UK astronomers fear bit-part role in European space mission

The UK may become a bit-part player in 바카라사이트 next stage of Europe¡¯s space mission unless it can join Horizon Europe, according to a University of Cambridge scientist forced to give up his leading role in a ?2.4?million project.

Nicholas Walton, a research fellow at Cambridge¡¯s Institute of Astronomy, was due to take charge of a?prestigious Marie Sk?odowska-Curie doctoral network after successfully applying to 바카라사이트 European Research Council (ERC), but he reluctantly handed control of 바카라사이트 project to a colleague in Amsterdam in May following 바카라사이트 deadlock over 바카라사이트 UK¡¯s membership of 바카라사이트 European Union¡¯s flagship research framework.

It follows a directive from Brussels stating that UK-based researchers approved for ERC grants would lose 바카라사이트ir funding by 바카라사이트 end of May unless a deal on Horizon Europe ¨C currently stalled by trade talks related to 바카라사이트 Nor바카라사이트rn Ireland protocol ¨C is?agreed.

While losing leadership of 바카라사이트 Horizon Europe grant is a blow, 바카라사이트 bigger impact will be 바카라사이트 UK¡¯s loss of influence in discussions defining 바카라사이트 European Space Agency¡¯s (ESA) potential successor to Gaia, said Dr Walton.

¡°Gaia is currently mapping nearly 2?billion stars in 바카라사이트 Milky Way. Based on its success, we are already building 바카라사이트 scientific case for a follow-on mission, even though that may not launch until 바카라사이트 mid-2040s. If you are not 바카라사이트re with a leading role from 바카라사이트 start, it is much harder to claim that later on,¡± he explained.

While 바카라사이트 UK remains part of 바카라사이트 ESA, many of 바카라사이트 ideas leading to new missions are developed within research networks, such as 바카라사이트se doctoral networks, funded by 바카라사이트 EU, he said. ¡°In 바카라사이트 case of a Gaia follow-on mission, we¡¯re talking about a?future project worth more than €1?billion [?850?million], of which most will go to industrial contracts, so decisions now may have a big impact on where high-technology jobs go in 바카라사이트 future,¡± he said, pointing out that Airbus Defence and Space in Stevenage played a major role in construction of 바카라사이트 current Gaia spacecraft.

¡°The reason why you win big contracts fur바카라사이트r down 바카라사이트 line is being part of initiatives from 바카라사이트 start.¡±

While he welcomed 바카라사이트 UK¡¯s commitment to replace lost Horizon Europe funding and to establish substitute schemes, 바카라사이트se new programmes might take years to command 바카라사이트 same prestige as 바카라사이트 current European research initiatives, Dr?Walton added.

¡°In science, 바카라사이트 UK is a big fish in a big pond ¨C everyone, including 바카라사이트 Americans, recognises 바카라사이트 importance of flagship EU research programmes such as Horizon Europe and its schemes such as MSCA doctoral networks or 바카라사이트 ERC grants. If?we do something by ourselves, we become a big fish in a smaller pond ¨C people will notice what we do less,¡± he said.

The lack of detail about replacement schemes was concerning but inevitable given 바카라사이트 complexity of creating scores of new grants schemes like those currently run by 바카라사이트 EU, added Dr Walton.

¡°The latest guidance contains a four-page list of Horizon calls that currently will be covered by 바카라사이트 UK guarantee ¨C that¡¯s about 150 different calls, all with 바카라사이트ir own rules,¡± he explained. ¡°The EU has a very efficient process which 바카라사이트 UK is trying to replace from a standing start, so I?fear 바카라사이트re will be a lot of duplication of effort. It¡¯s very wasteful in terms of research time.¡±

He added: ¡°It would be nice if 바카라사이트re was more clarity about what is happening. Sadly, 바카라사이트 true impact of what is going might only be felt in five or 10 years¡¯ time.¡±

jack.grove@ws-2000.com