The British Ecological Society is a learned society

Learned society

A learned society is an organization that exists to promote an academic discipline/profession, as well a group of disciplines. Membership may be open to all, may require possession of some qualification, or may be an honor conferred by election, as is the case with the oldest learned societies,...

 in the field of ecology

Ecology

Ecology is the scientific study of the relations that living organisms have with respect to each other and their natural environment. Variables of interest to ecologists include the composition, distribution, amount , number, and changing states of organisms within and among ecosystems...

 that was founded in 1913. It was the first ecological society in the world. The society's original objective was "to promote and foster the study of Ecology in its widest sense" and this remains the central theme guiding its activities today. The society has almost 4000 members of which 14% are students. It has always had an international membership and currently 38% are outside the United Kingdom, in a total of 92 countries.

Publications

Publication of scientific journal

Scientific journal

In academic publishing, a scientific journal is a periodical publication intended to further the progress of science, usually by reporting new research. There are thousands of scientific journals in publication, and many more have been published at various points in the past...

s is a principal activity. The Journal of Ecology

Journal of Ecology

The Journal of Ecology is a bimonthly peer-reviewed scientific journal covering all aspects of the ecology of plants. It was established in 1913 and is published by Wiley-Blackwell on behalf of the British Ecological Society....

was first published in 1913 in time for the inaugural meeting of the society, followed by the Journal of Animal Ecology

Journal of Animal Ecology

The Journal of Animal Ecology is a peer-reviewed scientific journal publishing research in all areas of animal ecology. It began publication in 1932, and as such is the second oldest journal of the British Ecological Society...

(1932), Journal of Applied Ecology

Journal of Applied Ecology

The Journal of Applied Ecology is a peer-reviewed scientific journal publishing research in all areas of environmental management. It began publication in 1964 and is the third oldest journal of the British Ecological Society...

(1964), Functional Ecology

Functional Ecology (journal)

Functional Ecology is a bimonthly peer-reviewed scientific journal on organismal ecology publishing papers on physiological, behavioural, and evolutionary ecology. It is published by Wiley-Blackwell on behalf of the British Ecological Society. Its 2010 impact factor is 4.645, ranking the journal...

(1987), and Methods in Ecology and Evolution

Methods in Ecology and Evolution

Methods in Ecology and Evolution is a peer-reviewed scientific journal focused on advancing new methodologies in ecology and evolution. It began publication in 2010, and is the youngest journal of the British Ecological Society...

(2010). Members can subscribe to these journals at a low cost.

Meetings

The society also runs several major scientific meetings for ecologists each year. The Annual Meeting currently attracts 700 delegates each year and provides the opportunity for ecologists to present papers and posters on a wide variety of topics; an important element has always been the active participation of research students. There is an increasing number of delegates from overseas, principally Europe. It is Europe’s largest annual meeting of ecologists. Since 1960 the society has run an Annual Symposium and published a volume of its papers. It supports a range of other specialist meetings, workshops, training events, and field meetings.

Presidents