What Keeps Early-Career Physics and Astronomy PhDs from Joining Professional Societies?

Joining a professional society can bring crucial benefits, including reduced conference costs, access to society publications, and offers of grants and scholarships. But not every early-career scientist joins a society or remains a member permanently. These non-members and former members could offer important perspectives to societies about how to improve their services and expand their reach, if only they could be asked.

In a new report from researchers at AIP, many of them were. The group surveyed early-career physicists and astronomers on their engagement with, and attitudes toward, professional societies. They identified the society services viewed as most valuable by early-career researchers, the impact of society membership on these individuals’ careers, and the reasons why some of them have left their societies or never joined in the first place.

For researchers who decided to become members of professional societies, the report collected the most common benefits of that membership. Respondents highlighted advantages like access to journal publications, scholarship and funding opportunities, and the availability of training courses and professional certifications. However, the most significant benefit seems to be networking.

“We found that people who were currently members of professional societies were more likely to say that they regularly collaborated with others,” said report author Anne Marie Porter. “They were more likely to have a mentor for career guidance and mentor others. And they were more likely to say that their career is progressing faster than their peers.”

So why do some people cancel their membership? For many respondents, the answer seems to be cost. In particular, one of the biggest membership offerings for many societies is conference attendance, which can make membership seem too expensive to people who are not attending the conferences.

“Membership is required for conference registration. If I am not attending for a particular year, I do not renew membership,” said one survey respondent.

“I would consider remaining a member at a reduced rate that doesn’t include conference attendance in years I don’t attend, and change to full membership when I do attend a conference,” said another.

Overall, the report offers a road map for societies looking to attract new members, retain the ones they currently have, and improve the benefits they offer.

In December, AIP’s research team will release another report based on the same study, this time looking at the types of career paths chosen by these early-career scientists.