Vision and Scope of the UK Planetary Forum
Vision
The mission statement of the UK Planetary Forum is: “…to promote planetary research in the UK among scientists”. Currently, this consists of a mailing list, website, and running of the UKPF ECR meeting and involvement with British Planetary Science Conference (BPSC). Over the last 28 years our community has grown, and we propose to expand and enhance the role of UKPF to ensure the full breadth of this community is supported.
The UK planetary community undertakes a wide range of research, including, but not limited to, the geological, physical, chemical, and biological exploration of planetary bodies, reflecting the diverse range of scientific backgrounds within our community. Planetary science research is now well established across the UK, there are several large research groups dedicated to planetary science, as well as many smaller groups based within non-planetary specific disciplines. It is important that all demographics and career stages, across this research landscape are given the opportunity to become involved in and be supported by UK planetary science.
To ensure we support the entire UK planetary science community and fulfil our core mission statement, we propose objectives for the reinvigorated UKPF:
The mission statement of the UK Planetary Forum is: “…to promote planetary research in the UK among scientists”. Currently, this consists of a mailing list, website, and running of the UKPF ECR meeting and involvement with British Planetary Science Conference (BPSC). Over the last 28 years our community has grown, and we propose to expand and enhance the role of UKPF to ensure the full breadth of this community is supported.
The UK planetary community undertakes a wide range of research, including, but not limited to, the geological, physical, chemical, and biological exploration of planetary bodies, reflecting the diverse range of scientific backgrounds within our community. Planetary science research is now well established across the UK, there are several large research groups dedicated to planetary science, as well as many smaller groups based within non-planetary specific disciplines. It is important that all demographics and career stages, across this research landscape are given the opportunity to become involved in and be supported by UK planetary science.
To ensure we support the entire UK planetary science community and fulfil our core mission statement, we propose objectives for the reinvigorated UKPF:
|
1. Represent the diversity of (1) disciplines, (2) geographic locations, (3) career stage, and (4) demographics that constitute the UK Planetary community. This means avoiding any one group becoming overrepresented. For example the current committee drastically over-represents white academic geologists in the south of the UK, so please join us so we are representative of the community we intend to support!
2. Maintain a reliable mailing list and website to connect with the cross-disciplinary research community about planetary matters. This means regular email checks and website updates, in particular highlighting funding opportunities and upcoming events. Also, being actively and consistently engaged with social media. 3. Facilitate, alongside local organising committees a bi-annual British Planetary Science Conference (BPSC), and an annual early career research meeting (ECR). This means that members of the UKPF will help plan the meetings, secure and handle funding, provide logistic and experience. This long-term oversite will help with consistency and transparency for the UKPF ECR meeting and BPSC. 4. Engage with research specific societies and organisations within the UK. This means UKPF engaging with representatives from research societies across the UK to facilitate promoting specialist meetings to the wider community and provide research meeting support. 5. Recognise achievement through early, mid, and established career researcher awards. This means establishing annual prizes for conference presentations and named prizes to recognise outstanding members of the community throughout the UK and Ireland. 6. Provide funds to support travel and subsidence costs for conference attendance for students, ECRs and those without funded travel. These awards would cover some or all of the costs for students, or researchers who are unfunded (or partially funded) but trying to maintain their career in planetary science. 7. Represent UK planetary exploration at national and international professional bodies, societies, and organisations. This is to increase the strength and reach of how we represent the community. |
Action
To achieve these objectives, we are restructuring the UKPF as a new special interest group under the joint umbrella of the Geological Society of London and the Royal Astronomical Society. This will be similar to other special interest groups that exist to support other scientific communities, for example the Geochemistry Group (which is co-affiliated with the Geological Society and Mineralogical Society) and the British Geophysical Association (which shares a similar GSL/RAS co-affiliation).
By re-establishing the UKPF as a formal special interest group, we will be able to:
We are also considering establishing stronger links with UK SEDS, UKSA, Europlanet, and other interested organisations. Conversations with supporting organisations are ongoing, and we hope to provide more concrete updates on this new look UPKF in the next few months.
To achieve these objectives, we are restructuring the UKPF as a new special interest group under the joint umbrella of the Geological Society of London and the Royal Astronomical Society. This will be similar to other special interest groups that exist to support other scientific communities, for example the Geochemistry Group (which is co-affiliated with the Geological Society and Mineralogical Society) and the British Geophysical Association (which shares a similar GSL/RAS co-affiliation).
By re-establishing the UKPF as a formal special interest group, we will be able to:
- Legally and formally handle money. This will allow us to provide a mechanism to support several of our key objectives, which is currently impossible as the UKPF is not a charity.
- Establish recognised medals and awards. This will help recognise researchers whose work in planetary science falls outside the research discipline of current societies.
- Support a stable committee. This will create a platform (e.g. chair, secretary, treasurer, and early career representation) for longer term planning and change in UK planetary science, including the experience and stability of more senior academics.
- Provide consistency in the organisation of important national meetings. This mean we will be able to provide consistent logistic and financial support to ensure the timing, duration, and delivery of the ECR and BPSC meetings continues to match community needs.
- Keep doing everything that we do now completely free! The extra affiliation and sources of funding will allow us to support the community in completely new ways, and while preference will be given for medals, awards, grants, etc, to members of the affiliated societies, everyone will be able to, and actively encouraged to, apply wherever possible regardless of membership.
We are also considering establishing stronger links with UK SEDS, UKSA, Europlanet, and other interested organisations. Conversations with supporting organisations are ongoing, and we hope to provide more concrete updates on this new look UPKF in the next few months.
Plans
We currently have a transitional committee which will help define the structure of our special interest group and set precedents of its operation. When all the committee roles are defined, we will have an open call for members and elections to fill the various posts. We hope that this will bring in a new wave of people and allow for many more years of success for UKPF.
In the meantime, we would appreciate any constructive feedback you might have about how we do this – especially if you would like to help us in this transitional phase or in the future!
We currently have a transitional committee which will help define the structure of our special interest group and set precedents of its operation. When all the committee roles are defined, we will have an open call for members and elections to fill the various posts. We hope that this will bring in a new wave of people and allow for many more years of success for UKPF.
In the meantime, we would appreciate any constructive feedback you might have about how we do this – especially if you would like to help us in this transitional phase or in the future!