Jodrell Experience puts Astronomical Skills in Perspective  

Minister of State for Universities, Science, Research and Innovation, Jo Johnson MP, learnt more about the UK’s role in cutting-edge space exploration (9 February) as he toured The University of Manchester’s Jodrell Bank Observatory and the international headquarters of the Square Kilometre Array, the project to build the world's largest radio telescope.

Mr Johnson was in Cheshire as the Government announced a new £10 million scheme to incentivise the commercial spaceflight market and to see the ways in which the UK is leading international astronomical research, by meeting with scientists at Jodrell Bank working on the UK’s e-MERLIN telescope and the Square Kilometre Array.

As part of the tour Mr Johnson climbed the giant Lovell Telescope, an icon of UK science and engineering and one of the biggest and most powerful radio telescopes in the world. Jodrell Bank has been at the forefront of world radio astronomy for over 70 years and is now on the UK shortlist for UNESCO World Heritage Site status.

As well as important scientific research, the site is also home to a Discovery Centre which attracts 165,000 visitors each year, including 22,000 school pupils on educational visits. The Centre organises a range of public events including the bluedot festival of science, music and culture.