Welcome to the Royal Society’s 350th Anniversary
2010 is going to be a very special year at the Royal Society. As the world’s oldest science academy, we are looking forward to celebrating our 350th anniversary.
An important aspect of our work is to raise the global profile of science, technology and engineering and to increase the public’s involvement in science. We intend to use our anniversary celebrations in 2010 to promote the scientific ideas, questions and issues of the 21st century among new audiences.
We are planning a programme of anniversary activities that will involve scientists and non-scientists alike and will inspire people from numerous walks of life with the joy, wonder and excitement of science.
Science is, after all, integral to our culture. It permeates every aspect of our lives and can profoundly alter our understanding of ourselves and of the world we live in.
Our 350th anniversary presents us with a challenge: to energise the relationship between science and society throughout 2010 and beyond.
Since its foundation, the Society has played its part in some of the most significant scientific breakthroughs and discoveries. When we celebrate our anniversary in 2010, we will be looking forward to our future work and role within scientific research, education and policy. We will also be taking the opportunity to recognise past work and achievements of our Society and its Fellows and to honour the spirit of enquiry evinced by our founders in 1660.
With these pages, we invite you to read more about our plans – and come 2010, to share in our anniversary celebrations.
Martin Rees President of the Royal Society