Royal Society facts for kids
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| Formation | 28 November 1660 |
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| Headquarters | London, SW1 United Kingdom |
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Membership
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| Charles III | |
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President
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Sir Adrian Smith |
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Foreign Secretary
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Sir Robin William Grimes |
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Treasurer
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Sir Andrew Hopper |
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Main organ
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Council |
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Staff
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~225 |
| Remarks | Motto: Nullius in verba ("Take nobody's word for it") |
The Royal Society is a very old and important group in the United Kingdom. Its full name is The Royal Society of London for Improving Natural Knowledge. It's like the national science academy for the UK.
This society does many things. It helps science grow and shows how science can benefit everyone. It celebrates great scientists and supports new research. The Royal Society also gives scientific advice to the government. It helps with science education and gets people interested in science. Plus, it works with scientists all over the world.
The Royal Society started on November 28, 1660. King Charles II gave it a special paper called a royal charter. This made it officially "The Royal Society." It is the oldest science academy in the world that has been running continuously.
A group called the Council runs the society. The Council is led by the society's president. Members of the Council and the president are chosen by the Fellows. Fellows are the main members of the society. They are also chosen by other Fellows. As of 2020, there are about 1,700 Fellows. They can use "FRS" after their names. Each year, up to 73 new Fellows are chosen. There are also Royal Fellows, honorary Fellows, and foreign members. The current president is Adrian Smith. He started his five-year term in November 2020.
Since 1967, the Royal Society has been located at 6–9 Carlton House Terrace in central London. This is a very old and important building.
Contents
The Royal Society's Story
How it Started
Some people think the Royal Society grew from a secret group called the "Invisible College." This group included scientists like Robert Boyle. They believed in learning through experiments. The idea of an "invisible college" was mentioned in old writings from the 1600s.
The Royal Society began with groups of doctors and scientists. They met in different places, like Gresham College in London. They were inspired by new ways of thinking about science. This was promoted by Francis Bacon in his book New Atlantis. Some groups, like the "Philosophical Society of Oxford," also met regularly. Many believe these groups led to the Royal Society.
Another idea was that French scientists influenced the Royal Society. Reports from the Montmor Academy in France were sent to England. But Robert Hooke, an early member, disagreed. He said English scientists were already meeting before the French influence.
On November 28, 1660, 12 scientists met at Gresham College. They decided to start a "College for Promoting Physico-Mathematicall Experimentall Learning." Among them were famous people like Christopher Wren and Robert Boyle.
At their next meeting, Sir Robert Moray announced that the King approved. A royal charter was signed on July 15, 1662. This officially created the "Royal Society of London." Lord Brouncker became the first president. A second charter was signed on April 23, 1663. This charter named the King as the founder. It also gave the society its full name: "the Royal Society of London for the Improvement of Natural Knowledge." Robert Hooke became the Curator of Experiments. Since then, every British monarch has supported the society.
Early meetings often included experiments. Robert Hooke and later Denis Papin performed these. The experiments covered many different topics. The society also published an English translation of an Italian book about experiments. After the Great Fire of London in 1666, the society moved temporarily. It returned to Gresham College in 1673.
There was an idea in 1667 to build a special "college" for the society. This would be a place for research and discussion. It was inspired by Francis Bacon's "Solomon's House" in his book. But these plans never happened because members didn't contribute enough money.
The 1700s
In the 1700s, the excitement of the early years slowed down. Not as many big scientific discoveries happened. But the government started asking the society for scientific advice. This sometimes led to political arguments. For example, in 1777, there was a debate about lightning conductors. Some people linked the type of lightning rod to supporting America. This argument led to the president, Sir John Pringle, resigning. During this time, it also became normal for Fellows to join government committees on science. This still happens today.
Many early problems of the society were fixed in the 1700s. The number of Fellows grew to about 300 by 1739. The society's reputation also improved a lot under Sir Isaac Newton. He was president from 1703 until he died in 1727. During his time, Newton used his power to settle a dispute. He appointed a committee to decide who invented infinitesimal calculus. He then wrote the report himself, which was published under the committee's name.
The society moved to Crane Court, Fleet Street in 1710. This new place had offices and a collection of interesting items. The society faced money problems because Fellows didn't always pay their fees. By 1740, they had a deficit. The treasurer had to get tough with those who hadn't paid. The society continued to show experiments and read important scientific papers. They also showed new scientific tools.
Some modern historians say the society was actually doing well in the 1700s. They point out that many criticisms came from people with their own reasons. For example, James Bradley made huge contributions to astronomy.
In 1780, the society moved again to Somerset House. The government offered them this building. But it wasn't big enough for the library or museum. So, the museum collection was given to the British Museum in 1781.
The 1800s
The early 1800s were seen as a difficult time for the society. Many Fellows were not actively involved in scientific research. In 1830, Charles Babbage wrote a book criticizing the society. This made the scientific Fellows take action. They decided to change how new Fellows were chosen.
A committee suggested that Fellows should be chosen based on their scientific achievements. They also said only a limited number of new Fellows should be elected each year. This limit was first 15, then increased over time. This change made the society's members almost entirely scientists. The total number of Fellows also became more stable.
Important changes were made to the society's rules. For example, the Treasurer had to publish a yearly report. This showed the society's income and spending. This helped ensure that leaders were doing a good job.
In 1850, the society started managing government money for scientific research. This was a grant of £1,000 per year. By 1876, it increased to £4,000 per year. The society gave these grants to scientists. Today, this grant has grown to over £47 million. Much of it supports about 370 research positions.
By 1852, Somerset House was too crowded. The society asked the government for new facilities. They suggested putting all scientific societies in one building. In 1866, the government decided to move the Royal Academy and other societies to Burlington House. The Royal Society moved there in 1873.
The 1900s
On March 22, 1945, the first women were elected as Fellows. This happened after a rule change in 1944. It said that women could be candidates. After a vote, Marjory Stephenson and Kathleen Lonsdale became the first female Fellows.
In 1947, Mary Cartwright became the first female mathematician to be a Fellow. She was also the first woman to serve on the Royal Society's Council.
Because of overcrowding at Burlington House, the society moved to Carlton House Terrace in 1967.
The 2000s
In 2020, the Royal Society showed support for COVID-19 vaccines. They suggested ways to fight false information about vaccines. This was part of their role in guiding public discussion.
Royal Society's Coat of Arms
The Royal Society has its own special coat of arms. It shows three lions from England on a silver shield. Above the shield is a crown with flowers. On top of the crown is an eagle holding a shield with the same three lions. Two white dogs support the shield. They wear crowns around their necks.
The motto is Nullius in verba. This means "Take nobody's word for it."
King Charles II approved this design in 1662. He said the society could use the arms of England. The coat of arms was officially given to the society in the second charter on April 22, 1663.
The Charter Book
When new Fellows and foreign members join the Royal Society, they must sign a special book. This book is called the Charter Book. People have been signing it continuously since 1663. All British monarchs have signed the book since then, except for William and Mary, and Queen Anne. In 2019, the book was made digital so it could be seen online.
The Motto
The society's motto, Nullius in verba, is a Latin phrase. It means "Take nobody's word for it." This motto shows that the Fellows want to find facts through experiments. They don't just believe what others say. It comes from an ancient Roman writer named Horace.
Fellows of the Royal Society (FRS)
The main members of the society are the Fellows. They are scientists and engineers from the UK and the Commonwealth. They are chosen because they have made "a big contribution to improving natural knowledge." This includes math, engineering, and medical science. Once elected, Fellows are members for life. They can use the letters "FRS" after their names. Fellows also help the society financially and can vote for new Fellows. Up to 52 new Fellows are chosen each year. In 2014, there were about 1,450 living Fellows.
The society also has Royal Fellows, honorary Fellows, and foreign members. Royal Fellows are members of the British royal family. They represent the monarchy's support for science. There are currently four Royal Fellows, including The King. Honorary Fellows are people who have greatly helped science. Six honorary Fellows have been chosen so far. Foreign members are scientists from other countries. They are chosen for their important scientific discoveries. Eight foreign members are elected each year. They can use "ForMemRS" after their names. As of 2020, there are about 185 foreign members.
The first Fellows were chosen in 1663. The early society needed money to survive. So, many early Fellows were wealthy or important people, not just scientists. By 1800, most Fellows were not scientists. But as the society became more financially stable, this changed. In 1846, a rule was made to limit new members to 15 per year. They also had to be chosen for their scientific excellence. Now, the society is made up only of scientific Fellows.
How the Royal Society is Run
The society is run by its Council. The president of the society leads the Council. The members of the Council and the president are chosen by the Fellows.
The Council
The Council has between 20 and 24 Fellows. This includes the president, treasurer, two secretaries (one for physical sciences, one for life sciences), and a foreign secretary. It also includes Fellows representing different science areas. The Council sets the society's overall plans. It manages all the society's business. It also acts as trustees for the society's property. Members are chosen every year by a vote. At least ten seats on the Council must change hands each year. The Council gets help from various committees. These committees can include scientists who are not Fellows.
The current officers are:
- President: Adrian Smith
- Treasurer: Jonathan Keating
- Biological Secretary: Linda Partridge
- Physical Secretary : Peter Bruce
- Foreign Secretary: Mark Walport and Alison Noble (jointly)
The President
The president of the Royal Society is the leader of the society and the Council. In the past, there was no limit on how long a president could serve. Now, the term is five years.
The current president is Adrian Smith. He took over from Venki Ramakrishnan in November 2020. The president has formal and social duties. They also act as the government's main advisor on science. Another task is to welcome important guests and scientists from other countries.
Permanent Staff
The society has many full-time paid staff members. The original charter allowed for "two or more Operators of Experiments, and two or more clerks." As the book collection grew, a curator was also needed. The staff grew as the society got more money. The current executive director is Dame Julie Maxton.
What the Royal Society Does
The Royal Society does many things to support science. It gives over £100 million to fund almost 1,000 research fellowships. These help scientists at different stages of their careers. It also supports new ideas, travel for scientists, and research projects. The society's awards, lectures, and medals come with money for research. It also offers courses to help scientists share their work with the public. Much of this work is supported by a grant from the government.
Through its Science Policy Centre, the society advises the UK Government, the European Commission, and the United Nations on science topics. It publishes several reports each year. It serves as the national Academy of Sciences for the UK. Since the mid-1700s, the government has regularly asked the society for advice on science issues.
Carlton House Terrace
The building at 6–9 Carlton House Terrace is the current home of the Royal Society. It moved there from Burlington House in 1967. The ground floor and basement are used for events and ceremonies. The first floor has rooms for Fellows and officers. The second and third floors have offices and living spaces for the President and other staff.
John Nash designed Carlton House Terrace. The building is still owned by the Crown Estates and leased by the society. It was renovated from 2001 to 2004. The Prince of Wales reopened it in 2004.
The renovations made the building better and more organized. New waiting, exhibition, and reception rooms were created. Efforts were made to make the layout easier to use. All offices were put on one floor, Fellows' Rooms on another, and living spaces on a third.
Publishing Science
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The Royal Society publishes many science journals through Royal Society Publishing. These include:
- Philosophical Transactions of the Royal Society A (for math and physical sciences)
- Philosophical Transactions of the Royal Society B (for biological sciences)
- Proceedings of the Royal Society A
- Proceedings of the Royal Society B
- Biology Letters
- Open Biology
- Royal Society Open Science
- Journal of the Royal Society Interface
- Interface Focus
- Notes and Records
- Biographical Memoirs of Fellows of the Royal Society
In 1665, the society started the world's first journal just for science, called Philosophical Transactions. This journal also started the idea of peer review. This is where other experts check scientific papers before they are published. Its first editor was Henry Oldenburg, the society's first secretary.
It is still the oldest and longest-running science journal in the world. Now, it publishes special issues on certain topics. Since 1886, it has been split into two parts: A for math and physical sciences, and B for biological sciences.
Proceedings of the Royal Society publishes research articles and is also split into two parts. Biology Letters publishes short articles and opinions on all areas of biology. It started in 2005. Journal of the Royal Society Interface publishes research that combines physical and life sciences. Interface Focus publishes themed issues in the same areas. Notes and Records is the society's journal about the history of science. Biographical Memoirs is published twice a year. It contains long obituaries for Fellows who have passed away. Open Biology is an open access journal about biology at the molecular and cellular level. Royal Society Open Science is another open access journal. It publishes high-quality research across all sciences after being checked by other experts. All the society's journals are checked by other scientists.
In May 2021, the society announced plans to make its four main research journals open access. This means they will be free for everyone to read.
Awards and Honours
The Royal Society gives out many awards, lectures, and medals. These celebrate great achievements in science. The oldest award is the Croonian Lecture. It was created in 1701. This lecture is given every year and is the most important Royal Society prize for biological sciences.
The Copley Medal is the oldest Royal Society medal still given out. It is awarded for "amazing achievements in research in any area of science."
Images for kids
See Also
In Spanish: Royal Society para niños
- Fellows of the Royal Society
- Royal Fellows of the Royal Society
- List of Fellows of the Royal Society
- List of female Fellows of the Royal Society
- List of presidents of the Royal Society
- Academy of Medical Sciences
- British Academy
- British Association for the Advancement of Science
- History of science
- Laputa, a fictional island full of absurd inventions put by Jonathan Swift in Gulliver's Travels to mock the Royal Society.
- Learned societies
- List of British professional bodies
- List of Royal Societies
- Royal Institution
- Royal Society of Arts
- Royal Academy of Engineering, UK
- Society Islands
- The Baroque Cycle, a series of historical novels by Neal Stephenson, in which many of the founders of the Royal Society appear.
- The Royal Society Range, a mountain range in Antarctica named after the society
- UK Young Academy
- Glossary of areas of mathematics
- Glossary of astronomy
- Glossary of biology
- Glossary of calculus
- Glossary of chemistry
- Glossary of engineering
- Glossary of physics
