British Society of Rheology facts for kids
| Formation | 1950 (1940) |
|---|---|
| Type | Professional association |
| Location |
|
|
Membership
|
600 |
|
Official language
|
English |
|
President
|
Prof Simon Cox |
|
Key people
|
Dr Claire McIlroy (Secretary) |
The British Society of Rheology is a group in the United Kingdom for people who are interested in all parts of rheology. Rheology is a special area of science that studies how materials flow and change shape. Think about how honey pours slowly or how rubber stretches. Rheology helps us understand these movements.
What is Rheology?
Rheology is the study of how liquids, soft solids, and even some gases flow and deform. It looks at things like:
- How thick or thin a liquid is (its viscosity).
- How much a material can stretch or bend.
- How materials react to force, like when you squeeze toothpaste from a tube.
This science is important in many areas. For example, it helps engineers design better plastics. It also helps food scientists make sure yogurt has the right texture.
How the Society Started
The British Society of Rheology began a long time ago, in 1940. It was first called the British Rheologist's Club. Three people helped start it: G. W. Scott Blair, V. G. W. Harrison, and H. R. Lang.
Their very first meeting was on November 16, 1940, at the University of Reading. At this meeting, a famous scientist named Sir Geoffrey Taylor was chosen as the first President. The club held its first big conference in 1944 at St Hilda's College, Oxford.
In 1941, they started a news journal called The Bulletin of the British Rheologist's Club. This journal shared summaries of important papers. Later, in 1958, these summaries became a separate publication called Rheology Abstracts. This printed journal stopped in 2013.
In 1950, the club changed its name to the British Society of Rheology. G. W. Scott Blair, one of the founders, became the first President of the renamed society.
What the Society Does
The British Society of Rheology does many things to support the study of rheology:
- Awards: They give out a special Gold Medal. This medal is for people who have made amazing contributions to the field of rheology. They also offer other awards and scholarships to help students and researchers.
- International Connections: The society was one of the first groups to join the International Society of Rheology. It also helped start the European Society of Rheology. This means they work with scientists all over the world.
- Publications: They publish two important journals:
- Rheology Reviews: This is an academic journal where experts review and share new research.
- Rheology Bulletin: This journal shares news and updates that are interesting to the society's members.
The society helps scientists and students learn more about how materials flow and change. It helps share new ideas and discoveries in this exciting field of science.
