Scientific meeting proposals

Scientific programme

The Royal Society hosts a programme of scientific meetings each year. Each meeting is organised by leaders in the field, using their expertise to ensure the key topics are covered. The focus on discussion throughout the meeting allows everyone, at any stage of their scientific career, to get involved in the conversation.

Our scientific programme offers a unique opportunity for you to present an international, two-day conference in your field, with the chance for publication in Philosophical Transactions of the Royal Society or Interface Focus following the meeting. Proposing a Royal Society scientific meeting will allow you to influence the agenda in your area.

Science+ and Fast-track discussion meetings

Royal Society Science+ meetings have been established to expand the Society’s scientific programme beyond pure science, to those areas which build on or function alongside science, for example policy or public health. These two-day meetings provide an opportunity to drive forward discussion between science and other topics that have previously been beyond the scope of a traditional Discussion Meeting. 

The Fast-track discussion meeting series allows our two-day meetings in London to take place within a shorter timescale, enabling scientists to respond to the rapidly changing developments in their fields in a timely manner. 

Why hold your meeting as part of the Royal Society scientific programme

• Proposing a Royal Society scientific meeting will allow you to influence the agenda in your area.
• Attracting researchers from across the world, and at all levels of their career, these meetings allow you to assemble all those working at the cutting-edge of your field.
• Successful meetings receive full administrative support and a contribution towards speaker travel expenses and accommodation.
• Choose from a Discussion Meeting at a large, central London location or a suitable alternative venue in the UK ideal for interdisciplinary meetings addressing the big questions in your field, or a Theo Murphy international scientific meeting at a smaller, residential setting, designed for more intimate discussions.

Proposals are invited from any UK-based or UK-national researcher, with or without co-proposers, who, if successful, will be the scientific organisers of the meeting. Details of past meetings are available; please bear in the mind that a meeting area recently covered would only be likely to be selected if significant progress has been made in the area since the original meeting. Proposals from early career researchers and underrepresented groups are encouraged.

In the most recent round, 5 successful proposals were selected from a total of 12 submissions (a 42% success rate). In the previous round, 9 successful proposals were selected from a total of 19 submissions (a 47% success rate).

What do you do?

• Provide the scientific theme and develop the content of the meeting
• Act as editor (if required) for the volume of Philosophical Transactions of the Royal Society or Interface Focus published following the meeting
• Advise on suitable routes for publicising the meeting and dealing with interest from the media

What does the Royal Society do?

• Promotes the meeting to the relevant communities as well as to the media 
• Provides logistical support, materials for the meeting and full on-site support throughout – allowing the organisers to concentrate on the content
• Considers the publication of a volume of Philosophical Transactions of the Royal Society dedicated to each Discussion Meeting and Theo Murphy international scientific meeting
• Contributes to travel and expenses for organisers, speakers and chairs
• Provides the venue, facilities and catering