Royal Institution 332823 222633903 2008-06-30T10:47:13Z Chienloup 848812 /* The Royal Institution today */ added info, corrected titles [[Image:Faraday Michael Christmas lecture detail.jpg|thumb|Royal Institution Christmas Lectures 1856]] {{Coord|51|30|36|N|0|8|33|W|type:landmark|region:GB|display=title}} :''Not to be confused with [[Royal Society]] or The Royal Institution in Edinburgh now known as the [[Royal Scottish Academy]].'' The '''Royal Institution of Great Britain''' is an organization devoted to scientific education and research, based in [[London]]. It was founded in [[1799]] by the leading British scientists of the age, including [[Henry Cavendish]] and its first president, [[George Finch, 9th Earl of Winchilsea|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 were 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 Rumford. Since its founding it has been based on [[Albemarle Street]] in [[Mayfair]]. Its [[Royal Charter]] was granted in [[1800]]. ==History== [[Image:Royal Institution Shepherd TH.jpg|The Royal Institution ca. 1838|right|thumb|200px]] 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 who have 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 Prize]]s. 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 [[Susan Greenfield|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. The Council: President: HRH [[Prince Edward, Duke of Kent|The Duke of Kent]], Chairman: Winston Fletcher, Hon Treasurer: Dr [[Gwynneth Flower]], Hon Secretary: Prof Alan Maries, Chair of Audit Committee: Tim Phillips, Council Members: Dr David Acheson, Dr Alun Anderson, Zoe Appleyard-Ley, [[Richard Ballerand|Richard Melville Ballerand]], Prof M K Banerjee, Dr Bernard Bulkin, Prof Clive Coen, [[Robert Champion de Crespigny]], Bob Eagle, Adrian de Ferranti, [[Digby Jones, Baron Jones of Birmingham|Lord (Digby) Jones]], [[Sir Martin Rees|Lord (Martin) Rees]], Sir [[John Ritblat]]. Prof W Graham Richard. 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 contains 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 [[Royal Institution Christmas Lectures|Christmas Lectures]] continue today as a series of five lectures aimed at children and televised, on [[Five (TV)|Five]] as of 2006. The Friday Evening Discourses are weekly lectures given by eminent scientists, each limited to exactly one hour, a tradition started by Faraday. 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. Until 2007 scientific research continued to be done under the auspices of the Davy-Faraday Research Laboratory (DFRL), and indeed this was considered to be one of the UK's most notable labs in solid state chemistry. However, all research groups have now moved to University College London, to make way for a transformation of the Ri buildings, including a public restaurant, scientific services to media companies and an overall emphasis away from doing science and more towards communicating science to the public. There is now no scientific research being done at the Royal Institution for the first time since its founding in 1799. Fellows of the Royal Institution may use the initials [[FRI]] after their names. Members may use [[MRI]] and associate members may use AMRI after their names. ==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== * [[British Association for the Advancement of Science]] * [[Directors of the Royal Institution]] * [[Gresham College]] * [[History of science]] * [[Learned societies]] * [[Royal Institution Christmas Lectures]] * [[Royal Institution of Cornwall]] * [[Royal Institution of South Wales]] * [[Royal Manchester Institution]] * [[Royal Society]] * [[Science Media Centre]] * [[Science outreach]] == External links == *[http://www.rigb.org/ The Royal Institution of Great Britain] *[http://www.ri.ac.uk/DFRL/ The Davy Faraday Research Laboratory] *[http://www.sciencemediacentre.org/ The Science Media Centre] [[Category:1799 establishments]] [[Category:Scientific societies]] [[Category:Education in London]] [[Category:Science and technology in the United Kingdom]] [[Category:Learned societies of the United Kingdom]] [[Category:Museums in London]] [[Category:Science museums in the United Kingdom]] [[bg:Кралски институт на Великобритания]] [[de:Royal Institution of Great Britain]] [[fr:Royal Institution]] [[nl:Royal Institution]]