The scale of redundancies revealed by RPN has been branded a “disaster” for UK research capacity. Via @chrisjparr.bsky.social.
www.researchprofessionalnews.com/rr-news-uk-u...
For the next REF, the rules are changing. Researchers can't 'port' their outputs to a new employer - with an exception for long-form outputs.
While some are happy with the rules, others warn of a 'backlash' amid widespread redundancies.
www.researchprofessionalnews.com/rr-news-uk-r...
I sent FOI requests to all 34 members of the Russell Group and Research Plus to collate this data, though only 24 replied on time. Still a decent sample. Not happy reading.
Job losses at UK research-intensive universities double in two years.
Exclusive: Scale of redundancies branded a “disaster”.
www.researchprofessionalnews.com/rr-news-uk-u...
Wales sees steeper fall than other UK nations in university staff.
Employee numbers at Welsh institutions declined by 2.8 per cent in 2024-25.
www.researchprofessionalnews.com/rr-news-uk-u...
Exempt PhDs from international fee levy, ministers urged.
University groups warn imposing fee on overseas doctoral students would “harm research talent pipeline”.
www.researchprofessionalnews.com/rr-news-uk-u...
I spoke to scientists and former directors of NCAR for @resprofnews.bsky.social as they rally to save the important climate research centre
www.researchprofessionalnews.com/rr-news-usa-...
Ian Chapman has promised UKRI will be ‘consulting widely’ on its funding reforms.
He also acknowledged the "anxiety" among researchers around the changes, which have seen funding calls paused. Via @annamckie.bsky.social.
www.researchprofessionalnews.com/rr-news-uk-r...
ICYMI: Physics cuts put livelihoods, investment and reputation at risk.
Cutting the UK out of the Electron-Ion Collider project will damage science, says Daria Sokhan.
www.researchprofessionalnews.com/rr-news-uk-v...
ICYMI: Is science really suffering from a reproducibility crisis?
After Maria Leptin suggested the crisis was "exaggerated", I spoke to experts including @ludowaltman.bsky.social and @elisabethbik.bsky.social about how big the problem really is.
www.researchprofessionalnews.com/rr-news-worl...
It's been a busy couple of weeks covering the funding changes at UKRI, to put it mildly
Here are my thoughts on how it's played out
TL;DR...the message that curiosity-driven research is protected is not going to reassure those who are seeing their funding streams disrupted
Duncan Ivison told @chrisjparr.bsky.social that he has ‘serious questions about the REF’.
The University of Manchester vice-chancellor also shared his frustration that the UK is "not grabbing" the opportunity to become a global education superpower.
www.researchprofessionalnews.com/rr-news-uk-u...
UKRI funding changes are already causing junior researchers to leave the country.
Some STFC-funded research groups are already "haemorrhaging" early career researchers, according to @lucienheurtier.bsky.social.
www.researchprofessionalnews.com/rr-news-uk-r...
🧵 New Research Fortnight out today!
In this issue, we put the spotlight on the impact and implications of major changes to funding being introduced by UK Research and Innovation.
www.researchprofessionalnews.com/rr-news-uk-p...
On the difficult situation of young UK researchers 🧪🔭
Thanks @fionamcintyre.bsky.social and @isaacbarbosa1.bsky.social for the interview & excellent article.
#stfc #ukri #saveSTFC @ukri.org
UKRI funding changes ‘pushing junior researchers abroad’ www.researchprofessionalnews.com/rr-news-uk-r...
‘Difficult’ two years ahead for physics, warns STFC boss
Latest from a media briefing with Michele Dougherty & Ian Chapman I attended today
She confirmed the withdrawal of funding from the Large Hadron Collider upgrade, a collaboration with Cern
www.researchprofessionalnews.com/rr-news-uk-r...
Four senior UKRI leaders appeared at a press briefing this morning in the wake of RPN stories over the last week about a shake-up to research council funding
Our story that the MRC is expecting to fund fewer grants through applicant-led calls that closed in September last year was confirmed
...
Free-to-read opinion: The European Research Area act should "focus on 2-3 areas where [it] can make a substantive difference" rather than include "a smorgasbord of relatively superficial changes", writes @palmowski.bsky.social
www.researchprofessionalnews.com/rr-news-euro...
Last week, RPN broke a string of stories on significant changes to funding across a number of research councils (see thread below)
This morning, UKRI chief executive is appearing at the Commons science committee, where he is being asked about them by MPs
Here are some key moments so far 🧵
MRC and BBSRC grant uncertainty ‘deeply demoralising’.
Researchers fear job losses, more bid competition and greater pain for smaller universities.
www.researchprofessionalnews.com/rr-news-uk-r...
🧵Daily round-up! The stories published on our site in the last 24hrs.
@francesjones.bsky.social reports that the head of UKRI has said that curiosity-driven research is protected, but that hard funding decisions will mean negative outcomes for some.
www.researchprofessionalnews.com/rr-news-uk-r...
Lots of interest in our lead story today.
‘Grave’ concerns over applicant-led funds at UK research councils.
Figures suggest reductions at MRC and BBSRC, with questions hanging over pending MRC grant applications.
www.researchprofessionalnews.com/rr-news-uk-r...
BREAKING: UK physics research and science facilities face ‘substantial’ cuts
Science and Technology Facilities Council seeks £162m cost savings, with existing projects facing axe
Scoop by @francesjones.bsky.social
www.researchprofessionalnews.com/rr-news-uk-r...
It's a *travesty* that RPN's image requirements chopped off most of the celebratory croissant, so here it is in all its glory