Royal Institution
The Royal Institution in Edinburgh is now known as the Royal Scottish Academy.
The Royal Institution of Great Britain was set up in 1799 by the leading British scientists of the age, including Henry Cavendish and its first president, George Finch, the 9th Earl of Winchilsea, for "diffusing the knowledge, and facilitating the general introduction, of useful mechanical inventions and improvements; and for teaching, by courses of philosophical lectures and experiments, the application of science to the common purposes of life." Much of its initial funding and the initial proposal for its founding was given by the Society for Bettering the Conditions and Improving the Comforts of the Poor, under the guidance of philanthropist Sir Thomas Bernard and scientist Sir Benjamin Thompson, Count Rumsford. Its first home was in central London's Albemarle Street, where it remains to this day. Its Royal Charter was granted in 1800.
History
Throughout its history, the Institution has supported public engagement with science through a programme of lectures, many of which continue today. The most famous of these are the annual Royal Institution Christmas Lectures, founded by Michael Faraday.
The Institution has had an instrumental role in the advancement of British science since its founding. Notable scientists that worked there include Sir Humphry Davy (who discovered sodium and potassium), Michael Faraday, Sir Lawrence Bragg (who won the Nobel prize for his work on x-ray diffraction), and more recently Lord George Porter. In the 19th century Faraday carried out much of the research which laid the groundwork for the practical exploitation of electricity at the Royal Institution. Fourteen of the Royal Institution's resident scientists have won Nobel Prizes. Ten chemical elements including sodium were discovered at the Institution, as well as the electric generator and the atomic structure of crystals.
The Royal Institution today
The Royal Institution today, led by director Baroness Susan Greenfield, is a modern organisation committed to "diffusing science for the common purposes of life". Membership is open to all, with no nomination procedure or academic requirements, on payment of an annual subscription. School membership is free. Scientific research continues today in the Davy Faraday Research Laboratory, with over 60 staff and students.
The Institution's palatial home has been greatly enlarged and redeveloped since 1799, and is a Grade I listed building. As well as the famous Faraday Lecture Theatre, the building boasts several function rooms, a substantial library and modern research facilities. It is now also home to the Science Media Centre, an independent organisation which seeks to promote understanding between scientists and the media.
The Institution (today abbreviated as the Ri) has a substantial public science programme and science for schools programme, holding over one hundred events per year on a wide variety of topics. The Christmas Lectures continue today as a series of five lectures aimed at children and televised, on Five as of 2006. The Friday Evening Discourses are weekly lectures given by eminent scientists, each limited to exactly one hour. These lectures are open to all members of the Royal Institution and their guests, and are traditionally black tie events, though this is no longer compulsory. Many other events and lectures are held both at Albemarle Street and at other venues around the country.
As of 2005, the Royal Institution is seeking to raise £24 million for a significant redevelopment of its premises, and is currently in the process of obtaining a £5 million grant from the Heritage Lottery Fund. The architect is Sir Terry Farrell.
The Faraday Museum
In 1973 the Royal Institution opened a museum dedicated to Michael Faraday. It is in the main building in Albemarle Street and is open to the public during normal weekday office hours. There is a reconstruction of one of Faraday's laboratories and a second room containing further historic apparatus and other items associated with Faraday.
See also
- Royal Institution Christmas Lectures
- Directors of the Royal Institution
- British Association for the Advancement of Science
- Science Media Centre
- Gresham College
- Royal Society
- Learned societies
- History of science