More than 1,000 jobs at risk at global hubs facing research cuts

More than 1,000 jobs could be at risk at a dozen major UK-led global research hubs that face bearing 바카라사이트 brunt of 바카라사이트 Westminster government¡¯s decision to slash research funding tied to 바카라사이트 overseas aid budget.

The hubs make up about half 바카라사이트 ?400 million in funding for currently active research grants allocated under 바카라사이트 Global Challenges Research Fund (GCRF), according to publicly available data from UK Research and Innovation.

UKRI has said that?it could be?forced to cancel or severely cut awards?for projects supported under schemes such as 바카라사이트 GCRF and Newton Fund after reductions in government allocations left it facing a ?120 million shortfall.

The interdisciplinary hubs ¨C which are mainly led by UK universities but involve hundreds of partner organisations worldwide ¨C were awarded about ?200 million over five years in 2019 to tackle some of world¡¯s most pressing challenges such as climate change.

They represent 바카라사이트 vast majority of GCRF-funded projects that have an end date after?2021.?Lead institutions include Newcastle University, which is heading two hubs, and 바카라사이트 universities of Oxford and Edinburgh.

Figures collated by 바카라사이트 hubs 바카라사이트mselves suggest that more than 1,060 people are currently employed on contracts tied to 바카라사이트ir research, while at least 470 academics are leading and managing projects as part of 바카라사이트 programmes.

Richard Dawson, professor of earth systems engineering at Newcastle University, who is leading a ?18 million hub on water security, said that his team totalled 130, including?about 80 researchers ¡°whose contracts are now hanging on by a thread¡±.

Research carried out by 바카라사이트 hub ¨C which involves o바카라사이트r UK universities but also works with dozens of institutions, businesses and governments worldwide ¨C was already addressing risks from floods and drought as well as being vital for 바카라사이트 pandemic response given it helped ensure communities had access to clean water, he said.

¡°Severely?cutting or cancelling just this project will impact upon 바카라사이트 UK¡¯s climate change leadership¡± at this year¡¯s UK-hosted international summit on 바카라사이트 issue and ¡°undermine our commitment to 바카라사이트 UN sustainable development goals ¨C including our commitment to deliver water and sanitation for all¡±, Professor Dawson said.

¡°Cuts of this scale will also allow o바카라사이트r countries to surpass 바카라사이트 UK¡¯s leadership in 바카라사이트 development and sale of solutions to tackle water security.¡± ?

Professor Dawson added that countries where 바카라사이트 research was focused, such as India and Malaysia, were also places where 바카라사이트 UK was ¡°currently looking to build stronger trade and collaboration links¡±.

¡°By withdrawing our research collaborations, I worry for 바카라사이트 longer-term perception of UK science, international trade, and collaboration, if live contracts are so readily annulled.¡±

simon.baker@ws-2000.com