Discover the history of science The history of the Royal Society
Founded in 1660, the Royal Society is the Boyle and John Wilkins, the group national academy of science in the UK, soon received royal approval, and from made up of a Fellowship of approximately 1663 it would be known as ‘The Royal 1,600 of the world’s most eminent Society of London for Improving Natural scientists. Throughout our history, we Knowledge’. have played a part in some of the most life-changing discoveries, and remain The early years of the Society saw dedicated to recognising, supporting, revolutionary advancements in the and promoting excellence in science. conduct and communication of science. Hooke’s Micrographia and the first The origins of the Royal Society lie in issue of Philosophical Transactions a group of people who began meeting were published in 1665. Philosophical in the mid-1640s to discuss the new Transactions, which established the philosophy of promoting knowledge of important concepts of scientific priority the natural world through observation and peer review, is now the oldest and experiment, which we now call continuously published science journal science. The very first ‘learned society’ in the world. meeting on 28 November 1660 followed a lecture at Gresham College To find out more, visit: by Christopher Wren. Joined by other royalsociety.org/about-us/history leading polymaths including Robert
Image: Illustrations showing microscopic views of seaweed and rosemary from Micrographia,by Robert Hooke, 1665. The Royal Society’s journal of the history of science.
Editor: Professor Anna Marie Roos, University of Lincoln, UK.
• High quality, double-blind peer review • An eminent and experienced Editorial Board • Excellent author service • Open access options and fully compliant with major funders • International visibility and readership.
Scope: Research in history of science, technology and medicine; incorporating notes on recent archival discoveries and news of research projects.
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Recent themed issues include: • Remembering James Petiver, organised and edited by Richard Coulton and Charles E Jarvis • Rethinking Joseph Banks, organized and edited by Simon Werrett • Nineteenth-century survey sciences: enterprises, expeditions and exhibitions, organized and edited by Simon Naylor and Simon Schaffer.
E [email protected] W royalsocietypublishing.org/journal/rsnr Library collections Science in the making The Royal Society is the oldest scientific Established in 2014, the Science in academy in continuous existence. Our the making project is an ambitious library holds one of the most important digitisation programme that aims to history of science collections in the make over 30,000 items of archival world with thousands of rare and unique material related to the publication of items. These include published works, the Society’s scientific journals available handwritten drafts, correspondence, online. This website is a pilot project illustrations, and original data on to explore how best to present the everything from rainfall to astronomical complex material that lies behind the observations. We hold records of the published articles, such as peer review work of the Society since 1660. Some reports, correspondence, photographs, of our historical datasets, such as those illustrations and early drafts. The varied on climate, contribute to current scientific content includes reviews by Darwin, investigation and they are all important correspondence by Newton, and an for historical research. Our collections extensive collection of photography can be explored online. from the British Antarctic expedition. To find out more, visit: To find out more, visit: royalsociety.org/collections makingscience.royalsociety.org The Royal Society For further information The Royal Society is a self-governing Fellowship The Royal Society of many of the world’s most distinguished scientists 6 – 9 Carlton House Terrace drawn from all areas of science, engineering, and London SW1Y 5AG medicine. The Society’s fundamental purpose, T +44 20 7451 2500 reflected in its founding Charters of the 1660s, is W royalsociety.org to recognise, promote, and support excellence in science and to encourage the development and use of science for the benefit of humanity.
The Society’s strategic priorities are: • Promoting excellence in science • Supporting international collaboration • Demonstrating the importance of science to everyone
images Cover Zoological study of the Dodo, Raphus cucullatus, from the paper Mémoire sur le Dodo, autrement dronte, by Henri Marie Ducrotay de Blainville, 1835. Notes and Records Meadow grass (Gramen paniculatum) with its fruit, from JJ Scheuchzer’s volume describing his journey through the Alps in the early 18th century. Biographical Memoirs Professor Stephen Hawking on his 60th birthday in 2002 © Anna N Żytkow.
Library colllections A paper disc used for calcuating the motion of the moon, from Regiomontanus – Almanack, by Johannes Mueller, 1474. Founded in 1660, the Royal Society Science in the making is the independent scientific academy of the UK, dedicated to promoting Landscape showing the Royal excellence in science Navy vessel H.M.S. Beagle in the Registered Charity No 207043 straits of Magellan with Monte Issued: October 2020 DES6795 Sariento in the distance, 1913.