The Royal Society 6–9 Carlton House Terrace London SW1Y 5AG tel +44 (0)20 7451 2500 fax +44 (0)20 7930 2170 email: [email protected] www.royalsoc.ac.uk The Royal Society is a Fellowship of 1,400 outstanding Invest in future scientific leaders and in innovation Influence policymaking with individuals from all areas of science, engineering and the best scientific advice Invigorate science and mathematics education Increase medicine, who form a global scientific network of the access to the best science internationally Inspire an interest in the joy, wonder highest calibre. The Fellowship is supported by a and excitement of scientific discovery Invest in future scientific leaders and in permanent staff of 124 with responsibility for the innovation Influence policymaking with the best scientific advice Invigorate science and mathematics education day-to-day management of the Society and its activities. Increase access to the best science internationally Inspire an interest in the joy, As we prepare for our 350th anniversary in 2010, we are wonder and excitement of scientific discovery Invest in future scientific leaders working to achieve five strategic priorities: and in innovation Influence policymaking with the best scientific advice Invigorate • Invest in future scientific leaders and in innovation science and mathematics education Increase access to the best science internationally SHAPING THE FUTURE • Influence policymaking with the best scientific advice Inspire an interest in the joy, wonder and excitement of scientific discovery Review of the Year 2006/07 • Invigorate science and mathematics education • Increase access to the best science internationally • Inspire an interest in the joy, wonder and excitement of scientific discovery Issued: August 2007 Founded in 1660, the Royal Society is the independent scientific academy of the UK, dedicated to promoting excellence in science Printed on stock containing 55% recycled fibre. Registered Charity No 207043 PRESIDENT’S FOREWORD EXECUTIVE SECRETARY’S REPORT The last year has focused on The five strategic goals are: to invest in future scientific leaders and The Society's 350th anniversary While busy shaping the future of the Society, we have also in innovation; to influence policy-making with the best scientific delivered an extensive programme of activities during the year. We planning the Society's own advice; to invigorate science and mathematics education; to increase in 2010 has been occupying a invested heavily in the scientific leaders of tomorrow, appointing future and our contribution to access to the best science internationally; and to inspire an interest growing amount of our attention four new research professors, 45 new University Research Fellows, shaping the future of science in in the joy, wonder and excitement of scientific discovery. Each of – focused not on organizing the 10 new Dorothy Hodgkin Fellows and a record 18 Industry Fellows; these goals is important in itself. The combination of the goals at the year end we had a total of 645 research appointees in post. the UK and more widely. within a single organization constitutes a powerful vision and an biggest ever scientific party but We published 45 contributions to policy debate during the year on exciting blueprint for our future. on enabling the Society to a wide range of topics from pandemic influenza to the teaching of While maintaining the usual high evolution. We collaborated with numerous partners overseas, Our ability to deliver the goals will, of course, depend on being able throughput of established activities, we have real, enduring impact on notably in Africa, China and India. We launched our Digital Journal to muster the resources. The continued willingness not only of the have also been giving serious thought to the world. Archive which provides access to every article published by the Fellowship and also of very many other skilled individuals from within our 350th anniversary in 2010. We have Society since 1665. We delivered 9 two-day discussion meetings and beyond the world of science freely to commit their time to our defined the strategic goals that will shape and 19 lectures. The Summer Science Exhibition attracted record work is what makes our vision possible. Financial resources are also We have used the stimulus of the our course through the next phase of the numbers of post 16 students and some of the exhibits went on to vital – our Parliamentary Grant-in-Aid which is used mainly to cover anniversary to think through our future Society's life; we have started planning a special Science Day at Buckingham Palace as part of the Queen’s the costs of our activities in support of active researchers, and our strategy and, as detailed in the President's how we will mark the anniversary year; 80th birthday celebrations. private funds, generously provided by many donors and foreword, have identified five strategic and we are preparing a fundraising supplemented by our own activities, which enable us to undertake goals. We are now reshaping our Anniversary day saw BBC Radio 4’s Today Programme broadcast campaign that, if successful, will enable a wide range of other initiatives. And our building in Carlton House programmes of work around these goals live from the society. A highlight of the day was the award of the us to fulfil an ambitious vision with vigour Terrace, refurbished to the highest standard, provides a fitting base and, in this report, have used the goals for Copley Medal, the Society’s premier medal, to Professor Stephen and independence. from which to carry forward our vision. the first time to organize how we report Hawking FRS. Before being awarded, the Medal had flown with our activities. Our five strategic goals see us actively the British astronaut Piers Sellers in the Space Shuttle Discovery. Just as this report was being finalised we received the tragic news engaged in promoting the long-term Both this and its recipient attracted great public attention. The that Dame Anne McLaren, the Society's first female Vice-President, The 2010 anniversary will leave its mark in vitality of the scientific community. They day as a whole illustrated the Society's commitment to engage as had died in a car crash. Widely admired and respected both for her other ways as well. We have started also see us engaging with the wider widely as possible both with science and with the world beyond science and for her wise judgement, she will be greatly missed by planning an ambitious programme of community – with policy-makers, with the science – a key feature of our approach to 2010. her many friends and colleagues throughout the world. activities for the anniversary year that will education system, with all those who take engage many people from many different Stephen Cox or might take an interest in science. The Martin Rees backgrounds in the work of the Society Society exists, through its Fellows, for the and the world of science. The preparations greater public good, and we are will accelerate as 2010 approaches, but >> CONTENTS committed to using our unique resources already it is clear that stretching our and opportunities for that end. horizons in this way will not only increase 1 President’s foreword the reach of our impact but also have an 2 Executive Secretary’s report impact on the Society itself. I welcome this. 3 Invest in future scientific leaders and in innovation In anticipation of the resource demands of 6 Influence policymaking our strategic goals and of the anniversary with the best scientific advice programme, we have begun to gear up 11 Invigorate science and mathematics education our fundraising activities. The initial results 13 Increase access to the best science internationally have been most encouraging, and I am 15 Inspire an interest in the joy, wonder and excitement of scientific discovery grateful to all those, listed later in this 17 Summarised financial statements report, who have generously made 18 Balance sheet donations. This private funding makes a 19 Fundraising and support real difference to what we are able to 19 List of Donors accomplish, and is central to our plans for 21 Highlights April 2006 to March 2007 the future. 1 The Royal Society – Shaping the future Review of the Year – 2006/07 2 The latest scientific research is published in the Society's INVEST seven, high quality peer- IN FUTURE SCIENTIFIC LEADERS AND IN INNOVATION reviewed journals which cover the biological sciences; mathematical, physical and Through its research fellowships technology between those in industry and those in academia. engineering sciences; cross- Publishing cutting-edge scientific research Seventeen industry fellows were appointed last year, bringing the and funding programmes, its disciplinary research at the The latest scientific research is published in the Society's total number of scientists supported to 31. seven, high quality peer-reviewed journals which cover meetings and publications, and interface between the physical biological and physical sciences; cross-disciplinary research at the Relocation Fellowships promote career mobility in science, engineering and life sciences; and the history interface between the physical and life sciences; and the history and its medals and prizes, the Society and technology within the UK by helping researchers who wish to and philosophy of science. philosophy of science. works in partnership with move to follow a partner who has changed place of work in or to the UK. Six Relocation Fellowships were awarded, and the scheme