Community as a Driver of Scientific Progress

Call for Abstracts: How do we make progress in science? Metascience and community

Panel at the National Astronomy Meeting, July 20-24, 2026, Birmingham, UK

How do scientific communities make progress? In astronomy, progress is often associated with new facilities, larger datasets, and more computing power. Yet advances also depend on less visible factors: how communities are organised, working conditions, and environments that enable serendipity, creativity, risk-taking, and collaboration. Ultimately, research is done by people.

Surveys of researchers have shown that unsupportive research environments stifle creativity and hinder progress. This recognition is reflected sector-wide through the rebranding of Research Excellence Framework (REF) 2028/29, which introduces Strategy, People and Research Environment, explicitly placing people at the centre of progress and increasing its weighting to 20%.

We are inviting abstract proposals from astronomers, philosophers, historians, sociologists, ethnologists, artists, Science and Technology Studies scholars, and any other relevant area on any issue connected to one of our four broad themes:

• how progress is recognised and assessed
• how progress in astronomy is shaped not only by data and technology, but by also research environments, community structures, and emerging tools
• how different types of research environments enable or constrain innovation
• how AI reshapes epistemic practices and community dynamics.

Abstract submission: Please submit your abstracts via this form
Deadline: April 2, 23:45
Panel organizers: Sara L. Uckelman (Durham), Dave Alexander (Durham), and Ulrike Kuchner (Nottingham).
For more info: Email Sara.