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Matthew Thornton

Poster Prize: Matt Thornton

  • Patrick Parkinson

Patrick Parkinson

15 Sep 2022

Matt Thornton, a BBSRC funded PhD affiliated with the group won a Poster Prize at the Molecular Photophysics meeting in Newcastle. Congratulations to Matt!

The Opportunity Cost of Misdirected Talent: An ARPA Counterfactual

The Opportunity Cost of Misdirected Talent: An ARPA Counterfactual

ARPA vs NSF: directed 'pins' vs curiosity-led 'gradients' - the two most-copied research funding models in history. We can't predict the next Pasteur. But we can stop funding the next Red Balloon. UKRI bucket 2 isn't wrong - but redirecting talent without bounding the downside isn't strategy.
03 Jul 2026 8 min read
Is Research a Sport, a Market or a Commons?

Is Research a Sport, a Market or a Commons?

Is academic research a sport, a business, or a commons? As UK universities face unprecedented financial strain, we confront an uncomfortable truth: the sector is simply too large for the available funding. We've passed the 'Szilard point' - and it’s time to manage the market reality.
15 Jun 2026 7 min read
A Start Up is (Not) All You Need: Exploring the Innovation Design Space

A Start Up is (Not) All You Need: Exploring the Innovation Design Space

Seen through a one-dimensional lens - public research on the left, commercial spin-out on the right - ARIA's investments look indefensible. But the map is wrong, not the decisions.
12 May 2026 5 min read
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