The Royal Society

The Royal Society
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Name	The Royal Society
Caption	The coat of arms, with the motto Nullius in verba
Formation	28 November 1660
Headquarters	Carlton House Terrace, London
President	Sir Adrian Smith
Website	https://royalsociety.org

The Royal Society. Formally known as The Royal Society of London for Improving Natural Knowledge, it is a learned society and the United Kingdom's national academy of sciences. Founded in 1660 and granted a royal charter by King Charles II, it is one of the oldest scientific institutions in continuous existence. Its fundamental mission is to recognise, promote, and support excellence in science and to encourage the development and use of science for the benefit of humanity.

History

The origins lie in the mid-17th century, a period of intellectual ferment following the English Civil War and the Restoration. Early meetings of natural philosophers, including Christopher Wren, Robert Boyle, and John Wilkins, at Gresham College led to its formal inception. The royal charter, granted in 1662, named Lord Brouncker as its first president. Key early publications, such as ''Philosophical Transactions'', established norms for scientific communication. Throughout the 18th and 19th centuries, it played a central role in the Scientific Revolution and the Age of Enlightenment, engaging with figures like Isaac Newton, who served as president, and Joseph Banks, who presided over a period of global exploration. Its premises have moved from Crane Court to Somerset House and finally to its current home on Carlton House Terrace.

Membership and governance

Election to the Fellowship, denoted by the post-nominal letters FRS, is a significant honour. The process involves nomination and peer review by existing Fellows across various scientific disciplines, including mathematics, engineering, and the medical sciences. The society is governed by a council, led by the president, a position held by eminent scientists such as Christopher Wren, Isaac Newton, Humphry Davy, and more recently, Aaron Klug and Venki Ramakrishnan. Other key officers include the treasurer, biological and physical secretaries, and the foreign secretary. It also elects distinguished international scientists as Foreign Members and awards the Royal Medal and other prestigious prizes.

Activities and publications

A core activity is the publication of high-impact scientific journals, including the flagship Philosophical Transactions, Proceedings of the Royal Society, and Biology Letters. It organises scientific meetings, discussion groups, and public lectures, such as the Croonian Lecture and the Bakerian Lecture. The society administers research grants, policy studies, and international exchanges, aiming to shape scientific strategy and foster collaboration. It also runs extensive public engagement programmes and educational initiatives to promote understanding of science, often providing independent advice to the UK Government and Parliament on critical issues.

Notable fellows and achievements

Throughout its history, the Fellowship has included the most illustrious names in science. Early members like Robert Hooke, Edmond Halley, and Antonie van Leeuwenhoek made groundbreaking contributions. The 18th century saw Fellows such as Benjamin Franklin and James Cook. The 19th and 20th centuries included Charles Darwin, Michael Faraday, James Clerk Maxwell, Ernest Rutherford, and Dorothy Hodgkin. Landmark achievements associated with Fellows include Newton's Philosophiæ Naturalis Principia Mathematica, Darwin's theory of evolution by natural selection, the discovery of the structure of DNA by Francis Crick and James Watson, and the development of the first antibiotic by Alexander Fleming.

Relationship with government and public

It maintains a formal role as the independent scientific academy of the United Kingdom, routinely providing evidence to parliamentary select committees like the Science and Technology Select Committee. It has historically advised governments on issues from longitude to climate change and pandemic preparedness. Public engagement is a major priority, achieved through exhibitions, festivals like the Royal Society Summer Science Exhibition, and digital platforms. While funded in part by a Parliamentary Grant-in-Aid from the Department for Science, Innovation and Technology, it fiercely guards its independence, upholding its motto Nullius in verba ("Take nobody's word for it") to ensure advice is rooted in robust evidence.

Category:Scientific organizations based in the United Kingdom Category:National academies Category:1660 establishments in England