We have an ambitious range of new and expanded activities that we will undertake as leaders of the UK science community. These activities, which will take us up to and beyond our 350th anniversary in 2010 are highlighted here. In-depth information can be obtained by clicking the links.
Introduction
Our mission: to expand knowledge and further the role of science and engineering in making the world a better place
Our aspirations
To play a major role in ensuring that:
- the UK retains its position as one of the world's leading scientific nations
- scientific knowledge is used for the maximum benefit of the planet and its people
- the wider scientific community embraces the opportunity to engage actively in public life
The pillars on which our work rests:
- our independence
- our unique remit across the sciences, engineering and medicine
- our belief that an understanding of the natural world should be built on evidence-based enquiry, and that progress results from investment in excellent individuals
- our conviction that science is a major driver of social and economic progress, and that policy-making must be informed by the best available scientific advice
- our commitment to ensuring that the wider public feels able and willing to contribute to science and its applications, and that people of all ages and backgrounds have the chance to achieve their full potential in science and engineering
Our credentials
The Royal Society is a Fellowship of 1400 outstanding individuals who represent all areas of science, engineering and medicine and who form a global scientific network of the highest calibre.
Each year, up to 44 new Fellows are elected from the UK, Ireland and the Commonwealth and 8 Foreign Members from the rest of the world in a rigorous process of evaluation. The Society was founded in 1660 and our Fellows have contributed to many of the major scientific developments of the last three and a half centuries.
Our Research Fellowship includes more than 350 of the brightest young scientists and engineers working in the UK today. They play an important part in the life of the Society.
As we prepare for our 350th anniversary in 2010 we have set out five strategic priorities around which we are focusing our work in helping science flourish.
Introduction
Martin Rees, the President of the Royal Society, outlines the challenges facing the scientific community and introduces our strategic priorities to 2010 and beyond.
Click to read Martin Rees' foreword »
OUR STRATEGIC PRIORITIES
Invest in future scientific leaders and in innovation
We will:
- establish a major new international fellowship scheme to attract the world's most gifted scientists to the UK and sustain long-term relations with them
- introduce new initiatives to enhance the transfer of knowledge from the science base into business
- initiate new programmes to forge stronger links between the scientific communities of the UK and developing world, initially focusing on sub-Saharan Africa.
Click to read INVEST »
Influence policymaking with the best scientific advice
We will:
Click to read INFLUENCE »
Invigorate science and mathematics education
We will:
develop partnerships in the science and mathematics communities to provide a coherent and influential voice to Government on education policy
expand our education policy unit
investigate the creation of new research fellowships to strengthen evidence-based research in science education.
Click to read INVIGORATE »
Inspire an interest in the joy, wonder and excitement of scientific discovery
We will:
celebrate and excite interest in science through lectures, discussions and exhibitions and special projects, as well as creative and innovative use of new media
work more productively with the creative and artistic industries to help bring the public appeal of science on a par with the arts
create a global touring exhibition on the past, present and future of science and its impact on humanity for our 350th anniversary in 2010.
Click to read INSPIRE »
Increase access to the best science internationally
We will:
expand international scientific exchanges, developing new mechanisms to encourage scientists to explore international options for pursuing research
increase science capacity in sub-Saharan Africa, developing links with sister Academies through expanded research fellowships and travel grants
expand international scientific projects, supporting environmental research programmes, frontiers of science meetings and international themed events.
Click to read INCREASE »