Dear Colleagues

We are pleased to confirm we have now had endorsement from STFC’s Science Board and approval from STFC’s Executive to implement proposed changes to the Astronomy Grants Scheme from 2023.

Following the community consultation, which took place in June, we have listened to the community input and the proposed Small and Large Award schemes have been revised accordingly. From 2023 we will be implementing the Small Awards Scheme only; the Large Awards will follow in March 2024.

We invite you to join us (Jim Wild (Chair of the Implementation Panel), Lyndsay Fletcher (AGP Chair) and Mark Sullivan (AGP Deputy Chair) and the STFC Astronomy Team) for a Q&A session to respond to any queries you may have regarding the new scheme. This will take place on Monday 7th November from 1-3pm via Zoom. The meeting will be recorded for those unable to attend. You do not need to register for this event. Please join via the following link: https://ukri.zoom.us/j/98212807735

The attached slides outline the scope of Small Awards and Large Awards, the eligibility for submissions and how we will manage demand. Please be advised these are intended as an overview only, detailed guidance will be available on the STFC website in due course (early November).
Please email Chloe Woodcock for the slides chloe.woodcock@stfc.ukri.org

Key Points:
– The eligibility for Small Award submissions has been updated to implement a phased approach. For the 2023 round, only 2020 applicants will be eligible to apply as a PI (note that Co-I eligibility is not restricted to 2020 applicants).
– Demand management has been revised to decouple the management between Small and Large Awards.
– There is no longer a cap on costs for both types of award, instead there is a limit on the requested FTE and resources permitted; allowing more flexibility for technology development and lab based projects.
– Invited resubmissions from the 2022 round will be contacted shortly after the outcome of the 2022 round has been communicated.

Please be advised we are in process of emailing all PIs due to submit in the 2023 round, we should have contacted everyone by the end of tomorrow (Wednesday 26th October).

If you have any urgent queries ahead of the Q&A session please contact Chloe Woodcock (chloe.woodcock@stfc.ukri.org) and Kim Burchell (kim.burchell@stfc.ukri.org)

Kind regards
The Astronomy Awards Team
Science and Technology Facilities Council