Britain’s universities are scaling back on core science courses just when the race for scientific discovery—and its commercial applications—has never been more urgent. According to the Office for Students, undergraduate programmes in chemistry, biosciences, and related fields have declined by as much as 25% over the past five years. Cuts at institutions such as Aston and Hull—where entire departments face closure—have heightened concerns about the UK’s ability to train enough specialists for a tech-driven industrial strategy.
2024 was a year of scientific breakthroughs, with major strides in astronomy—such as new images from the James Webb Space Telescope—and in medical research, including the rollout of malaria vaccines and the development of a global cell atlas (dubbed the “Google Maps for the body”). These transformative achievements, along with innovations in artificial intelligence, quantum computing, and synthetic biology, reshape sectors from healthcare to advanced manufacturing. Yet the gap between the UK’s scientific ambitions and its higher education funding threatens to undercut these opportunities.
Against this challenging backdrop, a genomics revolution is unfolding at remarkable speed. Nanopore sequencing, in particular, exemplifies both the extraordinary promise of next-generation science and the urgent need for a stronger pipeline of skilled researchers. By threading strands of DNA or RNA through nanoscopic pores and measuring the resulting electrical signals, this technology deciphers genetic codes in real time—enabling everything from rapid disease diagnostics to advanced research in epigenetics.
Nowhere is this potential more evident than at London Calling 2025, a flagship conference hosted by Oxford Nanopore Technologies (ONT) at London’s historic Old Billingsgate. Focusing on real-time genomic sequencing and its broad applications, the event underscores how world-class research can translate into tangible commercial opportunities. Recent announcements from ONT include portable sequencing devices, faster “voltage chip” prototypes, and new methods that promise to democratise genomic analysis for fields as diverse as personalised medicine and agricultural biotechnology.
Yet these impressive advances arrive at a time when some UK universities are struggling to sustain their science departments. Science degrees tend to be more expensive to deliver than humanities programmes, requiring specialist staff and laboratory equipment. With tuition fees capped and direct funding from the Office for Students stretched thin, institutions facing financial pressures often choose to consolidate or close science courses. Meanwhile, private sector leaders warn that biotechnology and chemical industries require a steady supply of graduates to remain globally competitive.
For investors and business leaders, the stakes are high, breakthroughs in fields such as genomics drive innovation, create high-value jobs, and address global challenges ranging from emerging pandemics to food security. If the UK cannot bolster its talent pipeline, it risks losing these commercial and societal benefits to countries that invest more aggressively in STEM education.
Against this headwind, London Calling 2025 highlights how collaboration between academia, industry, and government can yield powerful results. The conference fosters dialogue among venture capitalists, high net worth individuals, and leading researchers, illustrating the business potential of next-generation science. It also offers an early look at emerging tools like portable sequencing kits, which allow on-site genomic analysis that could transform everything from clinical diagnostics to environmental monitoring.
As we advance further into the 21st century, the UK sits at a crossroads. Robust industrial strategies demand more scientific expertise, but universities struggle to fund and grow the very programmes that supply the workforce of tomorrow. The example of nanopore sequencing—and the momentum around events like London Calling 2025—showcases how swiftly research breakthroughs can evolve into new ventures, valuable patents, and vital global problem-solving. To ensure these successes become a national advantage rather than isolated pockets of excellence, policymakers, university leaders, and investors must work together to realign funding, foster collaboration, and champion the crucial role of science education.
By taking action now, Britain can sustain its leadership in genomics and other high-impact fields. Failure to address these challenges may force the country to watch from the sidelines as breakthroughs conceived here are realised elsewhere. The stakes—for the economy, for global health, and for the UK’s position in the scientific vanguard—could not be higher.
London Calling is an Oxford Nanopore hosted, annual multi-day, hybrid conference during which scientists across a breadth of research areas share their latest work using nanopore technology. Dates: 20th - 23rd May 2025. Location: Old Billingsgate, London, or the Virtual event is free of charge.
