meetings are usually held in a uk university or research institute active in astronomy, who organise and host the meeting. the ras provides financial sponsorship, advertising, media relations etc. and run some sessions within the meeting. universities see hosting the meeting as an opportunity to promote their astronomical research and attract undergraduate students in the discipline. however in some recent years (e.g. 2011, 2015) the ras has taken on the full organisation of the whole meeting itself, which is then held at a conference centre rather than a university.