Practical science teaching at risk amid staffing and funding pressures


UK science teachers are struggling to deliver practical lessons, with many technicians - the backbone of school labs - considering leaving the profession, according to a survey of nearly 2,000 educators.


The annual Science Teaching Survey, commissioned by the RSC and partner organisations, found insuffi cient time (58%), challenging student behaviour (48%) and the cost of consumables and chemicals (43%) are the biggest barriers. Nearly a fi fth of technicians plan to leave by 2027, while 39% are unsure whether they will stay, citing


low pay, lack of progression, and stress. Stress-related departures alone have risen 159% since 2023.


Teachers warned that losing technicians would seriously impact practical learning. Vicky Thompson, senior technician, said: “You can’t teach science meaningfully without the resources, experiments, and hands-on experiences that technicians make possible. Yet many technicians are stretched across multiple roles, from fi rst aid to lesson cover.”


The RSC and partners call for increased funding for consumables


and chemicals, and enough skilled technicians to support hands- on science education. Mark Jordan, RSC Head of Education, said: “Practical lessons are vital to inspiring students and building the STEM workforce. Governments must invest in school-level science education to secure the UK’s talent pipeline.”


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UK-built instrument joins NASA mission to map solar system shield


A British-built instrument has launched aboard NASA’s Interstellar Mapping and Acceleration Probe (IMAP), a mission designed to map the vast magnetic bubble that shields our solar system from harmful cosmic radiation.


The spacecraft lifted off from Kennedy Space Center, Florida, on 24 September and will travel nearly a million miles from Earth before beginning its observations. Acting like a ‘space weather station’, IMAP will track the solar wind and high-energy particles, offering


new insights into how the Sun interacts with the wider galaxy.


At the core of the UK’s contribution is MAG, a sensitive magnetometer developed by Imperial College London with £4.2 million support from the UK Space Agency. MAG will measure magnetic fi elds in space, generating real-time data to improve forecasting of solar storms that can disrupt satellites, GPS, and power grids.


Professor Timothy Horbury, Imperial College London, science lead for the instrument, commented: “Our magnetic fi eld instrument


The magnetometer (MAG) boom is shown in the deployed position extending out from the Interstellar Mapping and Acceleration Probe (IMAP) at the Johns Hopkins Applied Physics Laboratory in Laurel, Maryland. Image Credit: NASA/Johns Hopkins/Princeton/Ed Whitman


will help us understand how particles are accelerated at shock waves and travel through the solar system. The fact that our data will be publicly available within minutes is a great example of science with real benefi ts for society.”


The UK’s involvement in IMAP builds on the success of Solar Orbiter and refl ects the nation’s strong reputation in space science and instrumentation. Alongside NASA, more than 25 institutions across six countries are contributing to the mission, which will also support safer human exploration of the Moon and Mars.


IMAP-illustration.


The MAG instrument flight model sensors prior to installation on the boom. Credit: NASA/Johns Hopkins APL/Ed Whitman


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UK life sciences R&D at risk as major investments paused


The UK’s position as a global hub for life sciences and research investment is under threat, the National Centre for Universities and Business


(NCUB) warns. AstraZeneca’s decision to


pause its £200 million Cambridge expansion, coupled with Merck’s withdrawal from a planned £1 billion London discovery centre, highlights growing risks to the country’s competitiveness in R&D.


Rosalind Gill, NCUB Director of Policy, Analysis and External Affairs, said: “These decisions send a warning signal about the UK’s ability to compete for global life sciences investment. While the UK has world-class science, business confidence is being eroded by policy uncertainty and fragmented support.”


Business R&D spend fell to £50 billion in 2023, 6% lower in real terms than in 2021. NCUB highlights that clearer national priorities, simpler access to support, and reforms to public bodies are essential to reverse this trend and keep investment in the UK.


Positive developments include BioNTech’s pledge of up to £1 billion over ten years to expand UK research, Unilever’s £80 million investment in fragrance R&D at Port Sunlight, and


Vishay’s £250 million semiconductor investment in Newport.


NCUB calls on government and industry to ensure that the UK’s science strengths translate into sustainable R&D growth, securing jobs and innovation for the future.


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UK spin-out secures £2 million for gene-editing tool


Forge Genetics, a University of Nottingham spin-out, has secured £2 million ($2.7 million) to grow its commercial work on bacterial strains and adapt its gene-editing tool for human and animal cells.


The technology offers advantages over CRISPR: it is more precise, supports a wider range of bacterial strains, and can detect unwanted DNA mutations in human cells, offering a potentially safer approach.


Founded by Professor Nigel Minton, Dr Chris Humphreys, Dr Craig Woods, and later joined by Dr Lisa Thomas, Forge has already secured over £2.2 million in contract research. Based at the university, the company plans to double its 10-person team in the next two years.


CEO Dr Craig Woods said: “This funding allows us to scale our business faster and adapt the tool for human cells, providing an alternative to existing gene-editing technologies.”


Mercia Ventures and the British Business Bank highlighted Forge’s strong technical reputation and growth potential, noting the company is breaking new ground in the sector.


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