That is the challenge facing sites run by the UK Science and Technology Facilities Council (STFC), which funds the Diamond Light Source ' the national synchrotron facility in Harwell ' as well as other scientific instruments and labs. The remodelling comes amid an overhaul to UK public research funding in line with the government's strategic priorities, and during a rocky period for UK science. The country's new prime minister, Andy Burnham, has merged the Department for Science, Innovation and Technology into a larger Department of Business, Innovation, Science and Trade. Patrick Vallance, a clinical scientist popular among research leaders, resigned as science minister on 20 July. Chemical engineer Chris McDonald, a member of the UK parliament who had a prior career in industry research, was appointed to the role on 24 July. The Labour government, led by former prime minister Keir Starmer until 20 July, promised that the budget for the country's main research funder, UK Research...
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