The Astronomy Grants Panel’s role is to:
- assess and make recommendations to the Science and Technology Facilities Council (STFC) Executive on all research grant applications in astronomy, including space science and solar-terrestrial physics covering theory, exploitation and basic technology research
- take account as appropriate of the conclusions of specialist peer review panels, as convened by the Executive, to advise on strategic priorities for science and technology research, together with research requests which are judged (on the basis of cost or propriety) to warrant such separate, in-depth assessment, such as those with a common theme
- make recommendations to the Science Board and to the Science Programme Advisory Committee (SPAC) of the UK Space Agency on research awards. With Science Board and SPAC endorsement, make final recommendations on awards to the STFC Executive
- take account, as appropriate, of the conclusions of specialist peer review panels, as convened by the Executive, to advise on strategic priorities for science and technology research, together with research requests which are judged (on the basis of cost or propriety) to warrant such separate, in-depth assessment, such as those with a common theme
- carry out such other tasks associated with peer review as the Executive might require.
Organisational structure
Members from 1 January 2023 to 31 December 2023
- Professor L Fletcher (Chair) – University of Glasgow
- Professor M Sullivan (Deputy Chair) – University of Southampton
Astronomy observation
- Professor M Swinbank (Chair) – Durham University
- Dr H Cegla – University of Warwick
- Dr B Maughan – University of Bristol
- Dr N Peretto – Cardiff University
- Dr R Starling – University of Leicester
- Dr R Tojeiro – University of St Andrews
Technology expertise
- Dr S Doyle – Cardiff University
- Dr H Schnetler – Science and Technology Facilities Council UK Astronomy Technology Centre
- Dr M Tecza – University of Oxford
Astronomy theory
- Professor T Rogers (Chair) – Newcastle University
- Professor R Dave – University of Edinburgh
- Professor R Hirschi – Keele University
- Dr Z Leinhardt – University of Bristol
- Dr D Mulryne – Queen Mary University of London
Solar studies and solar-terrestrial physics
- Dr R Fear (Chair) – University of Southampton
- Professor S Dalla – University of Central Lancashire
- Professor A Hillier – University of Exeter
- Professor M Mathioudakis – Queen’s University Belfast
Planetary studies
- Dr M Patel (Chair) – The Open University
- Dr N Achilleos – University College London
- Dr L Hallis – University of Glasgow
- Dr L Ray – Lancaster University
Last updated: 9 February 2023