STFC-iris (jbca fy205/26)

The IRIS Federation is installing computing hardware at Jodrell Bank Centre for Astrophysics to process vast streams of telescope data on site. This grant funds the physical placement of servers and data storage at University of Manchester sites, rather than relying solely on remote cloud or centralised supercomputers. The problem is that modern radio telescopes—like those operated by JBCA—generate enormous data volumes that are expensive and slow to move across networks. By putting computing power next to the telescopes, researchers can analyse signals in real time, filtering out noise and identifying transient events such as fast radio bursts before they vanish. If successful, this infrastructure will accelerate discovery in fundamental astrophysics, particularly in time-domain astronomy where split-second decisions matter. The impact is primarily on research efficiency: faster data processing, lower network costs, and the ability to detect rare cosmic phenomena that might otherwise be missed. There is no immediate practical application for everyday life—this is fundamental science. However, similar investments in high-performance computing for astronomy have historically driven advances in data compression, signal processing, and distributed computing that later found uses in telecommunications and medical imaging.