MIST

Magnetosphere, Ionosphere and Solar-Terrestrial

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2026 MIST Council Election Results

It is our pleasure to announce the results of the latest MIST Council Election.

  • Samuel Wharton (University of Leicester) is elected for a 3 year term as a MIST Councillor
  • Jewel Abbey Relampagos (Lancaster University) is elected for a 1 year term as the MIST Student Representative

In addition, due to concerns from the community regarding the ongoing UKRI/STFC funding situation, MIST Council have also decided to charter Mark Lester (University of Leicester) as an additional councillor to inform and steer the council in matters related to this specific brief, as set out in Article 4.5 of the MIST Charter.

We would like to congratulate everyone on their new roles. The full composition of Council can be found on the MIST website (https://www.mist.ac.uk/community/mist-council). We would like to thank all the candidates for putting themselves forward and everyone who took part in the voting. We received votes from 132 people which represents a turnout of 21.5% of people registered to receive the MIST emailing list.

Finally, MIST Council would like to extend their thanks and gratitude to our outgoing members: Fiona Ball and Georgios Nicolaou. We would also like to say a special thank you to Andy Smith who was co-opted to be on MIST council while Rosie Johnson was on maternity leave, thank you for all of your hard work.

Open Letter Ready For Signatories

Protect MIST Science! Sign the MIST Community Open Letter on the STFC funding cuts!

https://sites.google.com/view/uk-mist-community-open-letter

 

Statement from MIST Council regarding the STFC Funding Situation

Statement from MIST Council regarding the STFC Funding Situation

MIST Council is deeply concerned by the ongoing STFC funding uncertainty and its impact on our community and beyond.

The current combination of prospective delayed and reduced funding, together with already volatile financial situations at universities across the UK, is placing significant strain on research groups. In some cases, institutions may be unable to support researchers through gaps between projects, increasing precarity across the community and adding significant pressure on early-career researchers.

We are concerned that continued uncertainty risks accelerating a brain drain from the UK, as skilled researchers reconsider their future in a system offering limited stability. The loss of expertise at any career stage would have lasting consequences for UK space science.

 

What is going on?

For those that are unaware of the situation, it is complex and evolving. We suggest the following sources to get up to speed on the current developments.

https://www.sciencecampaign.org.uk/analysis-and-publications/detail/what-is-happening-with-ukri-funding-and-the-stfc-cuts/

https://ras.ac.uk/news-and-press/news/proposed-budget-cuts-catastrophe-uk-astronomy

https://www.newscientist.com/article/2514481-physicists-warn-of-catastrophic-impact-from-uk-science-cuts/

 

What are we doing about it?

Behind the scenes, MIST Council is actively engaging with relevant parties to understand the scale of the challenge and to identify constructive ways forward.

  • We are seeking seasoned members of the community to join MIST Council on a task force to help develop options and represent the needs of our community. If you would like to be involved, please reach out to us via the MIST Council email (This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.) by the end of this week (13th February 2026).
  • In addition to the task force, we want to provide an open forum for discussion and collective input among all members of the wider MIST community. We are exploring options and will be in touch as soon as possible with further details.
  • We believe in working together in the face of the current challenges and we are collaborating with UKSP and others to strive for a fair and positive outcome for all. We are reaching out to members of the SSAP (Solar System Advisory Panel) to explore the hosting of a community town hall meeting, like the one already being organised by the AAP (Astronomy Advisory Panel), to provide an open forum for discussion and collective input.

 

What can you do to help?

There are several open letters representing people in various career stages that have been made available to sign. We encourage you to read the relevant letter(s) and to sign them if you support them:

The Royal Astronomical Society are also urging Fellows to lobby their MPs against the cuts, and have included a template letter that can be used to do so:
https://ras.ac.uk/news-and-press/news/ras-fellows-urged-lobby-against-unprecedented-cuts

 

MIST Council will continue to advocate for transparency, stability, and funding structures that recognise both the long-term nature of our science and the people who deliver it.
We thank you for your continued support in this period of uncertainty.

 

Please contact This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. if you have further suggestions.
MIST Council

Announcement of New MIST Council 2025

We are very pleased to announce the following members of the community have been elected to MIST Council:

  • Gemma Bower (University of Leicester), MIST Councillor
  • Tom Elsden (University of St Andrews), MIST Councillor
  • Cameron Patterson (Lancaster University), MIST Councillor
  • Fiona Ball (University of Southampton), Student Representative

They will begin their terms in July 2025.

We thank outgoing MIST Council members: Maria Walach, Chiara Lazzeri and Emma Woodfield. Andy Smith will remain on council a little longer as a co-opted member to cover Rosie Johnson's maternity leave.

The current composition of Council can be found on our website (https://www.mist.ac.uk/community/mist-council).

Announcement of New MIST Councillors.

We are very pleased to announce the following members of the community have been elected unopposed to MIST Council:

  • Rosie Johnson (Aberystwyth University), MIST Councillor
  • Matthew Brown (University of Birmingham), MIST Councillor
  • Chiara Lazzeri (MSSL, UCL), Student Representative

Rosie, Matthew, and Chiara will begin their terms in July. This will coincide with Jasmine Kaur Sandhu, Beatriz Sanchez-Cano, and Sophie Maguire outgoing as Councillors.

The current composition of Council can be found on our website, and this will be amended in July to reflect this announcement (https://www.mist.ac.uk/community/mist-council).

Conduct and EDI Policy

As MIST is a subcommunity of the Royal Astronomical Society, all MIST members are bound by the RAS Code of Conduct and the MIST Equality Diversity and Inclusion (EDI) policy. If you have witnessed or been the subject of an incident that has breached the code of conduct or EDI policy and would like to report the incident, please email Council at This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. or you can email an individual member of Council. The Royal Astronomical Society maintains a list of resources for support that you may find helpful.

Equality Diversity and Inclusion Policy

MIST is committed to creating an environment where diversity is celebrated and everyone is treated fairly, regardless of colour, ethnic or national origin, race, gender, gender reassignment, sex, sexual orientation, disability, age, religious or political beliefs, marriage and civil partnership, pregnancy and maternity, or family circumstances.

Our Diversity, Equality and Inclusion policy contains information on equal opportunity and harassment and the standards that members of MIST are expected to maintain.

MIST council also expects MIST members to adhere to our Code of Conduct.

This policy applies to all MIST members. MIST council encourages its members to follow similar equal opportunities policies in their workplaces.

The purpose of this policy is to ensure equality and fairness for all in our scientific endeavors, and not to discriminate on grounds of ethnic or national origin, race, gender, gender reassignment, sex, sexual orientation, disability, age, religious or political beliefs, marriage and civil partnership, pregnancy and maternity, or family circumstances. MIST opposes all forms of unlawful and unfair discrimination. 

Key objective 1: Promoting an inclusive environment for all 

MIST is committed to providing a harmonious and inclusive environment for all members, and will not tolerate intimidation, bullying, harassment or any form of threatening behaviour towards any members or visitors. 

All members of our community have the right to work in an environment free from abuse, harassment or unreasonable behaviour from other scientists. Members and visitors are similarly entitled to be treated with dignity and respect. Members must treat their colleagues fairly and honestly, and must not harass an individual, nor maliciously injure or attempt to discredit or injure the professional reputation, personal standing, or business prospects of any others.

Key objective 2: Promoting equality of opportunity

MIST values the diversity that people with differing backgrounds, skills, abilities and ages can offer, and will make every effort to challenge and root out discrimination if it occurs. MIST Council will endeavour to foster an environment free from harassment and unfair discrimination in which individual potential can be harnessed to maximise benefit to the MIST community, and support and develop careers of potential future members. 

MIST is further committed to increasing awareness of equal opportunities through appropriate publications and media, and to research and reduce obstacles to equal opportunities. MIST will monitor and keep under review policies and practices within the community to ensure fairness and the promotion of equal opportunities.

MIST engages in an active and increasing programme of diversity, in order to support and develop careers of potential future members.

Support

  • If you want to talk to MIST Council about conduct or support in relation to MIST specifically then please get in touch (This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.). We also welcome any suggestions for how we could enhance our support in this area.
  • If you would like to report an incident anonymously, you can use the RAS reporting tool.
  • The Royal Astronomical Society maintains a list of resources for support.