Fellow of the Royal Society facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Fellowship of the Royal Society |
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Headquarters of the Royal Society in Carlton House Terrace in London
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| Date | 1663 |
| Location | London |
| Country | United Kingdom |
| Currently held by | Approximately 8,000 (1,743 living Fellows) |
The Fellowship of the Royal Society (often called FRS) is a special award given by the Royal Society in London. It's for people who have made big discoveries or helped improve "natural knowledge." This includes amazing work in mathematics, engineering science, and medical science.
Being a Fellow of the Royal Society is a huge honor. The Royal Society is the oldest science academy that has been around without stopping! Many famous scientists throughout history have received this award. Some well-known Fellows include Isaac Newton (1672), Benjamin Franklin (1756), Charles Darwin (1839), Albert Einstein (1921), and Stephen Hawking (1974). Even people like David Attenborough (1983) and Tim Berners-Lee (2001), who invented the World Wide Web, are Fellows! In total, about 8,000 people have become Fellows, including over 280 Nobel Prize winners since 1900.
The Guardian newspaper once said that becoming a Fellow of the Royal Society is like winning a "lifetime achievement Oscar" for science. It's a really big deal!
Contents
What are the Fellowships?
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Each year, up to 60 new Fellows are chosen. These include Fellows (FRS), honorary members (HonFRS), and foreign members (ForMemRS). They are picked from about 700 suggested candidates. Only current Fellows can suggest new people for these awards.
Fellows (FRS)
Every year, up to 52 new Fellows are chosen from the United Kingdom, countries in the Commonwealth of Nations, and Ireland. These people make up about 90% of the Society's members. Each person is chosen based on their amazing scientific work. Once elected, they are Fellows for life and can use the letters FRS after their name.
Foreign Members (ForMemRS)
Each year, up to ten new foreign members are chosen. These are scientists from other countries. Like Fellows, they are chosen for life because of their excellent scientific work. They can use the letters ForMemRS after their name.
Honorary Fellows (HonFRS)
An Honorary Fellowship is given to people who have helped science a lot, even if their main work isn't scientific research. For example, Bill Bryson, a famous writer, is an Honorary Fellow. They can use the letters HonFRS after their name.
Royal Fellows
The Royal Society can also choose members of the British royal family to be Royal Fellows. As of 2023, there are four Royal Fellows:
- Charles III, chosen in 1978
- Anne, Princess Royal, chosen in 1987
- Prince Edward, Duke of Kent, chosen in 1990
- William, Prince of Wales, chosen in 2009
Elizabeth II was not a Royal Fellow, but she supported the Society. All British monarchs have done this since Charles II of England.
How New Fellows are Chosen
New Fellows are announced every year in May. They go through a careful process of being suggested and reviewed by other scientists.
Suggesting a Candidate
To become a Fellow or Foreign Member, a person must be suggested by two current Fellows of the Royal Society. They sign a special paper to propose the candidate. There's no limit to how many people can be suggested each year.
The Selection Process
The Royal Society has special committees, called Sectional Committees, that help choose the best candidates. There are 10 of these committees, and each one focuses on a different area of science. These areas include:
- Computer science
- Mathematics
- Astronomy and physics
- Chemistry
- Engineering
- Earth science and environmental science
- Life sciences (like how molecules, cells, and living things work)
The committees recommend the strongest candidates. Then, the main Council of the Royal Society makes a final list. In May, all the Fellows vote in a secret ballot. A candidate is chosen if they get at least two-thirds of the votes.
Becoming a Member
New Fellows officially join the Society at a ceremony in July. They sign a special book called the Charter Book. By signing, they promise to help the Royal Society improve natural knowledge and follow its rules.
Other Awards and Fellowships
Besides the main Fellowships (FRS, ForMemRS, HonFRS), the Royal Society also offers other types of fellowships. These are like grants that help scientists do their research. People apply for these, rather than being elected.
- University Research Fellowships (URFs): These are for brilliant young scientists in the UK who are just starting their research careers. They help them become leaders in their field. Many URF holders later become full Fellows of the Royal Society.
- Industry Fellowships: These help scientists from universities work with companies, or scientists from companies work with universities, on special projects.
- Dorothy Hodgkin Fellowships: These are for excellent scientists who need a flexible work schedule because of personal reasons. They are named after the famous scientist Dorothy Hodgkin.
The Royal Society also gives out many other awards, lectures, and medals to recognize great scientific achievements.
Images for kids
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Ramanujan was elected a Fellow in 1917.
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David Attenborough became a Fellow in 1983.
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See also
In Spanish: Miembro de la Royal Society para niños
