Trustees report and financial statements 2020

STRATEGIC REPORT GOVERNANCE FINANCIAL STATEMENTS OTHER INFORMATION THE ROYAL SOCIETY TRUSTEES’ REPORT AND FINANCIAL STATEMENTS 12 SCIENCE SHAPING THE WORLD WE LIVE IN 13 Our strategy at a glance Our mission To promote science and its benefits. Our motto Nullius in verba – take nobody’s word for it. Our principles Independence Integrity Diversity and inclusion Collaboration Inspiration Our roles Charity Fellowship National academy Relationships Resources Government, parliament and key influencers and funders Royal Charter and strong governance framework Robust systems, policies and procedures Strategic priorities Promoting excellence in science • Elect exceptional scientists to the Fellowship. • Advise on the research landscape. • Demonstrate the economic impact of science investment. • Fund outstanding researchers. • Recognise scientific achievements. • Encourage and support innovation. • Publish scientific research. What have we achieved? • Increased spending on grants from £84.7 to over £100 million, including increasing the number of early career researchers and the value of awards across flagship programmes. This includes the University Research Fellowships (URFs) and the Dorothy Hodgkin and Research Professorship schemes. • Shown the value that investment in research brings to the UK, which is illustrated in the government’s announcement that it will invest £22 billion a year in research and innovation by 2025. • Increased engagement with industry, holding two new Creating Connections events. • Increased the nomination of candidates for the Fellowship from underrepresented groups and those working in industry, including a 12% increase in the total number of women nominated. Goals for 2021 • Continue to increase funding for research fellowship schemes for senior and early career researchers to the UK. • Recognise outstanding scientific achievements through the Fellowship and medals and awards programme. • Encourage and support innovation through industry fellowship and entrepreneurs in residence schemes. • Deliver a programme of scientific events. • Broaden participation and increase the diversity of the scientific workforce. • Transition to a sustainable open access publishing model. Supporting international scientific collaboration • Proactive engagement on major issues. • Address global challenges. • Partner with leading scientific nations on new technologies. • Implement Commonwealth programmes. • Convene leading international meetings to advance science. What have we achieved? • Convened an international commission to develop principles, criteria and standards for the possible clinical use of human germline genome editing. • Worked with the African Academy of Sciences to award the first ever FLAIR Fellowships and selected the second cohort of awardees. • Continued to call for the best possible Brexit deal for research. • Built on scientific partnerships by taking a delegation to China and hosting the 5th Joint Science Conference of the Western Balkans Process . Goals for 2021 • Engage with European partners to promote collaboration between UK and European researchers. • Continue to advocate for the UK’s inclusion in the EU research framework programmes. • Deliver scientific and policy engagement with leading scientific nations, such as China, the USA, Brazil and India. • Participate in G7, G20 and Commonwealth Heads of Government Meeting (CHOGM) and develop a Commonwealth Programme, including a Commonwealth Science Conference. • Foster collaborations between international and UK researchers through international grant programmes. • Award FLAIR fellowships to help build research capacity in sub-Saharan Africa. Demonstrating the importance of science to everyone • Increase scientific advice for policy makers. • New programme of public dialogue and engagement. • Integrate science into public debate and culture. • Promote the value of STEM education. • Inspire through historic collections. What have we achieved? • Staged a programme of public events in London and around the country, including a series of You and the planet events. • Saw an increase in visitors of 13% for the Summer Science Exhibition. • Published key reports on neural interfaces, ammonia and data science. • Pressed for a review of post-16 education. • Launched a second series of the People of Science films. • Delivered vital work in supporting the response to the pandemic. Goals for 2021 • Convene scientific experts to support the response to the global pandemic and provide new scientific advice as it emerges. • Provide evidence to policy makers on climate and biodiversity, future land use in the UK, data and Artificial Intelligence (AI), genetic technologies and other emerging areas. • Advocate for increased investment in research and innovation. • Redesign the Society’s public engagement programme using digital channels. • Launch partnership grants that support schools to consider issues around climate change and biodiversity. • Boost young people’s mathematics skills for future careers . Engaged Fellows, staff, volunteers and the science community Industry, academia, education and civil society The public, including children and young people 16 – 19. on pages 22 – 25. on pages 28 – 31.