UK immigration: Mobility impaired.

Ever harsher—and costlier—Home Office rules are reducing the talent pool available for British research.

Excellent piece by Harriet Swain on the impact of new visa rules on UK academia. Not good.

researchprofessionalnews.com/rr-news-uk-uni…

If it happens, this could be a huge deal for Gen Z

Could also be a mixed blessing for UK universities - would make them far more attractive for European students, postgrads and early career researchers, but would come with a hit to fees

And is the UK govt up for it?

This could upset those who voted for #Brexit .

The EU has proposed talks with the UK on freeing up cross-border movement for young people, including dropping tuition fees for EU students to domestic levels.

Story (by Robin Bisson) here (free to read):

researchprofessionalnews.com/rr-news-uk-uni…

Science minister’s vote against smoking ban ‘hard to believe’: Researchers question Andrew Griffith’s “strange” decision to vote against government on phase-out of tobacco. (£)

researchprofessionalnews.com/rr-news-uk-pol…

Donelan libel case latest.

'RPN understands the core findings of the investigation, which fully exonerated the advisers in question, were reached even earlier, by the end November. Despite this, the conclusion of the investigation was not announced until 5 March 2024.'

Top civil servant defends taxpayer bankrolling Donelan libel case: Minister was doing “governmental business”, says Sarah Munby as RPN reveals major additional legal costs. (£)

researchprofessionalnews.com/rr-news-uk-pol…

🧵 Today, we broke the news that the government paid more than £23k in legal fees relating to the Michelle Donelan libel case—in addition to a £15k settlement. It's now being widely reported.

Article (free): researchprofessionalnews.com/rr-news-uk-pol…

Here's how we have followed the story...

Exclusive.

The government spent more than £23k on legal services related to Michelle Donelan’s letter to UK Research and Innovation about members of an advisory panel, bringing the total cost of the incident to the government & UKRI to more than £60k.

researchprofessionalnews.com/rr-news-uk-pol…

Science department’s ODA spending hit new low in 2023: Dsit development spending totalled just £167 million, compared with £607m for R&I in 2020. (£)

researchprofessionalnews.com/rr-news-uk-pol…

Science and Technology Framework: Delayed construction.

One year on, just how sturdy is the science department’s plan to embed R&D across government?

researchprofessionalnews.com/rr-news-uk-pol… /

Cost of *that* letter from Michelle Donelan to taxpayer now standing at £38k

FOI from Michael Merrifield reveals cost to UKRI of independent investigation was £23k, added to £15k from libel settlement

researchprofessionalnews.com/rr-news-uk-pol…

There was some big news this week which should have been top of the news agenda - the fact that it wasn’t and the story that dominated the public space instead tells a worrying story about the priorities of many in this country 🧵

Cambridge pauses new fossil fuel industry research collaborations.

Move hailed as first for UK university sector as campaigners push for lasting ban.
researchprofessionalnews.com/rr-news-uk-uni…

UK universities and businesses struggle to get EU research talent: CBI member “put plans for R&I on hold” as universities see falling EU postgraduate researchers. (£)

researchprofessionalnews.com/rr-news-uk-uni…

Depressing to keep seeing these ads from BP in Politico

Clearly still desirable to communicate to the political class that extracting more oil & gas is something to be proud of

Exclusive: EuroScience researcher association placed in liquidation (€)

Association president stresses this year’s Open Forum conference will go ahead as planned

researchprofessionalnews.com/rr-news-europe…

This is a remarkable story, no?

George Freeman, the Tory MP who resigned as the UK’s science minister in November, has given his backing to Labour’s research funding policy on 10-year budgets.

A big PR win for Labour. Great interview from Robin Bisson.
researchprofessionalnews.com/rr-news-uk-pol…

Research England chief says R&D sector ‘may be contracting’: RPN Live: Jessica Corner says pressure on university finances could undermine UK’s research capacity. (£) #RPNlive2024

researchprofessionalnews.com/rr-news-uk-pol…