The purpose of the Solar System Advisory Panel (SSAP) is to provide a link between Science Board and the community, and represent the needs of the community to the Science and Technology Facilities Council (STFC). The remit of the panel includes technology development, theory, high-performance computing and data curation issues within their area.
Members
- Jonathan Eastwood (Chair), Imperial College London
- Mark Burchell, University of Kent at Canterbury
- Professor John Bridges, University of Leicester
- Dr Richard Morton, University of Northumbria
- Dr Suzie Imber, University of Leicester
- Dr Ashley King, Natural History Museum
Terms of reference
The advisory panel is tasked to:
- maintain an overview of activities within the area
- develop and maintain a science vision and long term strategy by assessing the merit of current and future science opportunities
- develop and maintain a technology roadmap for their area of research
- consult and interact with the community to ensure its views are canvassed and there is an appropriate and effective route for communication with STFC on strategic programmatic issues
- provide advice to Science Board on specific questions as requested
- liaise with other advisory panels when appropriate.
The advisory panel is required to report on these activities to Science Board on a regular basis. The science strategy developed by the advisory panel will be used by Science Board as input to ongoing strategy development and in future programmatic reviews.
Solar physics facilities review: 2017 to 2025
A review of solar physics facilities has been undertaken by specialists working in this area, including the chair of the SSAP.
Solar physics facilities review: 2017 – 2025
Developing a world-class research programme (STFC priority projects)
In June 2018, STFC launched the Developing a World-Class Research Programme consultation to identify potential priorities for future investment. Following a wide consultation exercise, a full list of projects, together with their business cases, were reviewed by Science Board, Executive Board and Council. More information regarding this programme including a link to the full list of proposals selected for inclusion in the resulting portfolio is available on our research programmes page.
The SSAP received a total of 29 project summaries in response to the 2018 Priority Projects exercise. Find out more about the SSAP projects (where permission to publish has been given).
Astronomy programme evaluation
The Solar System and Astronomy Advisory Panels (SSAP and AAP) were invited to provide input to the astronomy programme evaluation which would feed into the next STFC Balance of Programmes review (BoP2). Both panels requested community input via questionnaires with a deadline of 28 November 2018.
Find out more about the Balance of Programme (Skills) Panel report process and resulting evaluation reports.
Last updated: 30 June 2023