Where the money goes
Open to anyone with a genuine interest in the science. No credentials, no fees, no obligations. You get the same bulletins, papers, and lecture invitations whether you are a graduate student, a curious amateur, or a working researcher in an adjacent field.
- ◈ OCS quarterly research bulletin: curated summaries of new IMBH, SETI, and computronium literature, with context from OCS investigators
- ◈ Access to all open-access OCS publications and preprints at time of release
- ◈ Invitation to the annual public lecture and Q&A with OCS investigators
- ◈ Named listing in the OCS public register of programme supporters
An annual contribution that funds a concrete unit of research infrastructure: a KM3NeT observation window, a JWST Director's Discretionary Time application cost, or the equivalent. Associates get working access to the research before it is published, and a voice in how grant priorities are set.
- ◈ Annual contribution funds one unit of KM3NeT or JWST Director's Discretionary Time application costs
- ◈ Named in the acknowledgements of any OCS paper submitted during your contribution year
- ◈ Participation in working groups on IMBH characterisation, neutrino detection strategy, and propulsion physics
- ◈ Vote on the annual OCS grant priority, meaning which research questions receive seed funding first
- ◈ Access to pre-publication working papers and simulation data releases
- ◈ All Affiliate benefits included
A major grant that funds a named postdoctoral research fellowship: a working scientist, full time on OCS research for a year. Principal Sponsors are embedded in the programme at an institutional level, named co-applicant on telescope proposals, with a seat on the Advisory Board and a yearly briefing from the principal investigators.
- ◈ Contribution funds a named postdoctoral research fellowship: one scientist, one year, full time on OCS research
- ◈ Named as institutional co-applicant on telescope time proposals to KM3NeT, Chandra, and LISA preparatory grants
- ◈ Seat on the OCS Advisory Board, which sets the long-term research agenda and reviews major publications
- ◈ Credited as funding partner in all OCS public education materials, translated editions, and open-courseware
- ◈ Annual closed briefing from the OCS principal investigators on research progress and forthcoming publications
- ◈ All Associate and Affiliate benefits included
| Affiliate | Associate | Principal | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Research bulletin (quarterly) | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ |
| Open-access publications & preprints | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ |
| Annual public lecture invitation | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ |
| Supporter register listing | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ |
| Paper acknowledgements | — | ✓ | ✓ |
| Working group participation | — | ✓ | ✓ |
| Grant priority vote | — | ✓ | ✓ |
| Pre-publication data access | — | ✓ | ✓ |
| Named postdoctoral fellowship | — | — | ✓ |
| Telescope proposal co-applicant | — | — | ✓ |
| Advisory Board seat | — | — | ✓ |
| Annual closed PI briefing | — | — | ✓ |
The Advisory Board seat available to Principal Sponsors is separate from the OCS's independent Board of Advisors, which is by invitation and not tied to financial contribution. See the advisors page for how that works.