Explainer: How would UK science be affected by a no-deal Brexit?

The post-Brexit transition period ends on 31 December 2020. The UK government and the EU are negotiating right up to the wire on the details of their future relationship. If no agreement is reached by the time the transition period ends, vast swathes of the economy and society will be affected, not least by the high levels of uncertainty associated with no-deal. The regulations that oversee the movement of people, goods and services would change abruptly overnight with huge implications for research funding and employment, and access to data and supplies. While the UK government has tried to reassure the science community, there is a significant lack of clarity and detail on how they plan to protect the sector. But one thing’s for certain, the UK’s relationship with Europe will never be the same again, and will likely require constant adjustments and negotiations for years to come.