The Society

Purpose

The European Astronomical Society (EAS) promotes and advances astronomy in Europe. As an independent body, the EAS is able to act on matters that need to be handled at a European level on behalf of the European astronomical community. In its endeavours the EAS collaborates with affiliated national astronomical societies and also with pan-european research organisations and networks.

Founded in 1990, the EAS is a society of individual members. All astronomers may join the society, irrespective of their field of research, or their country of work or origin. In addition, corporations, publishers and non-profit organisations can become organisational members of the EAS.

EAS Annual Meeting

The EAS organises its annual meeting (formerly known as European Week of Astronomy & Space Science, EWASS, and previously as JENAM), to enhance its links with national communities, to broaden connections between individual members and to promote European networks. The EAS annual meeting consists of plenary sessions covering astronomical topics of general interest, and of a number of topical symposia or sessions of one or two days' duration, organized in parallel sessions.

Awards

Since 2008, the EAS has awarded a prize in recognition of the development or exploitation of European instruments, or of major discoveries based largely on such instruments. Until 2018, it was the Tycho Brahe Prize, but from 2019, EAS awards the Tycho Brahe Medal. The winner is asked to give a lecture at the EAS annual meeting.
Since 2010, astronomers of outstanding distinction are invited by the EAS to give the Lodewijk Woltjer lecture at the EAS annual meeting.
Since 2013, the EAS awards the MERAC Prizes to recognize and support young European astronomers. The three laureates of each year are invited to give a plenary lecture at the EAS annual meeting.
Since 2020, the EAS awards biennually the Fritz Zwicky Prizes to scientists who have obtained fundamental and outstanding results related to astrophysics and/or cosmology. The laureate also gives a plenary lecture at the EAS annual meeting.
Since 2021, the Jocelyn Bell Burnell Inspiration Medal is awarded in alternate years to recognise astronomers of all career stages whose contribution beyond scientific research. The laureates of the Fritz Zwicky Prizes and Jocelyn Bell Burnell Inspiration Medal gives plenary lectures at the EAS annual meeting.

Newsletter

Since 2016, the EAS e-Newsletter supersedes both the former paper Newsletter and the short e-News. It is issued four times per year - in general in January, April, July and October - and includes reports on astronomical topics, astronomical life in Europe, developments within the society and European networks.

Publication Series

Until 2016, the EAS oversaw the distribution of papers of general interest in astronomy, such as proceedings of conferences and monographs by way of the EAS Publication Series (published by EDP Sciences). This was abandoned because of loss of interest in books, in particular for conference proceedings. The EAS also had strong links with The Astronomy and Astrophysics Review.

Connections with Affiliated Societies

The EAS provides a natural link to astronomical communities across Europe through relations with its affiliated societies, i.e. the national astronomical societies. Business meetings are regularly held between the EAS Council and representative of the affiliated societies.

Job Market and other services

The EAS website gives members easy access to the job market. EAS members and non-members can post job announcements free of charge. In addition to these services, EAS maintained until 2017 an updated list of Summer/Winter Schools.

Grants

The EAS offers reduced registration fees at the annual EAS mmeeting to EAS members and further supports the participation of a limited number of young astronomers via grants funded by Springer and MERAC.

Contact with European Sister Societies

Many scientific fields rely on collaboration beyond the traditional disciplines. The EAS thus provides links to other societies in order to foster discussion on topics of common interest. As an example, the EAS and the European Physical Society (EPS) had established the Joint Solar Physics Group.

The Society has a Constitution defining the general rules, complemented by By-laws specifying various detailed procedures.

To become member of the EAS, please consult the information on membership classes, benefits and fees and fill out the online application form. If you are a member of an affiliated society, you can join the EAS for free through your society since 2019. You are invited to contact your society to ensure that your interest in joining the EAS is transmitted to the EAS Office.

For Organisational Memberships, please contact the EAS Office.