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On 27 July 2026, STFC/UKRI announced that operational funding for the /VLBI National Radio Astronomy Facility will not be renewed after the current contract ends on 31 March 2028. Without replacement funding, astronomical observations with all the Jodrell Bank telescopes supported by the national facility would cease from 1 April 2028.

• The affected funding supports e-MERLIN, participation in European and Global radio telescope networks (including ), contributions to the scientific operation of the Lovell Telescope, and the specialist scientific, engineering, software, technical and professional-services teams needed to run them.
• Other funding routes are being explored, but there is currently no confirmed alternative UK science funding stream.

e-MERLIN is the UK's national radio astronomy facility. It links seven radio telescopes across the country - up to 217km apart - which together act as a single giant telescope operated from Jodrell Bank Observatory. Its scientific and technical capabilities cannot be fully replicated by any other astronomical facility in the world, now or in the foreseeable future.

e-MERLIN is important because it:

• Provides a unique capability for UK science. It provides the UK's only operational high-resolution radio imaging capability. It allows astronomers to study the Universe in exceptional detail, supporting research into stars, planets, black holes, galaxies, pulsars and other cosmic phenomena. A compilation of recent e-MERLIN science highlights has been published online:
• Supports international astronomy. e-MERLIN and the Lovell Telescope play a critical role in global radio astronomy networks, helping researchers from around the world work together on major scientific projects.
• Helps the UK make the most of its investment in the Square Kilometre Array Observatory (SKAO). e-MERLIN trains future radio astronomers and allows scientists to take a closer look at discoveries made by other telescopes, which will include the forthcoming SKAO, expected to begin collecting data some time in the 2030s .
• Develops skills and future technologies. The facility trains scientists, engineers and technical specialists, while supporting the development of new technologies for future research.
• Contributes to space monitoring. Recent work has shown that e-MERLIN and the Lovell Telescope can help improve the UK's ability to track satellites, space debris and near-Earth asteroids.

The impact is not simply the loss of one telescope programme. The funding decision would bring astronomical observations supported through the e-MERLIN National Facility to an end and would significantly affect the future of Jodrell Bank as an active scientific observatory.

• Closure of a globally unique capability: e-MERLIN provides a globally unique capability that allows astronomers worldwide to produce exceptionally detailed images of the Universe. No other existing or planned telescope system, including the forthcoming Square Kilometre Array Observatory (SKAO), can fully replace its role in this research.
• Major impact on international collaboration: e-MERLIN and the Lovell Telescope play a vital role in a global network of radio telescopes called . e-MERLIN telescopes often make up around half of the antennas in the network. Losing access to these facilities would reduce the network's effectiveness and could damage the UK's reputation as a reliable partner in international science.
• Loss of skilled jobs and expertise: 28 full-time-equivalent posts across astronomy, engineering, software, electronics, operations and technical support, some of which take years to train. Additional posts are also at risk.
• Damage to national infrastructure: The loss would affect scientific discovery, technology development and the UK's ability to track satellites and other objects in space.
• Reducing the UK's ability to benefit from its investment in SKAO: The UK hosts the international headquarters of the SKAO at Jodrell Bank, a decision closely linked to the presence of an active national radio astronomy facility. e-MERLIN trains future SKAO users, using a telescope that is operational now, and supports the community of researchers and engineers based around the SKAO headquarters. It allows scientists to take a closer look at discoveries made by other telescopes, including the SKAO, when it becomes operational in 5+ years' time. Losing it would weaken the UK's leadership in radio astronomy.

The announcement has attracted national, regional and international media coverage because Jodrell Bank is both a globally recognised scientific observatory and an important part of the UK's scientific and cultural heritage. The response highlights how much Jodrell Bank means to people in the UK and around the world, reflecting its contribution not only to scientific discovery, but also to education, culture and public engagement.

e-MERLIN is an international facility used by thousands of researchers in the UK and around the world. Projects selected for use of e-MERLIN go through a competitive peer-review process. Demand for access always exceeds the available observing time.

• Around 2,900 researchers from more than 30 countries are registered e-MERLIN users.
• Around 40% of users are based in the UK, with a further 24% based elsewhere in Europe.
• e-MERLIN plays an important role in training the next generation of researchers. Early-career researchers make up a significant proportion of users and lead the majority of e-MERLIN projects
• The facility is also an important part of international astronomy collaborations, regularly contributing telescopes to the

e-MERLIN's annual operating cost funded by STFC is £2.8 million, with an additional University contribution of around £1 million to overall Observatory operations, supporting telescope operations, engineering, maintenance, software and specialist staff across a national facility. Since 2008, the facility has introduced significant efficiencies, reducing its operating costs by more than 40% in real terms.

e-MERLIN remains a leading international research facility and continues to support cutting-edge astronomy. The network has been continually upgraded with modern technology, and plays an important role in international telescope network and collaborations. Upgrades have been made to the antenna, all e-MERLIN electronics, telescope equipment, data network and all data processing using similar technology to SKAO.

The facility is also undergoing a major digital upgrade funded by STFC, key parts of which are already complete and will further enhance its scientific capabilities.

e-MERLIN can work alongside major facilities such as the future Square Kilometre Array Observatory (SKAO), providing capabilities that complement rather than duplicate them. Its unique combination of telescopes enables astronomers to study the Universe in exceptional detail. For example, while the SKAO will be one of the world's most powerful radio observatories, e-MERLIN already produces images around five times sharper than those expected from the SKAO more than five years from now, allowing scientists to study objects in greater detail.

e-MERLIN is funded by the UK government through the Science and Technology Facilities Council (STFC), with The University of Manchester contributing to Jodrell Bank's operations.

The STFC funding supports the day-to-day running of the facility, including telescope operations, engineering, maintenance, software, data processing and the specialist staff needed to operate a national facility.

It is important to note that e-MERLIN funding is separate from the funding arrangements for the Jodrell Bank Centre for Engagement (the visitor attraction) and the Square Kilometre Array Observatory (SKAO) Headquarters, which are funded through different mechanisms.

All the telescopes at Jodrell Bank, including the Lovell Telescope and the e-MERLIN network, are owned by The University of Manchester.

e-MERLIN is operated by The University of Manchester on behalf of the Science and Technology Facilities Council (STFC) for the UK and international research community. Through e-MERLIN, the telescopes support a wide range of national and international scientific programmes and collaborations.

Without continued funding for e-MERLIN, operations of the Lovell Telescope would also cease at the end of the funding period.

The Jodrell Bank site is home to three distinct organisations and activities: Jodrell Bank Observatory (JBO), the Jodrell Bank Centre for Engagement (JBCE), and the Square Kilometre Array Observatory (SKAO) Headquarters. While they share the same site, they are separate entities with different roles, governance arrangements and funding models.

Jodrell Bank Observatory (JBO)

Part of the at The University of Manchester, JBO carries out radio astronomy research and operates the UK's national radio astronomy infrastructure, including e-MERLIN and the Lovell Telescope. The recent funding announcement affects these scientific facilities.

Jodrell Bank Centre for Engagement (JBCE)

This is the public-facing responsible for exhibitions, education programmes and the UNESCO World Heritage Site. A unique feature of Jodrell Bank is that visitors can stand alongside telescopes that are being used for scientific research, creating a direct link between discovery, heritage and public engagement. JBCE operates and is funded separately from the Observatory. The Centre operates largely as a social enterprise funded by ticket income, with some core funding from the University.

Square Kilometre Array Observatory (SKAO) Headquarters

Jodrell Bank is home to the offices of the international headquarters of the , a separate independent intergovernmental organisation established by international treaty, overseeing the governance, scientific planning, engineering and future operations of the SKA telescopes being constructed and located in South Africa and Australia. SKAO does not fund the operation of e-MERLIN or the Lovell Telescope.

Investment in the Square Kilometre Array Observatory (SKAO) is not the same as funding e-MERLIN or Jodrell Bank Observatory.

The SKAO, although headquartered at Jodrell Bank, is a separate international organisation established by treaty and is independent of both The University of Manchester and e-MERLIN. The SKAO is responsible for developing and operating the SKA telescopes in Australia and South Africa, and does not own or operate the Lovell Telescope or the e-MERLIN network.

While the SKAO and e-MERLIN will work together when operational, they provide different but important capabilities for international astronomy and funding for one does not fund the other.

In practice, restarting e-MERLIN would be extremely difficult. The facility depends on specialist staff, operational expertise and infrastructure that have been developed over many decades. Once these capabilities are lost, rebuilding them would require significant new investment and could take many years. Experience in other countries has shown that this is very difficult. While archived data would remain available to researchers, this is not a substitute for a working observatory.