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Science policy

The RAS promotes astronomy and geophysics by responding to government and other consultations, by producing policy papers and by networking with other organizations sharing similar aims.

Click here to read RAS submissions and reports (since 2003).

 

 
RAS Policy
ras_roundal_bwThe RAS exists to advance, and to record the history of, our understanding of the Earth, the solar system, the galaxies and the nature of the universe. It does this by promoting Astronomy and Geophysics, interdisciplinary sciences that encompass, and further, physics, chemistry, mathematics, biology, engineering, computer science and history to answer deep questions about the origin and fate of the cosmos, and man’s place in it. Through this the Society contributes to the growth and dissemination of knowledge and thereby fulfils its charitable object of serving the public interest. It does this through its own events and programmes and also  by contributing to the formulation of public policy which affect how its sciences are funded and organised. In particular, the Society is concerned about teaching and learning in schools and universities; the training and careers of researchers; the communication of authoritative information to government and to the public;  and, above all, it is anxious to maintain the UK at the forefront of global scholarship in the fields for which it is responsible
 
RAS science policy: list of submissions and reports

The RAS promotes astronomy and geophysics by responding to government and other consultations, by producing policy papers and by networking with other organizations sharing similar aims.

Click the links below to read RAS submissions and reports (since 2003), which are all accessible as PDFs. (Date of document in brackets.)

 

Astronomy & geophysics education

 

Evidence for House of Lords Science and Technology Subcommittee I: Inquiry into HE in STEM subjects (2011)

pdfLords Science and Technology Sub Committee.pdf

 

RAS statement on the teaching of creationism and intelligent design (2011)

pdf Teaching_of_Creationism.pdf

 

Department of Innovation, Universities and Skills consultation on 'A vision for Science and Society' (2008)
science and society response science and society response

House of Commons Education and Skills Committee review of Higher Education (2006)
Education and Skills Committee Review of HE_pdf.pdf Education and Skills Committee Review of HE

British Geophysical Association Report on Geophysics Education in the UK (2006)
Geophysics Education in the UK Geophysics Education in the UK

Report on the PhD and Careers in Astronomy in the UK (2005)
careers in astronomy.pdf careers in astronomy

House of Lords Science & Technology Committee review of Science Teaching (2006)
Science Teaching - House of Lords S&T committee Science Teaching - House of Lords S&T committee

House of Commons Science & Technology Committee review of strategic science provision (2005)
Strategic science provision in English Universities.pdf Strategic science provision in English Universities

Treasury-DTI-DfES consultation on Science and Innovation (2004)
Science & Innovation Science & Innovation

 

Astronomy & geophysics research

 

RAS letter to the AAS in support of the James Webb Space Telescope (2011)

pdfElmegreen.pdf

 

2010 Demographic survey of the UK astronomy and geophysics research communities (2011) and summary for 'Astronomy and Geophysics'

pdf Demographic_Survey_2010_-_final_report.pdf

pdfAG_article_-_final.pdf

 

BGA / Geological Society / Petroleum Exploration Society of Great Britain submission to House of Commons S&T Committee 'Spending Review 2010' (2011) 

pdf final_pesgb_bga_gsl_submission.pdf

House of Commons S&T Committee 'Spending Review 2010' (2011) 

pdf CSR_note.pdf

 

House of Commons S&T Committee 'Astronomy and particle physics' (2011)

pdf RAS_submission_to_astronomy_and_particle_physics_inquiry.pdf

 

British Geological Survey consultation on 'Earth Sciences in the 21st century' - RAS response (2010)
 RAS submission to S+T inquiry into cuts 2010 Earth Sciences in the 21st century - RAS response.pdf

 

House of Commons S&T Committee 'The impact of spending cuts on science and scientific research' (2010)
pdfSciTechComCutsRAS.pdf cuts 2010
BGA submission to S+T inquiry into cuts 2010 BGA submission to S+T inquiry into cuts 2010

House of Lords S&T Committee 'Research Funding Priorities'(2009)
S&T research funding priorities.pdf S&T research funding priorities.pdf

Royal Society 'Fruits of Curiosity' Consultation(2009)
The Fruits of Curiosity.pdf The Fruits of Curiosity.pdf

 

STFC Consultation on funding options (2010)

pdf STFC_Consultation_-_RAS_response.pdf


STFC Corporate Strategy Consultation (2009)
STFC Strategy consultation -RAS response.pdf STFC Strategy consultation -RAS response.pdf

STFC Organisational Review (2008)


RCUK / UUK consultation on Full Economic Costing (2008)
fEC.pdf fEC.pdf

British Geophysical Association (BGA) submission to House of Commons Science and Technology Select Committee investigation into the regulation of geoengineering (2010)
regulationofgeoengineering8129.pdf regulationofgeoengineering8129.pdf

British Geophysical Association (BGA) submission to House of Commons Science and Technology Select Committee investigation into the regulation of geoengineering (2009)
regulationofgeoengineering20119.pdf regulationofgeoengineering20119.pdf

British Geophysical Association (BGA) submission to House of Commons Select Committee on Innovation, Universities, Science and Skills case study investigation of geoengineering (2008)

BGA submission to IUSS on geoengineering.pdf BGA submission to IUSS on geoengineering.pdf

RAS submission to the Wakeham Review of the Health of Physics in the UK (2008)
RAS submission to Wakeham Review.pdf RAS submission to Wakeham Review.pdf

UKRC proposals to create a Science & Technology Facilities Council to replace PPARC and CCLRC (2006)
Future of PPARC Future of PPARC

Funding Councils' proposals to replace RAE post -2008 (2006)
Future of Research Assessment (RAE) Future of Research Assessment (RAE)

Research Excellence Framework( REF) (2008)
RESEARCH EXCELLENCE FRAMEWORK RESEARCH EXCELLENCE FRAMEWORK

Research Excellence Framework (REF) (2nd consultation) (2009)

pdf REF_response_-_RAS.pdf

CSR: RAS case to HM Treasury and DTI for funding astronomy research (2006)
The case for funding blue skies research.pdf The case for funding blue skies research

RAS-IoP-PPARC-EPSRC International Perceptions Review of UK Physics and Astronomy (2000)
international review of physics and astronomy.pdf international review of physics and astronomy

RAS-IoP-PPARC-EPSRC International Perceptions Review of UK Physics and Astronomy (2005)
International Perceptions of UK Physics and Astronomy.pdf International Perceptions of UK Physics and Astronomy.pdf

 

RAS submission to EPSRC International Review of Mathematical Sciences (2010)

pdf Submission_of_Evidence_form.pdf 

RCUK Consultation on Peer Review( 2006)
RCUK-peer review.pdf RCUK-peer review

Role of Astronomy in Research funding of UK Physics Departments (2007)
Role of Astronomy in Research funding of UK Physics Departments.pdf Role of Astronomy in Research funding of UK Physics Departments.pdf

 

Science policy

 

House of Commons Science and Technology Select Committee inquiry into scientific evidence and advice in emergencies (Space Weather, RAS, 2010)

pdf S_and_T_-_Scientific_evidence_and_advice_in_emergencies.pdf

 

House of Commons Science and Technology Select Committee inquiry into scientific evidence and advice in emergencies (Icelandic volcano, BGA, 2010)

pdf S_and_T_-_Scientific_evidence_-_BGA.pdf

 

Putting Science and Engineering at the Heart of Government Policy (supplementary submission by the RAS) (2009)
IUSS Committee Sup. Evidence - V2.pdf IUSS Committee Sup. Evidence - V2.pdf

Putting Science and Engineering at the Heart of Government Policy' (submission by the Science Council to which the RAS contributed) ( 2009)
Putting science at heart of government.pdf Putting science at heart of government.pdf

RAS submission to Royal Society 'Fruits of Curiosity' inquiry (2009)
RAS submission to RS inquiry.pdf RAS submission to RS inquiry.pdf

BGA submission to Royal Society 'Fruits of Curiosity' inquiry (2009)
BGA submission to RS inquiry 2009.pdf BGA submission to RS inquiry 2009.pdf

 

Space policy

 

House of Commons Science and Technology Select Committee inquiry into UK Space Agency (2010)

pdf S_and_T_Committee_inquiry_into_Space_Agency.pdf

 

BIS consultation on the funding and management of UK civil space activities (2009)
BIS consultation response.pdf BIS consultation response.pdf

BNSC Space Exploration Review (2009)
RAS_BNSC_consultation_response.pdf RAS_BNSC_consultation_response.pdf

BNSC Working Group on Space Exploration ( 2007)
Response to BNSC Working Group on Space Exploration.pdf Response to BNSC Working Group on Space Exploration.pdf

BNSC Consultation on Space Strategy (2007)
BNSC Consultation on UK Civil Space Strategy.pdf BNSC Consultation on UK Civil Space Strategy.pdf

House of Commons Science & Technology Committee review of UK Space Policy (2006)
UK Policy on Space UK Policy on Space

RAS statement on Future of Planetary Sciences in the UK (2005)
PLANETARY SCIENCES IN THE UK.pdf PLANETARY SCIENCES IN THE UK

RAS commissioned review of the scientific case for Human Space Exploration (2005)
Scientific Case for Human Space Exploration Scientific Case for Human Space Exploration

RAS statement on UK participation in the European 'Aurora' Space Programme (2004)
Aurora.pdf Aurora

 

Scientific publications

 

House of Commons Science & Technology Committee review of scientific publications (2004)
Scientific Publications statement to S&T Committee.pdf Scientific Publications statement to S&T Committee

RCUK statement on Access to Research Outputs (2005)
RAS_response_to_RCUK consultation on open access and repositories RAS_response_to_RCUK consultation on open access and repositories

European Policy on Open Access publication of scientific research (2006)
EU study on scientific publications - RAS response May 06.pdf EU study on scientific publications - RAS response May 06.pdf

 

International

 

RAS response to the International Earth Rotation and Reference Systems Service survey on the redefinition of UTC (2011)

pdf RAS_response_to_the_IERS_survey_on_the_redefinition_of_UTC.pdf

EU Commission consultation on the Digital Dividend: RAS response (potential impact on radio astronomy) (2009)
Digital Dividend Public Consultation.pdf Digital Dividend Public Consultation.pdf

International Telecommunications Union proposal to abolish leap seconds (2005)
RAS statement on Leap Seconds.pdf RAS statement on Leap Seconds.pdf

House of Commons Transport Committee review of UK participation in 'Galileo'(2004)
Galileo Galileo

 

Light pollution

 

House of Commons Science & Technology Committee review of Light Pollution & Astronomy (2003)
Light Pollution Light Pollution
oral evidence oral evidence

 

Department for Communities and Local Government: National Planning Policy Framework consultation (2011)

pdf National_Planning_Policy_Framework_consultation.pdf 

Radio spectrum

 

Letter to OFCOM re review of the EU Radio Spectrum(2006)
EU Radio Spectrum EU Radio Spectrum

Response to OFCOM re review of Ultra Wideband(2005)
Ultra Wideband Ultra Wideband  

BGA submission to IUSS on geoengineering.pdf BGA submission to IUSS on geoengineering.pdf 

 
 
Review of STFC
The RAS has submitted proposals to the Review being conducted by Lord Drayson and Professor Sterling into the impact on research output from funding international projects, large scientific facilities and research grants within a single Research Council.

STFC Review RAS.pdf
 
STFC Prioritization Exercise

In advance of the announcement of the STFC Prioritization Exercise on 16 December the President of the RAS has written to Science Minister Lord Drayson to convey the deep concerns of the astronomy community. This was sent before the pre-budget statement which contains plans to cut £600 million from higher education and science and research budgets by, inter alia, 'prioritisation across universities, science and research'.

Dear Minister
 I am writing to express my growing concern about the situation within  STFC and the storm that will likely occur when the results of its current prioritization exercise are released in mid-December.


 Astronomers, space scientists, particle physicists and nuclear  physicists are all anxious and frustrated by the manner in which  decisions on our research funding are being handled. There are several  strands to the problem, which I want to briefly outline.

First though, let me say that I'm pleased and impressed by your  participation in the two recent debates; one in Cambridge last week,  and the Wellcome Trust this Monday, both of which I attended. I do not  disagree with your stance on most issues, although I remain confused  by your interpretation of the impact agenda. Your willingness to  debate the issues behind science funding and blue-skies research gives  me hope that you will listen and respond to what I have to say.


 A major issue concerns how your requests, which appear reasonable, are interpreted by scientists, academics and especially by the research  councils. Examples are your statements last week that science should  help pull us through the recession, and at the same time you will also  ring-fence the science budget. Both are very positive. Yet they can be  interpreted to mean a priority on short-term research goals funded  from a fixed pot which would otherwise also provide for longer-term,  less certain, curiosity-driven research. RCUK and research councils  might well squeeze the latter to provide the former. That is certainly  what it feels like.


As you know well, STFC was formed by merging two other councils and in  its first year found an 80 million pound deficit afer the CSR. This is  widely attributed to a mistake and has never been clearly explained in  simple terms despite being the target of a Select Committee. It was  handled and reduced somewhat with help from DIUS then BIS, but the  bulk of the deficit has never gone away. The nature of the STFC with  its many large facilities and subscriptions means that the squeeze is  on the only flexible parts of its programme, which are the research  grants and smaller facilities. The last set of grant awards (which  mainly involved particle physics) were for just one year, rather than  three or more, which seriously restricts the research which could be  done. Key postdoctoral staff are likely to be lost to Europe and the United States, where funding has been increased.


We are told that the STFC budget deficit will be handled by deep cuts  made at Council in mid-December, following a prioritization to which  scientists have provided advice. We are fearful that this will cause  serious damage to our work, both through a loss of people, expertise  and instruments.  Whilst STFC have improved in their consultation with  the community, decisions are increasingly taken at arm's length from  us. From a user point of view, STFC has serious structural problems.  We risk reopening the open dissention between the community and  STFC/BIS which followed the 2007 Delivery Plan (and which in the  meantime the RAS has been trying to contain).

 

Astronomers and Space Scientists do feel that we make an impact, from inspiring young people to take up the hard sciences and stimulating  the general public, to the development of highly sophisticated  imaging, robotic and radio devices. The nature of the work is that  serendipity plays a strong role so reliable prediction of future  products is difficult. Most of what we do is necessarily long term.


The grave situation is remediable by plugging some of the funding gap.  We appreciate that some cuts are inevitable, but some sciences, such  as medical research, are more easily able to attract non-governmental  funds than we can.  We hope all round that when the outlook improves  the overall science budget can be increased.

 

yours sincerely  

Andy
Professor AC Fabian, President of the Royal Astronomical Society,
Professor of Astronomy, University of Cambridge

 
 
Radio Spectrum

 

Letter to OFCOM re review of the EU Radio Spectrum(2006)
pdf_small EU Radio Spectrum

Response to OFCOM re review of Ultra Wideband(2005)
 pdf_small Ultra Widebandpdf_small BGA submission to IUSS on geoengineering.pdf (184.32 KB)
 
Light Pollution

 

House of Commons Science & Technology Committee review of Light Pollution & Astronomy (2003)
pdf_small Light Pollution
pdf_small oral evidence
 
International

 

EU Commission consultation on the Digital Dividend: RAS response (potential impact on radio astronomy) (2009)
pdf_small Digital Dividend Public Consultation.pdf

International Telecommunications Union proposal to abolish leap seconds (2005)

pdf_small RAS statement on Leap Seconds.pdf

House of Commons Transport Committee review of UK participation in 'Galileo'(2004)
pdf_small Galileo

 
Scientific Publications

 

House of Commons Science & Technology Committee review of scientific publications (2004)
pdf_small Scientific Publications statement to S&T Committee

RCUK statement on Access to Research Outputs (2005)
pdf_small RAS_response_to_RCUK consultation on open access and repositories

European Policy on Open Access publication of scientific research (2006)
pdf_small EU study on scientific publications - RAS response May 06.pdf
 
 
Space Policy

 

BIS consultation on the funding and management of UK civil space activities (2009)
pdf_small BIS consultation response.pdf

BNSC Space Exploration Review (2009)
pdf_small RAS_BNSC_consultation_response.pdf

BNSC Working Group on Space Exploration ( 2007)
pdf_small Response to BNSC Working Group on Space Exploration.pdf

BNSC Consultation on Space Strategy (2007)
pdf_small BNSC Consultation on UK Civil Space Strategy.pdf

House of Commons Science & Technology Committee review of UK Space Policy (2006)
pdf_small UK Policy on Space 

RAS statement on Future of Planetary Sciences in the UK (2005)
pdf_small   PLANETARY SCIENCES IN THE UK

RAS commissioned review of the scientific case for Human Space Exploration (2005)
pdf_small Scientific Case for Human Space Exploration  

RAS statement on UK participation in the European 'Aurora' Space Programme (2004)
pdf_small Aurora
 
Science Policy

 

'Putting Science and Engineering at the Heart of Government Policy (supplementary submission by the RAS) (2009)
pdf_small IUSS Committee Sup. Evidence - V2.pdf

'Putting Science and Engineering at the Heart of Government Policy' (submission by the Science Council to which the RAS contributed) ( 2009)
pdf_small Putting science at heart of government.pdf

RAS submission to Royal Society 'Fruits of Curiosity' inquiry (2009)
pdf_small RAS submission to RS inquiry.pdf

BGA submission to Royal Society 'Fruits of Curiosity' inquiry (2009)
pdf_small BGA submission to RS inquiry 2009.pdf
 
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