The Royal Astronomical Society

The Royal Astronomical Society is a charity registered with the Charity Commission for England and Wales (charity number 226545).

The Royal Astronomical Society is a charity registered with the Charity Commission for England and Wales (charity number 226545) that exists to promote astronomy and geophysics and to advance and record the history of our understanding of the Earth, the solar system, the stars and galaxies, and the nature of the universe. The annual report records £320,599 awarded, and £39,033 went to individuals, counted separately. Its programmes include the Education & Outreach Small Grants Scheme, which offers £250 to £5,000 for astronomy and geophysics education and outreach projects, and a series of research fellowships for early-career scientists, including RAS Fellowships and Sir Norman Lockyer Fellowships.

Priority Areas

The Society funds studies in astronomy and geophysics through competitive grants, alongside research fellowships and education and outreach awards. Its Education & Outreach Small Grants Scheme backs public education and outreach projects in those fields, including public events, training workshops, broadcasting, podcasting and educational material. Individuals and organisations can apply, including those with no links to the Society. Other support helps students gain early research experience and present work at scientific conferences, and provides fellowships for early-career astronomers and geophysicists. The Society also supports scientific meetings in the UK, especially outside London. Its wider purpose is to advance astronomy, geophysics and related interdisciplinary sciences and to promote public engagement with them.

Themes

• Astronomy and geophysics
• Education and outreach
• Early-career research

Geographic Focus

The United Kingdom.

For the Education & Outreach Small Grants Scheme, applicants set up an account on the Society’s website and use it to complete and submit the application form.

Deadlines:

• Education & Outreach Small Grants Scheme applications are considered twice a year, with cut-off dates of 31 March and 30 September; later applications carry forward to the next round.
• The general grants panel has two application deadlines, in February and August.

Application windows:

• Education and Outreach Small Grants Scheme
  • Applications are considered at two points each year, with cut-off dates of 30 September and 31 March.
  • Applications are considered at two points each year, with cut-off dates of 30 September and 31 March.

Who can apply:

• Education and Outreach Small Grants Scheme: This scheme is a very inclusive and both people and organisations can apply. Applicants can be a fellow of the society, members of the RAS friends programme, and people and organisations with no links to the society.

What to send:

• Education and Outreach Small Grants Scheme: A budgetary breakdown of the whole project (not just the amount asked for) must be included.

Applying again: Education and Outreach Small Grants Scheme: At most one award per year will be made to any one person/ organisation.

What the charity says:

• The Society favours projects that promote greater interest in and understanding of astronomy or geophysics.
• It favours activities proven to interest the wider community, particularly young people.
• It favours projects with clear target audiences, a good engagement strategy and well-defined benefits for the audience.
• It favours projects with demonstrated wide reach, impact or lasting legacy.
• It favours cost-effective projects.
• It favours innovative projects.
• It favours projects demonstrating matched funding or support in kind towards the overall costs.
• General equipment bids are usually successful only when the equipment is integral to a specific project with clear E&O targets.
• The quality of a project evaluation is considered when the Society judges future applications.