Broadcasting, Media and Publishing

Publishing

The Society has a long history in the realm of scientific publishing and publishing activities are absolutely central to our anniversary celebrations. 

Seeing Further: The Story of Science and the Royal Society We have collaborated with HarperCollins to publish Seeing Further, a book of essays by leading authors, which covers aspects of the Society’s history and its role as a champion of modern science. Award-winning author Bill Bryson has edited the collection and written its introduction.  The other 21 contributors to the book include Margaret Atwood, Richard Dawkins, Richard Holmes and Martin Rees. Seeing Further is now on sale from all major booksellers.

• Trailblazing - an online timeline showcasing 60 interesting and groundbreaking scientific articles drawn from our journal archive and charting the progress of science from its earliest days to the present against a series of major world historical events to illustrate the context in which each discovery was made.

• Special issues of Philosophical Transactions A and Philosophical Transactions B (in January 2010 and December 2009 respectively) that are open access and free to read online.  Each issue will consist of state of the art reviews by leading scientists on the major issues in science such as food security, stem cells, ageing, biodiversity, gravitational lensing, fusion power and energy efficiency.  Contributors include Martin Rees, Michael Atiyah, Julia Higgins, Bob May, John Beddington and Sydney Brenner.

• A special issue of Notes and Records, which will be published in September 2010 and will cover the proceedings of the major history of science conference, The Royal Society and Science in the Twentieth Century.

• A new facsimile edition of the Society's Charter Book containing the signature of every Fellow, Foreign Member and Royal Fellow from 1660 to 2009 will be published in full colour and to a high production standard.

Broadcasting

The Society is working with the BBC to promote science-related broadcasting during 2010. 

We are delighted that to coincide with our 350th anniversary, the BBC has made 2010 their "Year of Science".  This will be reflected across BBC television, radio and web broadcasting during the anniversary year.

We hope to maximise coverage of our anniversary events, including through non-scientific programming around our Southbank Science Festival.

In Our Time: The Royal Society and British Science - 4 - 7 January 2010

Starting on Monday 4 January, Melvyn Bragg presented a special week of In Our Time on the history of the Royal Society.

Available to hear again now on BBC iPlayer.