From the outset the Society was assiduous in maintaining records of its activities and in collecting relevant material. As a result, it now has some tremendous collections of books, of archives, of paintings and scientific images, and of artefacts which are treasured by scholars worldwide.
The Royal Society Centre for History of Science provides a unique environment in which leading historians and world-class scientists can come together to generate fresh insights into the history of science. Equally, the Centre aims to inspire those with a more general interest in the subject through a varied programme of public events.
The following is just a flavour of the ways in which we intend to achieve these goals:
- The Centre will make our unique collections of rare books and archives more accessible, both to those visiting the Centre in person and to those logging in remotely. It will provide improved facilities for readers, and an ambitious programme of cataloguing and digitisation will make it easier to explore the collections.
- There will be greater capacity to mount exhibitions based on the collections, using up to-date approaches.
- The Centre will provide high-quality meeting space for those wishing to arrange events related to history of science.
- The Centre will engage in a diverse range of research projects. Work currently under way includes a major history of the Society in the post-war period and a new catalogue of the Society’s portrait collection.
- The Centre will develop collaborations across a range of topics with major research groups in other institutions, drawing on the strengths of our collections.
Contact us
Centre for History of Science
The Royal Society
6-9 Carlton House Terrace
London SW1Y 5AG
Tel: +44 (0)20 7451 2606
Fax: +44 (0)20 7930 2170