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Founded in 1977 UK Charity Registration Number 275189

The ABS Trust was founded for the promotion and dissemination of knowledge in regard to Spectroscopy and for education and training in Spectroscopy.

The ABS Trust, a charitable educational trust, was formed in December 1977 by the Association of British Spectroscopists (ABS).

The ABS was a UK organisation, which was formed in 1969. Its origins, constitution, aims and affiliated groups in 1980 were detailed in an article by Ken Mills, the then Chairman, published in European Spectroscopy News (ESN);
ESN is a forerunner of Spectroscopy Europe: http://www.spectroscopyeurope.com/

The ESN article by Ken Mills is reproduced below.

At its formation, among the prime reasons for the ABS were that it would:

Facilitate effective cooperation between British Spectroscopy Groups, and

Coordinate their efforts in international spectroscopic affairs and provide a national representative body, of which one activity was to appoint two delegates to the CSI (Colloquium Spectroscopicum Internationale) National Delegates Meeting.

The ABS was a very active grouping, which held meetings twice a year throughout the 1970s, 1980s and early into the 1990s. These were attended by representatives (usually the chair and/or secretary) of a member group. However, in the mid- to late-1990s, while never formally wound up, the ABS ceased to function since it became difficult for many delegates to justify the time and finance to attend these meetings, and with the advent of modern means of communication (Internet, email) the regular need to meet became less purposeful, and in about August 2002 the ABS as an organisation effectively ceased to exist and therefore no longer provided a focus for UK-based Spectroscopy Groups nor coordinate the UK/CSI responsibilities, see later. However, many of the Groups then affiliated to the ABS remain strong and very active entities. Details of these groups can be found here.

The ABS Trust, an independent charitable Trust, has, however, continued and is still very actively involved in overseeing the annual Kirkbright Bursary Award, and in supporting (through bursaries) UK-based students and, if appropriate, offering small grants or loans, for such as an appropriate international conference held in the UK. More recently (since 2019), the ABS Trust has administers the annual Steers Bursary Award.

These awards have merged and are now awarded as the Kirkbright Steers Award.

Although the Trustees will be sensitive to the Association of British Spectroscopists (ABS) Trust Fund Guidelines (see below), their ultimate responsibility is to the Charity Commissioners for compliance with the terms of the Trust Deed.

In general, the Trustees make funds available through an application to a Trustee or recognised Officer of one of the Groups or Societies associated with the ABS (see later), or an Officer of a recognised UK-based Spectroscopy Group or Society. In other cases, the Trustees will need a comment of support from one of the recognised UK-based Spectroscopy Groups or Societies.

The income of the Trust derives from interest on existing capital and endowments and the Trustees are committed to adding to this capital fund for the long-range benefit of the Trust and its objectives. Grants are normally small sums, less than £1,000.

Information

Trustees: Duncan Graham, Susan Crossland, Neil Everall, John Monaghan.
Administrator: Tor Alcock

Please address all correspondence to: abstrustuk@gmail.com

Giulia Da Ros - July 2025

I recently attended a conference in Oulu, Finland, dedicated to advances in Dynamic Nuclear Polarization (DNP) and Electron Paramagnetic Resonance (EPR) with the support of the ABS trust bursary. The event brought together leading researchers in the field, offering a stimulating environment for scientific exchange and collaboration. I had the opportunity to present my work both as a poster and in a flash talk, which allowed me to share my research with a broad audience of senior professors and peers and engage in discussions with them. Presenting in both formats helped me refine my communication skills and receive valuable feedback from experts in the field, which will greatly benefit me throughout the progress of my PhD.

Weiying Hong - June 2025

With the support of the ABS trust, I was able to attend the European Materials Research Society (EMRS) Spring Meeting 2025 in Strasbourg, France, where I presented my research on functionalised carbon nanotubes.
The conference offered an excellent opportunity to learn about the latest developments and innovative techniques in the field of materials science. I am currently working with low-dimensional materials, and it was inspiring to see their applications across areas such as battery fabrication, biosensors, and optical devices. This greatly broadened my perspective on the potential of carbon nanotube research.
I also had the chance to engage in valuable face-to-face discussions with researchers from around the world, gaining fresh insights into experimental approaches. Excitingly, two research groups expressed strong interest in my work, and we are now exploring possibilities for collaboration.
This experience was truly enriching, and it would not have been possible without the support of the ABS Trust. Thank you once again for your kind contribution to my academic journey.

Beth Garton - July 2024

Thank you, ABS Trust!
With the generous support of the ABS Trust, I attended an international conference in Yokohama, Japan. The SPIE Astronomical Telescopes and Instrumentation conference held biennially in various global locations, drew over 3000 delegates, predominantly industry professionals. This is a key event during my time with the New Robotic Telescope team as it is highly relevant to my current work designing and building the spectrograph for the telescope. One of the conference highlights was my poster presentation, where I had the opportunity to engage with diverse individuals, receiving valuable advice and encountering genuine curiosity. Additionally, I attended several enlightening talks, including sessions on VPHG (volume phase holographic gratings), a technology I am integrating into my spectrograph design. My participation in the poster sessions and talks was enriching. A notable experience during the conference was the workshop titled ‘Introduction to Visible and Near-infrared Spectrograph Design and Development for Astronomy. As a first-year PhD student, I found this workshop particularly invaluable, and I am confident that the knowledge gained will continue to be beneficial in the years ahead.