Foster the Future - Organise a conference at the home of UK science
The call for proposals for scientific meetings to be held in 2011 is now closed. The next call for proposals will be launched in the summer of 2010.
The Royal Society holds ten interdisciplinary scientific discussion meetings each year, which focus on new or rapidly changing science, engineering and technology, and are published in dedicated issues of the journal Philosophical Transactions. Any UK scientist or engineer is eligible to propose a discussion meeting.
Scientific discussion meetings are generally of two days duration at which approximately sixteen experts in any area of science, engineering or technology are invited to present papers on the latest developments in the subject and to stimulate discussion among those attending. Interdisciplinary subjects are especially appropriate to the Society's programme and suggestions for subjects with economic and social implications are welcomed.
Royal Society scientific discussion meetings
- Held at the Royal Society at Carlton House Terrace, London
- Generally 2-days duration
- Attended by up to 300 participants from all over the world
- Interdisciplinary, covering all areas of science, engineering and technology
- Published in the Philosophical Transactions of the Royal Society
The Kavli Royal Society Centre presents a new opportunity to hold meetings which will benefit from the intensity offered by the residential nature of the venue. The Royal Society will hold ten Theo Murphy international scientific meetings each year at the Centre, which is a new venture for the Royal Society and represents a long term investment in UK science. Any UK scientist or engineer is eligible to propose a Theo Murphy international scientific meeting.
Royal Society Theo Murphy international scientific meetings
- Held at the Kavli Royal Society Centre, Chicheley Hall, Buckinghamshire
- Generally 2-days duration
- Attended by approximately 100 participants from all over the world
- Interdisciplinary, covering all areas of science, engineering and technology
- Residential setting allowing concentrated informal discussion
Selection process: Selection of the Discusssion Meetings is carried out by the Royal Society Hooke Committee. Following the submission of Form A, proposals will be shortlisted. Shortlisted proposers will be asked to submit a more detailed proposal, including a full list of speakers and the name of two referees.
For any queries or to be sent information abou the next call for proposals, email Discussion.Meetings@royalsociety.org
What does the Scientific Organiser do?
- Secure speakers and chairs and provide a list of speakers and chairs contact details 9 months before the meeting
- Establish the programme order 6 months before the meeting
- Aid the Society in publicising the meeting
- Accept the offer of expenses for organisers/speakers/chairs as stated
- Act as editor and referee for a volume of Philosophical Transactions of the Royal Society
What does the Society staff do?
- Provide our venue, facilities, catering and administration support
- Contributes to travel and subsistence for organisers, speakers and chairmen; Publicise and evaluate the meeting
- Publish a volume of Philosophical Transactions of the Royal Society dedicated to the meeting
FAQ's
Q. How much does it cost?
A. Nothing! The Society covers the cost of printing of programmes, accommodation and lunch for all speakers, chairs and organisers on both days of the meeting, as well as dinner on the first day.
A contribution is also made to all speakers, chairs and organisers travel costs, based on the distance to be travelled to the meeting.
Q. But only Fellows of the Royal Society can organise a meeting can't they?
A. No anyone can submit a nomination form.
Q. I f successful, when will the meeting take place?
A. Meetings accepted by the Hooke Committee in January 2010 will take place between January and December 2011.
Q. When do I find out if I have been successful?
A. We will contact you by March 2010.
For any other queries, email Discussion.Meetings@royalsociety.org
Why should I organise a Scientific Discussion Meeting?
"The meeting was a great success, very well attended and by all accounts very much appreciated and enjoyed by our international speakers and the audience. The meeting was very well supported by your staff who handled everthing from speakers to publicity. These meetings provide a unique opportunity as an organiser to focus on the science without being burdened by administration."
Michael Whitaker, Organiser, Calcium signals and developmental patterning.
"From our point of view it was a rip-roaring success. The facilities were excellent, everything worked smoothly and all the participants, chairs and speakers appeared to have a fabulous time, immersed in a most convivial atmosphere whilst discussing a diversity of biological and evolutionary science."
Max Telford and Tim Littlewood, Organisers, Evolution of the Animals - a Linnean Tercentenary Celebration.
"It was a pleasure to see such a large audience, and nearly everybody stayed to the end of the meeting for the closing discussion and summing-up. We had no difficulty in persuading world-leaders to attend this prestigious event. I believe that we collected a strong body of papers from the other invited speakers and from two of the groups presenting posters, so that we created a coherent issue that reflected much of the excitement of this emerging field."
Laurence Eaves, Organiser, Carbon-based electronics: fundamentals and device applications.
"The Royal Society staff greatly facilitated the organizing of our Discussion meeting. Once the grant for the meeting had been awarded, they provided us with a structure and deadlines, that were most helpful. The staff looked after all of the administration allowing us to focus on attracting the best scientists from around the world to speak and developing a logical programme that would benefit those who attended. Further, the staff from the publishing section of the Royal Society provided us with detailed guidelines for the preparation of a special issue of TransB. During the meeting the staff were excellent and attended to the needs of both speakers and the audience. The lunches and dinner were delicious and the catering staff most professional."
Professor Sheilagh Hodgins, Organiser, The neurobiology of violence: implications for prevention and treatment.
"I have had a very pleasant experience with organizing the discussion meeting, mostly thanks to the wonderful help by the staff at the Royal Society. I very much valued being able to talk to someone directly about practical issues. The process of organizing the sessions was straightforward, given your template schedule, and we applied only few tweaks and changes to the schedule itself. During the days running up to the meeting and the meeting itself the Royal Society staff were extremely helpful and I can say that I have rarely ever organized a meeting that went so smoothly. It's a most welcoming setting and way of hosting discussion meetings and I would hope to be able to do so again in the future some time."
Ingo Muller-Wodarg, Organiser, Titan: Atmosphere and Space Environment.
"I found all the communications from RS's part to be prompt and professional. The RS staff was clearly extremely experienced in organising large scale events and was enormously helpful in setting up the various aspects of the meeting. The dinner on the opening day was wonderful and the whole event and its practical aspects (such as computing and catering) ran very smoothly."
Essi Viding, Organiser, The neurobiology of violence: implications for prevention and treatment.
"These meeting are considered to be very prestigious both in the UK and internationally. In this way they reflect the Royal Society mission to strive for Excellence in Science. The range of subjects covered is impressive, combining specialist subjects with subjects of broader interest. The international cast of speakers are the top contributors to their field and the level of science presented and discussed at the meetings is truly excellent. The support given by the Royal Society staff to run these discussion meetings is outstanding and I believe this tradition to be amongst the most important activities of The Royal Society and long may it last."
Jim Barber FRS, Organiser, Revealing how nature uses sunlight to split water.