2010 is the 350th anniversary of
the foundation of the Royal Society

On November 30th 1660 a dozen men gathered to hear the young Christopher Wren give a lecture. In the discussion that followed they decided to form a Society for the study of the new and still controversial "Physico-Mathematical Experimental Learning". Two years later Charles II made it his Royal Society, and since then its Fellows have given us gravity, evolution, the electron, the double helix, the internet and a large part of the modern world.

The Royal Society's anniversary will be celebrated all over the country, and our calendar and map include hundreds of lectures, exhibitions, discussions and outings suitable for all the family. We are also joined by institutions both national and local to look back over 350 years of science and forward to the challenges we will all face in the next century. Here are some highlights:

Capital Science

is a year of exhibitions, talks, conferences and workshops to celebrate the achievements of science, its history, its future and its impact on our wider culture. Capital Science partners the Society with major players from the arts, humanities and sciences, including some of our most reknowned museums and galleries. Events, activities and exhibitions are taking place all over London in 2010.

Local Heroes

is a national programme to celebrate your local scientific heroes: the pioneers, mavericks and geniuses who for centuries have changed the way we live and see the world.

Seeing Further

Edited and introduced by Bill Bryson, with contributions from Richard Dawkins, Margaret Atwood, Richard Holmes, Martin Rees, Richard Fortey, Steve Jones, James Gleick and Neal Stephenson amongst others, this beautiful, lavishly illustrated book tells the story of science and the Royal Society from 1660 to the present.

Scientific meetings

The Royal Society will expand its series of discussion meetings in 2010 to raise and address the major scientific questions of the 21st century. The meetings will provide a scientific backbone to the 350th anniversary celebrations, identify and map out the most vital subjects and help us to set the agenda for the next generation.

See Further: the festival of science + arts

was a unique ten-day festival that filled every corner of Southbank Centre this summer. The festival explored links between the sciences and arts and features a host of cross-disciplinary collaborations, scientific and artistic events.

World of Wonder

The BBC has designated 2010 its ‘year of science’ and there will be special programmes all year under the banner World of Wonder. From the sublime to the joyfully ridiculous, they will take to the whole country the idea that science is not a subject but a state of mind.

Anniversary Scrapbook

People and organisations all over the world are joining the celebration of our anniversary. Here we gather together some of the many forms it has taken, from stamps to space shuttles and plankton to pterodactyls. If you’re involved in an event or initiative, please send us your pictures and notes and we’ll add them to the record.

For the very latest updates and previews, please keep an eye on our facebook page and twitter feed.

Local Heroes

Celebrate the scientific heroes and mavericks of your area

Capital Science

A year of exhibitions, talks, conferences, seminars & workshops

Summer events
for all the family

Bring your family to events across London this summer including Halley’s Holiday at the Royal Observatory, the Kids Engineering Academy at the London Transport Museum and Shipshape Science Summer Fun! at HMS Belfast.

Events coming up

Browse through all our events in the calendar or on the map