Surprising predictions part 4

 UK-based Researchers Brace for Impact as Funding Troubles Loom

A recent announcement from the United Kingdom's Department of Business, Innovation and Skills (BIS) suggests that UK researchers may soon have trouble getting funding in the wake of additional budget cuts, with the government planning to make the biggest cuts to research spending since World War II. The cuts will take place over the next four years and are expected to eliminate around £400 million (about $650 million USD) from funding previously allocated to universities and other research-centered institutions. This comes as bad news to researchers, who fear this will significantly hamper their ability to innovate and further their fields of study and research.

So what’s going on?

The UK is facing a national funding crisis, which has led to drastic measures being taken. It was announced this week that the UK plans to slash £250 million from its annual research budget. This will make it increasingly difficult for researchers and scientists to continue their studies and experiments in the UK.

If you're a researcher based in the UK, you should be aware of these changes and start planning your next steps now. Here are some key consideration. if you’re a UK-based researcher:

1) Evaluate how Brexit will affect your current sources of funding 

2) Talk with colleagues about where they think the best opportunities might lie 

3) Consider looking into moving to another country within Europe or elsewhere

What impact could it have on you?

The situation in the UK is dire. The country's research funding has been slashed by a whopping 80% over the last 10 years, and it seems there may be no end in sight. For researchers who have already felt the sting of less money available, this news should sound like a death knell. But those who are just starting out in their careers or whose work is new to the grant system need not worry. While nothing is certain yet, it seems likely that researchers will find some way to make ends meet - but at what cost?

It's important to take this news with a grain of salt when considering your own research endeavors. In the short term, British universities will still be able to fund research within their campuses and institutions. The Department for Business, Innovation & Skills released a statement saying We are committed to investing £1 billion on world-class science facilities in the next four years. Beyond the next four years, however, things get dicey. In his analysis of this event for Nature News, Mark Peplow suggests that universities might try to bridge funding gaps by trying some creative approaches such as raising tuition fees or seeking more private funds from industry partners. However he warns the scale of cuts might eventually mean closing labs altogether. What does this mean for you?: If you're currently studying at an institution in the UK, then you can probably continue without interruption. Grad students will have to keep an eye on any changes coming down the pipeline, but there's always a chance for scholarships and fellowships if funding becomes scarce. If you're planning a career in research after graduation, now would be a good time to consider options outside of the United States or Western Europe where many countries still offer free university education. There are also plenty of alternative sources of funding to explore. As I mentioned earlier, British universities will seek other means to keep up research efforts in their schools until more sustainable solutions can be found. Still, don't put off applying for jobs at home; if scientists flock elsewhere, who knows how long you'll have a choice! 

It's important to take this news with a grain of salt when considering your own research endeavors. In the short term, British universities will still be able to fund research within their campuses and institutions. The Department for Business, Innovation & Skills released a statement saying We are committed to investing £1 billion on world-class science facilities in the next four years. Beyond the next four years, however, things get dicey. In his analysis of this event for Nature News, Mark Peplow suggests that universities might try to bridge funding gaps by trying some creative approaches such as raising tuition fees or seeking more private funds from industry partners. However he warns the scale of cuts might eventually mean closing labs altogether. With Britain being one of the most lucrative places in the world for academic research, it remains to be seen whether or not institutes will even survive without government backing. Some experts suggest looking abroad while others caution against making hasty decisions based on fear alone. With so much uncertainty surrounding our future prospects, we must maintain hope that one day better times lie ahead! In the meantime, it's imperative that all of us remember to do everything in our power to help ourselves. The onus is on you and me to start thinking creatively about ways to generate revenue. This could be as simple as starting a side business or selling things online. Alternatively, you could pursue consulting opportunities in order to fill the gap left by shrinking research funding. Whatever you do, never stop asking yourself How can I innovate?

Actionable steps you can take to get ahead

In light of the uncertain economic climate, UK researchers are being encouraged to develop more international collaborations and diversify their funding sources. This includes seeking grant opportunities from organizations like the European Union (EU), European Research Council (ERC) and the Howard Hughes Medical Institute. In order to apply for these grants, researchers need to get used to navigating a new system of grant writing which may differ from their previous experience with the National Institutes of Health's (NIH) cumbersome grant application process. 

There are other options that UK researchers can take in order to secure funding or even start a business in biotech, pharmaceuticals or medical devices. For example, if you are an entrepreneur with a great idea but lack funding, crowdfunding is an option worth exploring. Crowdfunding is when individuals pledge small amounts of money over the internet in support of a cause they believe in. One successful example was when eleven-year old Jack Andraka invented a revolutionary test that could detect pancreatic cancer at its early stages by detecting nanograms per milliliter levels of mesothelin, which it does through binding fluorescence quantum dots onto antibodies linked to complementary DNA strands. The innovation won him first prize at Intel’s International Science Fair and attracted media attention including on NPR’s Morning Edition where he told reporters: You know what else I want? I want every single kid who has ever thought about doing science fair to do it. Not just because I want them to win prizes, but because then kids will know that there are no limits. So many children have dreams of becoming scientists, doctors and inventors; crowdfunding provides a way for those dreams to become reality. 

It should be noted that not all startups have the same level of success as Jack Andraka's company - plenty fail. However, even if one succeeds it could generate a significant revenue stream while providing jobs in the field. That's why we encourage aspiring entrepreneurs to explore this route if they have a novel product or idea, but limited funds. In fact, crowdfunding campaigns raised $1.2 billion worldwide last year according to research firm Massolution. With statistics like these, any researcher should give this avenue serious consideration in their search for funding. While raising capital online can be risky, the potential reward far outweighs the cost of failure. Take for example Max Levchin, a former University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign student who left to found a startup called Paypal. A recent article in Forbes entitled How to Keep Funding Creativity in Silicon Valley states that funding innovative ideas from young entrepreneurs, in spite of their inexperience and riskiness, would help to keep creativity alive in Silicon Valley.

Next steps and getting involved

The UK is facing a major funding crisis, with funding opportunities drying up and research budgets shrinking. As a result, researchers are feeling the strain in their work. The UK government has set up a new strategy to address the problem, but it's not clear if it will be enough to save our researchers from sinking. It's time for us to stand up and fight for them. Let's take action by writing to our representatives and urging them to take this issue seriously. We can also donate to organizations that support scientists who need financial assistance. There are many ways we can help: donate your money or buy something to raise funds, spread awareness about the situation on social media, or volunteer your skills to help. Find out more about how you can get involved here 

*links lead to external site* You might want to consider donating to organizations like Scientists without Borders. Another option is buying artworks for auction and donating the proceeds to charities like Scientists without Borders. You could even volunteer your skills, such as data analysis or design, in order to make valuable contributions while helping fund important research efforts. Just because things look bleak doesn't mean they're hopeless! Let's do what we can now before these promising young minds fall victim of this disaster.  Join me in speaking up and taking action to give science a fighting chance. Take some time to explore the following links and think about where you might want to invest your energy. Thank you! If you enjoyed this post please share it so others can learn more about how they can help as welleIf there are other topics you'd like to see covered, let me know in the comments below. I would love to continue sharing my thoughts and findings with you, my readers. For example, I wrote a blog post last week on scientific diplomacy which I feel deserves its own followup post given the potential benefits of such an endeavor. Other potential ideas include examining Brexit's impact on international collaborations in scientific fields, exploring gender biases within STEM industries, or talking about how a lack of diversity in STEM industries can have devastating effects over time (and vice versa). Thanks again for reading! Remember to subscribe to stay updated on any future posts - there are plenty more interesting topics coming your way soon. In the meantime, you may enjoy my recent video How Brexit Affects Women on YouTube. Have a wonderful day! Don't forget to comment and let me know your thoughts. 

In the United States, the Trump administration has implemented budget cuts and plans to eliminate jobs in the Office of Science. To get involved, you can sign a petition or contact your congressional representative to urge them to protect federal funding for science. You can also speak up at your local town hall meetings and talk about how your family relies on federally funded research and technology.