What if saving active research at Jodrell Bank wasn’t a complex government dilemma, but a simple regional movement? The “Quid for Jodrell” idea explores how a £1 annual contribution from the people of the North West could fully cover the £2.8 million funding gap facing the e‑MERLIN radio astronomy array.

The Funding Target

The Common‑Sense Logic

A £2.8 million annual shortfall sounds insurmountable to an individual or small organisation. But shared across a region of millions, it becomes almost trivial — less than the price of half a cup of coffee, once a year.

East Lancs and Greater Manchester alone account for around 1.5 million people. The wider North West totals more than 7 million. Even the smallest of these groups makes the maths work.

What This Funding Protects

A fully funded e‑MERLIN array means:

• Full active operation of the national radio astronomy network.
• 24/7 deep‑space observations using the Lovell Telescope.
• Continued UK leadership in radio astronomy and cosmic research.
• Protection of a UNESCO‑recognised scientific heritage site.