The Royal Astronomical Society

Minutes of March 2013

Wed, 12 Jun 2013 00:00:00 GMT

Minutes of the March Council meeting held on 8 March 2013 at Burlington House.

RAS National Astronomy Meeting 2013: 2nd media invitation

Tue, 11 Jun 2013 19:20:03 GMT

From 1-5 July, around 560 astronomers and space scientists will gather at the University of St Andrews (http://www.st-andrews.ac.uk/), Scotland, for the Royal Astronomical Society's National Astronomy Meeting 2013 (NAM 2013), one of Europe's largest professional astronomy conferences. Highlights of the conference will include: The Sun at solar maximum (including results from the Solar Dynamics Observatory), resulting 'space weather' and the impact on the ground New insights in the Search for Extra-Terrestrial Intelligence (SETI) New gravity theories and the consequences for the universe Dark energy Lunar exploration Art – astronomy collaborations Media representatives are cordially invited to attend NAM 2013. Meeting arrangements and a full and up to date schedule of the scientific programme can be found on the official NAM 2013 website (http://www.nam2013.co.uk). For free registration please contact Robert Massey (details below). Press room facilities will be available for the duration of the conference - from 9 a.m. on Monday 1 July to 5 p.m. on Friday 5 July. We expect to issue around 20 press releases, under embargo, on results presented at the meeting. These will also be available from a password protected website as well as related image and video material. Further information NAM 2013 will be held in conjunction with the UK Solar Physics (http://uksolphys.org.uk) (UKSP) and Magnetosphere Ionosphere Solar-Terrestrial physics (http://www.mist.ac.uk) (MIST) meetings. The conference is principally sponsored by the RAS, the Science and Technology Facilities Council (http://www.stfc.ac.uk) (STFC) and the University of St Andrews (http://www.st-andrews.ac.uk/). NAM 2013 will form part of the ongoing programme to celebrate the University's 600th anniversary, and a programme of events for the general public will take place alongside the conference. Media contacts Dr Robert Massey (for free media registration and website password) Royal Astronomical Society Tel: +44 (0)20 7734 3307 / 4582 x214 Mob: +44 (0)794 124 8035 rm@ras.org.uk Ms Anita Heward Royal Astronomical Society Mob: +44 (0)7756 034 243anitaheward@btinternet.com Ms Emma Shea Head of Development Communications University of St Andrews Tel: +44 (0)1334 462 167 Mob: +44 (0)785 090 0352 emma.shea@st-andrews.ac.uk Notes for editors The Royal Astronomical Society (RAS: http://www.ras.org.uk, (http://www.ras.org.uk,) Twitter: @royalastrosoc), founded in 1820, encourages and promotes the study of astronomy, solar-system science, geophysics and closely related branches of science. The RAS organises scientific meetings, publishes international research and review journals, recognizes outstanding achievements by the award of medals and prizes, maintains an extensive library, supports education through grants and outreach activities and represents UK astronomy nationally and internationally. Its more than 3500 members (Fellows), a third based overseas, include scientific researchers in universities, observatories and laboratories as well as historians of astronomy and others. The Science and Technology Facilities Council (STFC: http://www.stfc.ac.uk, (http://www.stfc.ac.uk,) Twitter: @stfc_matters) is keeping the UK at the forefront of international science and tackling some of the most significant challenges facing society such as meeting our future energy needs, monitoring and understanding climate change, and global security. The Council has a broad science portfolio and works with the academic and industrial communities to share its expertise in materials science, space and ground-based astronomy technologies, laser science, microelectronics, wafer scale manufacturing, particle and nuclear physics, alternative energy production, radio communications and radar. It enables UK researchers to access leading international science facilities for example in the area of astronomy, the European Southern Observatory. Founded in the 15th century, St Andrews is Scotland's first university and the third oldest in the English speaking world. Teaching began in the community of St Andrews in 1410 and the University was formally constituted by the issue of Papal Bull in 1413. The University is now one of Europe's most research intensive seats of learning – over a quarter of its turnover comes from research grants and contracts. It is one of the top rated universities in Europe for research, teaching quality and student satisfaction and is consistently ranked among the UK's top five in leading independent league tables produced by The Times, The Guardian and the Sunday Times. The University is currently celebrating its 600th anniversary and pursuing a £100 million fundraising campaign, launched by Patron and alumnus HRH Prince William Duke of Cambridge, including £4 million to fund the creation of an 'Other Worlds' Think Tank and Observatory. The new think tank and Observatory project will extend the University of St Andrews' flagship work on extra-solar planets, and provide a creative environment for problem-focused research, education and continuing public engagement. For further information go to: www.st-andrews.ac.uk/600/ (http://www.st-andrews.ac.uk/600/)

Call for nominations for 2014 medals and prizes

Fri, 07 Jun 2013 13:44:26 GMT

Nominations are now being invited for RAS Medals and Prizes (index.php?option=com_content&view=category&layout=blog&id=166&Itemid=156) to be awarded in January 2014. The deadline for nominations is 31 July 2013 for most awards, with the exception of the Patrick Moore Medal which has a deadline of 27 September 2013. The Gold Medal of the RASA list of the awards available this year is provided below. Some awards are made in two subject areas: A - astronomy and astrophysics, broadly defined, and including cosmology, astroparticle physics, astrobiology and astrochemistry G - geophysics, solar physics, solar-terrestrial physics, and planetary and meteoritic sciences Anyone may submit a nomination for an award, it is not necessary to be a Fellow of the Society. All nominations are made in strict confidence; nominees should not be informed of submissions in order to avoid unnecessary disappointment. Unsuccessful nominations from the last two awards cycles are in some cases reconsidered. Repeat or duplicate submissions carry equal weight. Special conditions apply for nominations of current members of the RAS Council (index.php?option=com_content&view=category&id=192&layout=blog&Itemid=184) (contact awards@ras.org.uk (mailto:awards@ras.org.uk) for details). Full details on how to nominate (index.php?option=com_content&view=category&layout=blog&id=166&Itemid=156) are available, or follow the links below: Medals and prizes: Gold Medal (A) (index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=2261:gold-medal-a&catid=166:awards&Itemid=156) and Gold Medal (G) (index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=2262:gold-medal-g&catid=166:awards&Itemid=156), the Society's highest honours Fowler Award (A) (index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=2265:fowler-award-a&catid=166:awards&Itemid=156) and Fowler Award (G) (index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=2266:fowler-award-g&catid=166:awards&Itemid=156) for a noteworthy contribution to astronomy or geophysics by an early career researcher Winton Capital Award (A) (index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=2283:winton-capital-award-a&catid=166:awards&Itemid=156) and Winton Capital Award (G) (index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=2284:winton-capital-award-g&catid=166:awards&Itemid=156) for the astronomy or geophysics postdoctoral researcher whose career has shown the most promising development Group Award (A) (index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=2269:group-award-a&catid=166:awards&Itemid=156) and Group Award (G) (index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=2270:group-award-g&catid=166:awards&Itemid=156) for outstanding achievement by large consortia Service Award (A) (index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=2281:service-award-a&catid=166:awards&Itemid=156) and Service Award (G) (index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=2282:service-award-g&catid=166:awards&Itemid=156) for individuals who, through outstanding or exceptional work, have promoted, facilitated or encouraged the science of astronomy or geophysics Named lectures: Honorary Fellowship (A) (index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=2273:honorary-fellowship-a&catid=166:awards&Itemid=156) and Honorary Fellowship (G) (index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=2274:honorary-fellowship-g&catid=166:awards&Itemid=156), awarded to any foreign national based overseas, eminent in the fields of astronomy or geophysics, for distinguished leadership or services to astronomy or geophysics National Honours nominations may be made by anyone, but in appropriate cases the RAS can make the nomination in the name of the Society

Patricia Tomkins Undergraduate Prize

Wed, 05 Jun 2013 14:51:23 GMT

The Royal Astronomical Society invites nominations for the Patricia Tomkins Undergraduate Prize, sponsored by the Patricia Tomkins Foundation, which is awarded for excellent laboratory work on instrumentation undertaken as part of a course related to astronomy or geophysics. With a generous donation from the Patricia Tomkins Foundation the RAS is instituting a scheme of prizes and grants to encourage student interest in instrumentation science for astronomy and geophysics. While the support is aimed at developing skills in scientific hardware such as electronics, detectors and optics, the development of novel software specific to a hardware project will also be considered. Self-nominations may be made by students, but should be accompanied by a covering letter from their supervisor or academic tutor in support of the application. Word nomination form (images/stories/awards/forms/patricia_tomkins_undergraduate_prize_nomination_form.doc) pdf nomination form (images/stories/awards/forms/patricia_tomkins_undergraduate_prize_nomination_form.pdf) Nominations should be submitted to awards@ras.org.uk (mailto:

Patricia Tomkins Thesis Prize

Wed, 05 Jun 2013 14:34:36 GMT

The Royal Astronomical Society invites nominations for the Patricia Tomkins Thesis Prize, sponsored by the Patricia Tomkins Foundation, which is awarded for the best doctoral thesis in in instrumentation science for astronomy and geophysics. With a generous donation from the Patricia Tomkins Foundation the RAS is instituting a scheme of prizes and grants to encourage student interest in instrumentation science for astronomy and geophysics. While the support is aimed at developing skills in scientific hardware such as electronics, detectors and optics, the development of novel software specific to a hardware project will also be considered. The winner will receive the prize from the RAS President at an A&G Meeting of the Society or at the NAM. Word nomination form (images/stories/awards/forms/patricia_tomkins_thesis_prize_nomination_form.doc) pdf nomination form (images/stories/awards/forms/patricia_tomkins_thesis_prize_nomination_form.pdf) Nominations should be submitted, normally by the student's supervisor, to awards@ras.org.uk (mailto:awards@ras.org.uk) by 31 May (note that this deadline may be revised in 2014) for theses examined the previous year and should include: The above nomination form A short case for the Award (maximum length two A4 pages)

Winton Capital Award (G)

Wed, 05 Jun 2013 10:32:19 GMT

Funded by the Investment House (https://www.wintoncapital.com/) of that name in recognition of the skills provided to the financial services sector by trained astronomers and geophysicists, the Winton Capital prizes (each of £1,000) are for research by a Post Doctoral Fellow in a UK institution in respectively astronomy and geophysics whose career has shown the most promising development. At the time of nomination candidates, in normal circumstances, should have completed their PhD (defined as passing the viva examination) no more than 5 years previously. This time limit will not restrict the award of the prize to an individual who has taken maternity or paternity leave, who has taken a career break, for example for family reasons, or who has followed another career path (e.g. was educated in a system outside the UK, came to scientific research as a mature individual etc.). Word nomination form (images/stories/awards/forms/winton_capital_award_g_nomination_form.doc) pdf nomination form (images/stories/awards/forms/winton_capital_award_g_nomination_form.pdf) Nominations should be submitted to awards@ras.org.uk (mailto:

Winton Capital Award (A)

Wed, 05 Jun 2013 10:31:22 GMT

Funded by the Investment House (https://www.wintoncapital.com/) of that name in recognition of the skills provided to the financial services sector by trained astronomers and geophysicists, the Winton Capital prizes (each of £1,000) are for research by a Post Doctoral Fellow in a UK institution in respectively astronomy and geophysics whose career has shown the most promising development. At the time of nomination candidates, in normal circumstances, should have completed their PhD (defined as passing the viva examination) no more than 5 years previously. This time limit will not restrict the award of the prize to an individual who has taken maternity or paternity leave, who has taken a career break, for example for family reasons, or who has followed another career path (e.g. was educated in a system outside the UK, came to scientific research as a mature individual etc.). Word nomination form (images/stories/awards/forms/winton_capital_award_a_nomination_form.doc) pdf nomination form (images/stories/awards/forms/winton_capital_award_a_nomination_form.pdf) Nominations should be submitted to awards@ras.org.uk (mailto:

Service Award (G)

Wed, 05 Jun 2013 10:30:21 GMT

The Service Award is to honour individuals who, through outstanding or exceptional work, have promoted, facilitated or encouraged the sciences of astronomy or geophysics and developed their role in the life of the nation but whose achievement does not fall within the criteria of the Society's other awards. The award will be a suitable gift, chosen after consultation with the recipient (normally conducted by the Society’s officers or staff). Word nomination form (images/stories/awards/forms/service_award_g_nomination_form.doc) pdf nomination form (images/stories/awards/forms/service_award_g_nomination_form.pdf) Nominations should be submitted to awards@ras.org.uk (mailto:

Service Award (A)

Wed, 05 Jun 2013 10:29:09 GMT

The Service Award is to honour individuals who, through outstanding or exceptional work, have promoted, facilitated or encouraged the sciences of astronomy or geophysics and developed their role in the life of the nation but whose achievement does not fall within the criteria of the Society's other awards. The award will be a suitable gift, chosen after consultation with the recipient (normally conducted by the Society’s officers or staff). Word nomination form (images/stories/awards/forms/service_award_a_nomination_form.doc) pdf nomination form (images/stories/awards/forms/service_award_a_nomination_form.pdf) Nominations should be submitted to awards@ras.org.uk (mailto:

Price Medal

Wed, 05 Jun 2013 10:28:14 GMT

The Price Medal is awarded for investigations of outstanding merit in solid-earth geophysics, oceanography, or planetary sciences. This medal is awarded for a single outstanding piece of work, such that younger scientists may be candidates for this award. The Annual General Meeting 1992 approved the introduction of the Price Medal. It is to honour Professor Albert Thomas Price and was first awarded in 1994. Word nomination form (images/stories/awards/forms/price_medal_nomination_form.doc) pdf nomination form (images/stories/awards/forms/price_medal_nomination_form.pdf) Nominations should be submitted to awards@ras.org.uk (mailto: