Impact & Industry

Astronomy Means Business: How UK research benefits industry, education and science
This 20-page booklet gives an overview of developments in business, industry and society that have arisen from research in astronomy and astrophysics. Astronomers study the distant universe using the light that stars and galaxies emit; that light…
Geophysics Means Business: How UK research benefits industry, education and science
This 16-page booklet brings together many strands of geophysics research in the UK represented by the Royal Astronomical Society and recognized by government in the most recent Research Excellence Framework. Although it is just a snapshot of…
Going Underground: Why Geophysics Matters
What is geophysics? What do geophysicists do? How does it help us in our everyday lives? And what part does the UK play in this inherently worldwide science? Read on to learn about the increasingly vital investigation of Earth and its environment,…
Beyond The Stars: Why Astronomy Matters
This RAS booklet, published in June 2013, explores how astronomy impacts our society, and highlights some of the areas where UK talent is leading the field in pushing back the boundaries of our understanding of the universe. From detecting…
A New View of the Universe: Big Science for the Big Society
This RAS booklet, published in July 2010, sets out some of the ways in which astronomy has an impact on wider society. From digital cameras to GPS, a series of articles explain how technology developed for astronomy has shaped our world, while case…