Royal Society of Canada
Encyclopedia
The Royal Society of Canada (Société royale du Canada), may also operate under the more descriptive name RSC: The Academies of Arts, Humanities and Sciences of Canada (SRC : Les académies des arts, des lettres et des sciences du Canada), is the oldest association of scientists and scholars in Canada
. The RSC is dedicated to encouraging education and the advancement of knowledge in the natural
and social sciences
and the humanities
. It holds an annual conference together with other scholarly groups as part of the Congress of the Canadian Federation for the Humanities and Social Sciences
(the "Learneds").
, who was then Governor General of Canada
. Succeeding governors general have served as patrons of the Society. The founding members included Sir Sandford Fleming
, the originator of the world system of Standard Time
, and Sir William Osler
, one of the great physicians of the century. The original Society was subsequently incorporated by an act of Parliament and granted its Royal Charter in 1883. Alan Beddoe
designed the arms for the Royal Society of Canada and his fonds includes black and white photographs of the letters patent.
of London
and the Institut de France
were the models for the Society. The Society today consists of approximately 1,800 Fellows: men and women from across Canada
who are selected by their peers on account of their outstanding contributions to the arts and sciences. The President of the Society serves on the Governor General's advisory council on appointments to the Order of Canada
.
The Society is composed of three Academies:
The Society is dedicated to making its members' broad and varied knowledge available to the public and to evaluate and advise on social, cultural, economic and scientific issues for the benefit of Canada. The members are available to assess issues of value to Canadians and provide independent expert advice, notably to government, on matters of public policy through its program of Expert Panel reports. Its purpose also includes fostering the highest levels of learning and research in all areas of scholarship and recognizing outstanding achievements in research and innovation by electing new Fellows and by awarding medals and prizes. The Society actively promotes international collaboration with other national academies. Discussion and consideration of important topics are carried out by the organization of annual symposia.
Canada
Canada is a North American country consisting of ten provinces and three territories. Located in the northern part of the continent, it extends from the Atlantic Ocean in the east to the Pacific Ocean in the west, and northward into the Arctic Ocean...
. The RSC is dedicated to encouraging education and the advancement of knowledge in the natural
Natural science
The natural sciences are branches of science that seek to elucidate the rules that govern the natural world by using empirical and scientific methods...
and social sciences
Social sciences
Social science is the field of study concerned with society. "Social science" is commonly used as an umbrella term to refer to a plurality of fields outside of the natural sciences usually exclusive of the administrative or managerial sciences...
and the humanities
Humanities
The humanities are academic disciplines that study the human condition, using methods that are primarily analytical, critical, or speculative, as distinguished from the mainly empirical approaches of the natural sciences....
. It holds an annual conference together with other scholarly groups as part of the Congress of the Canadian Federation for the Humanities and Social Sciences
Canadian Federation for the Humanities and Social Sciences
The Canadian Federation for the Humanities and Social Sciences , known as the Federation, is a member based organization and the voice for the humanities and social science researchers in Canada...
(the "Learneds").
History
The Society was founded in 1882 by the Marquis of LorneJohn Campbell, 9th Duke of Argyll
John George Edward Henry Douglas Sutherland Campbell, 9th Duke of Argyll KG, KT, GCMG, GCVO, VD, PC , usually better known by the courtesy title Marquess of Lorne, by which he was known between 1847 and 1900, was a British nobleman and was the fourth Governor General of Canada from 1878 to 1883...
, who was then Governor General of Canada
Governor General of Canada
The Governor General of Canada is the federal viceregal representative of the Canadian monarch, Queen Elizabeth II...
. Succeeding governors general have served as patrons of the Society. The founding members included Sir Sandford Fleming
Sandford Fleming
Sir Sandford Fleming, was a Scottish-born Canadian engineer and inventor, proposed worldwide standard time zones, designed Canada's first postage stamp, a huge body of surveying and map making, engineering much of the Intercolonial Railway and the Canadian Pacific Railway, and was a founding...
, the originator of the world system of Standard Time
Standard time
Standard time is the result of synchronizing clocks in different geographical locations within a time zone to the same time rather than using the local meridian as in local mean time or solar time. Historically, this helped in the process of weather forecasting and train travel. The concept...
, and Sir William Osler
William Osler
Sir William Osler, 1st Baronet was a physician. He was one of the "Big Four" founding professors at Johns Hopkins Hospital as the first Professor of Medicine and founder of the Medical Service there. Sir William Osler, 1st Baronet (July 12, 1849 – December 29, 1919) was a physician. He was...
, one of the great physicians of the century. The original Society was subsequently incorporated by an act of Parliament and granted its Royal Charter in 1883. Alan Beddoe
Alan Beddoe
Lieutenant-Commander Alan Brookman Beddoe, OC, OBE, HFHS, FHSC was a Canadian artist, war artist, consultant in heraldry and founder and first president of the Heraldry Society of Canada in 1965....
designed the arms for the Royal Society of Canada and his fonds includes black and white photographs of the letters patent.
Organization and purpose
The Royal SocietyRoyal Society
The Royal Society of London for Improving Natural Knowledge, known simply as the Royal Society, is a learned society for science, and is possibly the oldest such society in existence. Founded in November 1660, it was granted a Royal Charter by King Charles II as the "Royal Society of London"...
of London
London
London is the capital city of :England and the :United Kingdom, the largest metropolitan area in the United Kingdom, and the largest urban zone in the European Union by most measures. Located on the River Thames, London has been a major settlement for two millennia, its history going back to its...
and the Institut de France
Institut de France
The Institut de France is a French learned society, grouping five académies, the most famous of which is the Académie française.The institute, located in Paris, manages approximately 1,000 foundations, as well as museums and chateaux open for visit. It also awards prizes and subsidies, which...
were the models for the Society. The Society today consists of approximately 1,800 Fellows: men and women from across Canada
Canada
Canada is a North American country consisting of ten provinces and three territories. Located in the northern part of the continent, it extends from the Atlantic Ocean in the east to the Pacific Ocean in the west, and northward into the Arctic Ocean...
who are selected by their peers on account of their outstanding contributions to the arts and sciences. The President of the Society serves on the Governor General's advisory council on appointments to the Order of Canada
Order of Canada
The Order of Canada is a Canadian national order, admission into which is, within the system of orders, decorations, and medals of Canada, the second highest honour for merit...
.
The Society is composed of three Academies:
- The Academy of Arts and Humanities (Academy I)
- The Academy of Social Sciences (Academy II)
- The Academy of Science (Academy III).
The Society is dedicated to making its members' broad and varied knowledge available to the public and to evaluate and advise on social, cultural, economic and scientific issues for the benefit of Canada. The members are available to assess issues of value to Canadians and provide independent expert advice, notably to government, on matters of public policy through its program of Expert Panel reports. Its purpose also includes fostering the highest levels of learning and research in all areas of scholarship and recognizing outstanding achievements in research and innovation by electing new Fellows and by awarding medals and prizes. The Society actively promotes international collaboration with other national academies. Discussion and consideration of important topics are carried out by the organization of annual symposia.
Awards
The Society awards twenty different awards on an annual or biennial basis. Some of these include:- Bancroft AwardBancroft AwardThe Bancroft Award is an award of the Royal Society of Canada "given for publication, instruction, and research in the earth sciences that have conspicuously contributed to public understanding and appreciation of the subject". It is named in honour of Joseph Austin Bancroft . It is awarded...
, for publication, instruction, and research in the earth sciences - Pierre Chauveau MedalPierre Chauveau MedalThe Pierre Chauveau Medal is an award of the Royal Society of Canada "for a distinguished contribution to knowledge in the humanities other than Canadian literature and Canadian history". It is named in honour of Pierre-Joseph-Olivier Chauveau and is awarded bi-annually. The award consists of a...
, for a distinguished contribution to knowledge in the humanities - Sir John William Dawson MedalSir John William Dawson MedalThe Sir John William Dawson Medal is an award of the Royal Society of Canada, established in 1985 and named after the society's first president: John William Dawson...
, for important and sustained contributions in at least two different domains - Thomas W. Eadie MedalThomas W. Eadie MedalThe Thomas W. Eadie Medal is an award of the Royal Society of Canada "for contributions in engineering and applied science". It is named in honour of Thomas Wardrope Eadie and is awarded annually. The award consists of a bronze medal and C$3,000 of cash....
, for contributions in engineering and applied science - Flavelle MedalFlavelle MedalThe Flavelle Medal is an award of the Royal Society of Canada "for an outstanding contribution to biological science during the preceding ten years or for significant additions to a previous outstanding contribution to biological science". It is named in honour of Joseph Wesley Flavelle and is...
, for an outstanding contribution to biological science - Willet G. Miller MedalWillet G. Miller MedalThe Miller Medal is an award of the Royal Society of Canada given for outstanding research in any branch of the earth sciences.In 1941, twelve friends of Willet Green Miller, FRSC , a distinguished geologist, and a guiding force in the development of the Ontario mining industry, subscribed funds to...
, for outstanding research in any branch of earth sciences - Lorne Pierce MedalLorne Pierce MedalThe Lorne Pierce Medal is awarded every two years by the Royal Society of Canada to recognize achievement of special significance and conspicuous merit in imaginative or critical literature written in either English or French...
, for an achievement in critical or imaginative literature - Henry Marshall Tory MedalHenry Marshall Tory MedalThe Henry Marshall Tory Medal is an award of the Royal Society of Canada "for outstanding research in a branch of astronomy, chemistry, mathematics, physics, or an allied science". It is named in honour of Henry Marshall Tory and is awarded bi-annually. The award consists of a gold plated silver...
, for outstanding research in a branch of astronomy, chemistry, mathematics, physics, or an allied science - J.B. Tyrrell Historical Medal, for outstanding work in the history of Canada
Fellowship
Election to Fellowship in the Society is the highest academic accolade available to scientists and scholars in Canada. After their induction in the Society, Fellows may use the postnomial FRSC for Fellow of the Royal Society of Canada. Francophone Fellows use MSRC for Membre de la Société royale du Canada. The postnomial is usually not translated but is kept in the language of the Fellow.See also
- List of presidents of the Royal Society of Canada
- List of Canadian organizations with royal patronage
- Council of Canadian AcademiesCouncil of Canadian AcademiesThe Council of Canadian Academies was created to perform independent, expert assessments of the science that is relevant to important public issues...
, an umbrella organization including contributions from the Royal Society
External links
- List of Civilian organizations with prefix "Royal" - Heritage Canada.
- List of civilian organizations with the prefix "Royal" prepared by the Department of Canadian Heritage
- Royal Society of Canada.