Further detail on cuts at STFC multidisciplinary facilities
The prioritisation outcomes published by the Science and Technology Facilities Council (STFC) in July saw belt-tightening across all aspects of the council’s portfolio – and in many areas generated enormous press interest.
One area where more detail was pending was how exactly savings would be found across its multidisciplinary facilities: ISIS Neutron and Muon Source, Central Laser Facility, and Diamond Light Source. In this area of the portfolio, a 15 per cent budget cut was envisaged, representing a need for tens of millions of pounds less spending annually:
Now, STFC has published further information on how the “prioritisation” will apply to these facilities, though some important decisions still remain to be made following consultation.
At ISIS, July’s document had suggested that all the muon beamlines were at risk of closure. We now are told that latest plan no longer includes the entire shutdown of the muon instruments, but rather a “balance” of investment across both neutron and muon beamlines. STFC currently expects to close four specific beamlines (out of 35) – but still says that more remain “likely” beyond April 2027.
As previously trailed, ISIS will reduce its annual cycles of operation, from four to three. It is also finding cost savings in its computing department, and exploring other measures such as increasing automation and assessing how to reduce electricity costs. There are changes to consumables funding policy, cuts to lab support, and a cap on travel funding. And open calls for studentships funded through the ISIS budget have been brought to a halt.
For the Central Laser Facility (CLF), it was previously revealed that STFC would close the Lasers for Science facility if alternative funding arrangements or operating models could not be found. This seeking of alternatives remains ongoing – the council is hoping to find “opportunities to bring in additional income through chargeable access and through more partnerships with industry and philanthropy” – but closure is again mooted.
On the separate High Power Lasers programme at CLF, it is newly announced that five further cost-saving measures are being considered, with community engagement planned to determine the “most important elements to maintain.”
Finally at Diamond Light Source – which is a joint venture between UKRI and Wellcome – work is still ongoing to find savings. A portfolio review has concluded, with its recommendations being weighed up:
“Diamond is using the outputs of the portfolio review and considering criteria including scientific output, user demand, strategic importance and industrial impact to focus resources on the most impactful instruments and mothball or merge certain others, losing some capabilities as a result.”
The new update from STFC stresses the large continued investments that are being made across all three facilities, including an upgraded synchrotron at Diamond Light Source and the introduction of cutting-edge instruments at ISIS.
But the document also reiterates the warning made in July that the potential closure of one of the multidisciplinary facilities remains a possibility, if key targets are missed. Two formal assessments next year and the following will assess progress in finding the savings.