Royal Microscopical Society facts for kids
 |
|
| Founded | September 1839, Royal Charter in 1866 |
|---|---|
| Type | Professional Organisation and Registered Charity |
| Registration no. | 241990 |
| Purpose | to promote the advancement of microscopical science by such means as the discussion and publication of research into improvements in the construction and mode of application of microscopes and into those branches of science where microscopy is important. |
| Location |
|
| Origins | Microscopical Society of London |
|
Area served
|
UK, Worldwide |
|
Members
|
1379 |
|
Key people
|
President Peter J O'Toole Vice President M. Grace Burke Vice President Rik Brydson Patrons: *Baroness Finlay of Llandaff *Baroness Brown of Cambridge |
|
Revenue
|
£1,639,504 (year ending Dec 2015 |
|
Employees
|
17 |
|
Volunteers
|
100 |
The Royal Microscopical Society (RMS) is a special group, called a learned society, that helps people learn more about microscopy. Microscopy is the science of using microscopes to see tiny things. The RMS was started in 1839 as the Microscopical Society of London. This makes it the oldest group of its kind in the whole world!
In 1866, the society received a special permission from the King or Queen, called a royal charter. After that, it changed its name to the Royal Microscopical Society. At first, it was a group for people who just liked microscopes as a hobby. Today, its members include people from all over the world, with different skill levels, who work in many science fields.
Since 1841, the society has published its own scientific journal called the Journal of Microscopy. This journal shares new research and book reviews. The RMS is also a registered charity. This means it's a non-profit group that works to help science grow, support people's careers, and help everyone understand science and microscopy better. They do this through special activities called Outreach programs.
One of the society's most important contributions was in 1840. They created a standard size for microscope glass slides, which are 3x1 inches. These are still the most common size used today and are known as the "RMS standard." The Royal Microscopical Society is also part of other big science groups, like the European Microscopy Society.
Contents
Exploring the History of Microscopy
The Royal Microscopical Society began on September 3, 1839. Seventeen gentlemen met at a house in London. They wanted to create a group to study tiny things and make microscopes better. This meeting happened after many new discoveries in microscopy.
At this first meeting, they decided to form a society. They called it the Microscopical Society of London. On December 20, 1839, a public meeting was held. Professor Richard Owen was chosen as the first president. Many other important people were also chosen to lead the new society. Forty-five men joined as members right away.
When the society started, they bought the best microscopes available. These came from the top microscope makers of that time. The first president, Richard Owen, was a famous scientist. He is known for creating the word "dinosaur." He also helped create the Natural History Museum in London.
The society became the Royal Microscopical Society in 1866. This was when they received their Royal Charter. The president at that time was James Glaisher.
In 1870, the president, Rev. Joseph Bancroft Reade, joked about the society's name. He said he suggested adding "-al" to "Microscopical" so people wouldn't think the members themselves were tiny objects!
Important People in RMS History
John Thomas Quekett, whose brother helped start the society, was the secretary from 1841 to 1860. A well-known botanist named Dukinfield Henry Scott was the society's president from 1904 to 1906.
In 1885, a botanist and women's rights supporter named Marian Farquharson made history. She became the first female Fellow of the Society. At first, she wasn't allowed to attend meetings. But she worked hard to help women gain the right to be full members of learned societies. In 1900, she wrote to other big science groups, asking that qualified women be allowed to join and attend meetings. Eventually, the Linnean Society elected her as a fellow in 1908.
In September 1989, the Royal Mail released a set of four stamps. These stamps celebrated the society's 150th anniversary. One of the stamps showed a snowflake, which is the RMS logo.
In 2017, the society chose two special supporters, called patrons. They were Baroness Brown of Cambridge and Baroness Finlay of Llandaff. Both of them are members of the House of Lords, which is part of the UK government.
Becoming a Member of the RMS
People who join the RMS come from many different science backgrounds. They work in areas like biology and physics, and they use all kinds of microscopy.
After being a regular member for three years, members can be invited to become a Fellow of the Society. To become a Fellow, they need to meet certain requirements. Being a Fellow means they can vote and be elected for roles in the society. They can also use the letters FRMS after their names.
Special Honorary Fellows
The society also has Honorary Fellows. These are people who have made very important contributions to microscopy. The rules for how many Honorary Fellows there can be have changed over time. In 2019, new rules were approved to allow more people to receive this special honor.
Fun Outreach Activities
The RMS is very involved in outreach activities. These are special programs designed to share science with more people, especially children. The goal is to get kids excited about science, not just lab work. For example, in 2015, the society helped the government plan changes to the Geology course for older students in the national curriculum.
Microscope Activity Kits for Schools
One popular outreach program is the Microscope Activity Kit Scheme. It started in March 2011. This free program sends Kits full of microscopes and ready-to-use activities to primary schools across the UK and Ireland. Schools can keep a Kit for a whole term. By December 2014, the number of Kits grew from 2 to 50. Over 20,000 children in the UK had used them!
RMS Diploma for Career Growth
The RMS Diploma was launched in 2012. It helps people who use microscopes improve their skills and advance their careers. It's a special qualification that shows someone has a high level of skill. To get the Diploma, a person creates their own study plan with help from their manager and other Fellows of the Society. This way, the learning is challenging and fits with their current job.
Courses and Conferences
Every year, the RMS organizes many meetings, courses, and conferences. Some of these are held online. The society's biggest event is the Microscience Microscopy Congress (mmc) Series. This usually happens every two years. These events are great chances to learn about the newest discoveries in science. They bring together speakers and attendees from all areas of science, from forensics to live cell imaging.
Supporting Women in Microscopy
Since 2017, the RMS website has a special database. It lists women who work in microscopy. This helps people who organize conferences and meetings find more diverse speakers for their events. Scientists can add themselves to the list or be suggested by others.
Images for kids
-
Alfred William Bennett, botanist, publisher, early vice-president and editor of the Journal of Microscopy from 1897 until his death in 1902.
