The RAS is directed and managed by an elected Council.

Members to the Council are elected each year. The President serves a two-year term.

Below is a list of the current members of Council. (Thumbnail biographies are given at the foot of the page.)

Notes: The final two columns give designation A=astronomy (including cosmology, astrobiology, cosmochemistry, astroparticle physics, computational astrophysics, etc.) and G=geophysics (including geophysical fluid dynamics, planetary sciences, solar-terrestrial physics, etc.), and years to serve from May 2010.

T = Telephone number      F = Fax Number       E = E mail

Biographies

PRESIDENT

ROGER L. DAVIES (A) B.Sc., M.A., Ph.D., F. Inst. Phys., Philip Wetton Professor of Astrophysics and Chairman of Physics, Oxford University. Fellow of University College London, Honorary Doctorate University Claude Bernard, Lyon, President of IAU Commission 28 (Galaxies).   Special Interests: cosmology: the distance scale, large scale motions of galaxies and galaxies at high redshift; galaxy evolution: dynamics, stellar populations, and galaxy clusters; telescopes, instruments and techniques.

VICE-PRESIDENTS

F. HONARY (G). BSc, PhD, Professor of Radio Science and Space Plasma and Head of Space Plasma Environment and Radio Science (SPEARS) research Group, Physics Department, Lancaster University, honorary professor of Chengdu University, China.  Special interests: Energy transfer within the solar systems via waves and particle interactions, naturally and artificially induced ionospheric plasma instabilities, space weather and its effects on technological systems.

J-MICHAEL KENDALL (G) B.Sc., Ph.D., Professor of Seismology and Head of Department of Earth Sciences, University of Bristol. Special interests: structure and dynamics of the Earth's deep interior, seismic imaging and anisotropy, wave propagation in complex media, nature of tectonic plate boundaries, fracture characterization in reservoirs, passive seismic monitoring and linked geomechanical and seismic modelling. President, British Geophysical Association; Secretary UK-IUGG panel; UK IASPEI representative; Academic Advisor, Commonwealth Scholarship Commission; Associate Editor - Geophysical Journal International; Trustee UK Foundation for the University of British Columbia.

OFER LAHAV (A). M.Sc. PhD. Perren Professor of Astronomy and Head of Astrophysics, Department of Physics & Astronomy, University College London. Holder of a Royal Society Wolfson Research Merit Award.  Special interests: Observational Cosmology, in particular quantifying Dark Matter and Dark Energy. I have been involved in several large galaxy surveys: the 2dF Galaxy Redshift Survey, the Dark Energy Survey (DES), currently as the chair of the DES:UK Board and the co-chair of the DES international Science Committee, and the proposed ESA Euclid space mission. I served on the Editorial Boards of MNRAS and JCAP, and I enjoy contributing to public outreach, via the media and through interaction with artists. I was elected as a RAS Council Member in 2009.

C. TADHUNTER (A) B.Sc., D.Phil., F.Inst.Phys., Professor of Astrophysics and Head of the Astronomy Group at the University of Sheffield. Special interests: active galaxies, galaxy evolution, stellar populations, AGN physics and unification, astronomy education. 

TREASURER

A.M. CRUISE (A). B.Sc Ph.D FRAS F.Inst Phys. Professor of Astrophysics and Space Research, Birmingham University. Chairman Cospar Scientific Commission H (Fundamental Physics.) Special Interests: Gravitation, Gravitational Waves, Detector Design, and Space Instrumentation.

SECRETARIES

MARTIN ADRIAN BARSTOW (A). BA, PhD, CSci, CPhys, FInstP, Professor of Astrophysics and Space Science, University of Leicester. Special interests: White dwarfs; Stellar-atmosphere modelling; X-ray, UV and optical instrumentation; Space and Astronomy Education and Outreach. ESA representative on Space Telescope Users Committee. 

IAN ANDREW CRAWFORD (G).  B.Sc., M.Sc., Ph.D., Reader in Planetary Science and Astrobiology, Birkbeck College London. Special interests: Planetary science, lunar geology, astrobiology, space exploration, interstellar medium, astronomy and planetary science education.

L. FLETCHER (G). B.Sc. Ph.D., Reader in Solar Physics, University of Glasgow. Special interests: solar magnetism and activity, solar flares, particle acceleration. Secretary, Solar Physics Division of the European Physical Society, Editorial Board of Solar Physics, Member IAU Commission 10 on Solar Activity.

COUNCILLORS

MANDY BAILEY (A). B.Sc., Ph.D. student, Astrophysics Group, Keele University. Publicity Officer, Society for Popular Astronomy (SPA). Chairman, Shropshire Astronomical Society (SAS). Special interests: structure and dynamics of the Milky Way and Magellanic Clouds: mapping the tiny structures in the diffuse interstellar medium, using Diffuse Interstellar Bands (DIBs) to trace molecular material in the cold and diffuse interstellar medium.

KATHERINE BLUNDELL (A). MA PhD, Professor of Astrophysics at Oxford University & Royal Society University Research Fellow.  Special interests: lifecycles, influence & evolution of radio galaxies; relativistic jets; plasma astrophysics; the Galactic Centre, microquasars.  Leader of the Global Jet Watch project.

EMMA BUNCE (G). MPhys., Ph.D., Lecturer in Planetary Science, University of Leicester.  Special interests:  Comparative planetary magnetospheres - currently working on Jupiter, Saturn and Mercury; Solar wind-magnetosphere-ionosphere coupling, and the generation of auroral emissions;  Instrumentation for imaging the aurora.  Co-Investigator on the Cassini Magnetometer, and the BepiColombo Mercury Imaging X-ray Spectrometer

Y. ELSWORTH (G).  B.Sc, Ph.D, F. InstP, Professor of Helioseismology at the University of Birmingham. Special Interests: The study of the interior of the Sun and its activity cycle using the resonant sound waves that propagate through its interior (helioseismology). The current state of solar cycle 24 is a particular topical interest. The application of seismology to the study of low/intermediate-mass Main Sequence stars and their evolved Red Giant counterparts. Stars as hosts to planetary systems. Small autonomous networks: we run BiSON which has been gathering data on the Sun for 3 solar cycles.

RICHARD HOLME (G). MA, SM., Ph.D., Reader in Geophysics, University of Liverpool.  Special interests:  Observational geomagnetism and planetary magnetism, particularly from low-Earth orbiting satellites, including the upcoming Swarm mission. Deep Earth geophysics, focusing on core-mantle interactions, core surface flow, and rapid internal geomagnetic field and length-of-day variations.

ALAN WILLIAM HOOD (G).  B.Sc. (hons), Ph.D., FRSE, Professor in Applied Mathematics, University of St Andrews. Special Interests: Solar Physics, Magnetohydrodynamics, HPC and MHD simulations, solar MHD applications namely flux emergence, MHD waves and coronal heating.

DAVID W. HUGHES (A). Emeritus Professor of Astronomy, University of Sheffield.  Special interest: Comets, asteroids, meteors, meteorites, planetary cratering and origin, history and heritage of astronomy.  Fellow since 1968.  Council member 1981-1984, 1986-1989, 1991-1994, 2003-2006. Editor MN, 1994 - 2004, Editor QJ, 1980-1985, 1995-1996.

D.W. KURTZ (A). B.A. (San Diego), M.A., Ph.D. (Texas), Professor of Astrophysics, University of Central Lancashire. UK and US dual citizenship; Sometime Fellow University of Cape Town; president IAU Commission 27 (Variable Stars); board member IAU Division IV (Stars); ESO Observing Programmes Committee panel chair; Japan Society for the Promotion of Science Fellow; ARIES visiting professor, Nainital, India; poste rouge, Toulouse, France; Steering Committee of the Kepler Asteroseismic Science Consortium. 

S. MILLER (G). BSc., PhD. Professor of Science Communication and Planetary Science, University College London; Head of Department of Science and Technology Studies (STS); Co-coordinator Europlanet Research Infrastructure network, Member European Space Agency Solar System Exploration Working Group; Director, European Network of Science Communication Training. Special interests: Asteroseismology across the HR Diagram; chemically peculiar stars; optical observations (~2000 nights at the telescope).  

ANDREW NORTON (A). BSc (Hons), PhD., Senior Lecturer and Physical Science Awards Director at the Open University. Special interests: multi-wavelength observations and modelling of compact binary stars, exoplanets, wide field photometric surveys, distance teaching of astronomy & astrophysics, public engagement with science and science broadcasting.

DAVID SOUTHWOOD (G). BA, PhD, DIC, former Head of Physics, Imperial College, former Head Earth Observation strategy ESA, soon-to-be former director Science/Robotic Exploration ESA.  RAS Council Member 1988-91, Vice-President, 1989-1991. Special interests: solar-planetary science, planetary magnetism and radio, built Cassini magnetometer, experience of all areas of space Earth science, space exploration and astronomy, as well as European institutions.

RALPH SPENCER (A): Professor of Radio Astronomy, The University of Manchester. Acting Director of the Jodrell Bank centre for Astrophysics and Jodrell Bank Observatory. Special interests: Study of microquasars in radio and other wavebands, extragalactic sources, astrophysical jets. Radio interferometer design, application of fibre optic technology to radio astronomy.

Honorary Audit 2008

Minutes October 2011

MINUTES OF DECEMBER 2010.pdf

Minutes of October 2010.pdf   

eVoting for the RAS Members of Council will open on the 6th April 2011


All Fellows who are entitled to vote AND for whom we have a valid email address will be invited to vote by electronic means.

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