The Science Council was established by Royal Charter in 2003. The principal activity of The Science Council is the promotion of the advancement and dissemination of knowledge of and education in science pure and applied, for the public benefit.

It is a membership organisation for learned and professional bodies across science and its applications and works with them to represent this sector to government and others. Together, the member organisations represent over 400,000 scientists.

The Science Council promotes the profession of scientist through the Chartered Scientist designation and the development of codes of practice; it promotes awareness of the contribution of professional scientists to science and society and advances science education and increased understanding of the benefits of science.

The Science Council provides a forum for discussion and exchange of views and works to foster collaboration between member organisations and the wider science, technology, engineering, mathematics and medical communities to enable inter-disciplinary contributions to science policy and the application of science.

The Science Council was founded by the late Professor Sir Gareth Roberts FRS, who served as the Council's Founding President. In February 2007, Sir Tom McKillop

Tom McKillop

Sir Thomas Fulton Wilson McKillop, born 19 March 1943, is a chemist, pharmaceutical company CEO and former chairman of RBS Group.McKillop was born in Dreghorn, a small village near the town of Irvine in Ayrshire, Scotland and educated at Irvine Royal Academy and then Glasgow University, where he...

 FRS, became the new President of the Science Council and he was succeeded in June 2011 by the current President Professor Sir Tom Blundell. Their offices are at 32 - 36 Loman Street, London, SE1 0EH.

In November 2008 the Science Council launched Future Morph a website aimed at providing children, parents, teachers and the general public with information about science and how it might help in future careers.

Aims

• Foster co-operation and collaboration amongst member bodies

• Influence science policy and strategy

• Advance professionalism in science

• Promote enhancement in the level and quality of scientific education, knowledge and skills in the UK

• Encourage and stimulate knowledge transfer and the exchange of expertise by developing collective approaches to the needs of the economy and of society

Member Organisations

• Association for Clinical Biochemistry
• Association of Neurophysiological Scientists
• Association for Science Education
  Association for Science Education
  The Association for Science Education is a professional association in the United Kingdom for teachers of science. It formed in 1963, and currently has 29,692 members.-Aims:The ASE has three main aims to promote education by:...
  
  
• British Computer Society
  British Computer Society
  The British Computer Society, is a professional body and a learned society that represents those working in Information Technology in the United Kingdom and internationally...
  
  
• British Psychological Society
  British Psychological Society
  The British Psychological Society is a representative body for psychologists and psychology in the United Kingdom. The BPS is also a Registered Charity and, along with advantages, this also imposes certain constraints on what the society can and cannot do...
  
  
• Chartered Institution of Water and Environmental Management
  Chartered Institution of Water and Environmental Management
  The Chartered Institution of Water and Environmental Management is an independent professional body and a registered charity, advancing the science and practice of water and environmental management for a clean, green and sustainable world....
  
  
• Energy Institute
  Energy Institute
  The Energy Institute, commonly referred to as EI, is the main professional organization for the energy industry within the UK that promotes the safe, environmentally responsible and efficient supply and use of energy in all its forms and applications...
  
  
• Geological Society
  Geological Society of London
  The Geological Society of London is a learned society based in the United Kingdom with the aim of "investigating the mineral structure of the Earth"...
  
  
• Institute of Biology
  Institute of Biology
  The Institute of Biology was a professional body for biologists, primarily those working in the United Kingdom. The Institute was founded in 1950 by the Biological Council: the then umbrella body for Britain's many learned biological societies...
  
  
• Institute of Biomedical Science
  Institute of Biomedical Science
  The Institute of Biomedical Science is the professional body for biomedical scientists in the United Kingdom. The IBMS was founded in 1912 and represents approximately 16,000 members employed mainly in National Health Service and private laboratories, veterinary laboratories, the National Blood...
  
  
• Institute of Brewing and Distilling
  Institute of Brewing and Distilling
  The Institute of Brewing and Distilling is an industry trade association for brewers and distillers, both in the United Kingdom and internationally...
  
  
• Institute of Clinical Research
• Institute of Corrosion
• Institute of Food Science and Technology
• Institute of Marine Engineering, Science and Technology
  Institute of Marine Engineering, Science and Technology
  The Institute of Marine Engineering, Science and Technology is the international membership body and learned society for all marine professionals, operating in the spheres of marine engineering, science, or technology. It has registered charity status in the U.K...
  
  
• Institute of Materials, Minerals and Mining
  Institute of Materials, Minerals and Mining
  The Institute of Materials, Minerals and Mining is a major UK engineering institution whose activities encompass the whole materials cycle, from exploration and extraction, through characterisation, processing, forming, finishing and application, to product recycling and land reuse...
  
  
• Institute of Mathematics and its Applications
  Institute of Mathematics and its Applications
  The Institute of Mathematics and its Applications is the UK's chartered professional body for mathematicians and one of the UK's learned societies for mathematics ....
  
  
• Institute of Physics
  Institute of Physics
  The Institute of Physics is a scientific charity devoted to increasing the practice, understanding and application of physics. It has a worldwide membership of around 40,000....
  
  
• Institute of Physics and Engineering in Medicine
  Institute of Physics and Engineering in Medicine
  The Institute of Physics and Engineering in Medicine is the United Kingdom's professional body and learned society for physicists and engineers within the field of medicine...
  
  
• Institute of Professional Soil Scientists
• Institution of Chemical Engineers
  Institution of Chemical Engineers
  The Institution of Chemical Engineers is a global professional engineering institution with over 33,000 members in over 120 countries worldwide, founded in 1922, and awarded a Royal Charter in 1957.-Structure:...
  
  
• Institution of Environmental Sciences
  Institution of Environmental Sciences
  The Institution of Environmental Sciences is a professional body for environmental scientists, representing a very broad spectrum of practices in the environmental field....
  
  
• London Mathematical Society
  London Mathematical Society
  -See also:* American Mathematical Society* Edinburgh Mathematical Society* European Mathematical Society* List of Mathematical Societies* Council for the Mathematical Sciences* BCS-FACS Specialist Group-External links:* * *...
  
  
• Nuclear Institute
  Nuclear Institute
  The Nuclear Institute is the professional body representing nuclear professionals in the UK.It is a charity independent of the industry that promotes knowledge of nuclear energy amongst its members and the public and offers a route to professional qualification for those working in the sector,...
  
  
• The Mineralogical Society
• Oil and Colour Chemists' Association
• Royal Astronomical Society
  Royal Astronomical Society
  The Royal Astronomical Society is a learned society that began as the Astronomical Society of London in 1820 to support astronomical research . It became the Royal Astronomical Society in 1831 on receiving its Royal Charter from William IV...
  
  
• Royal Geographical Society
  Royal Geographical Society
  The Royal Geographical Society is a British learned society founded in 1830 for the advancement of geographical sciences...
  
  
• Royal Society of Chemistry
  Royal Society of Chemistry
  The Royal Society of Chemistry is a learned society in the United Kingdom with the goal of "advancing the chemical sciences." It was formed in 1980 from the merger of the Chemical Society, the Royal Institute of Chemistry, the Faraday Society and the Society for Analytical Chemistry with a new...
  
  
• Royal Statistical Society
  Royal Statistical Society
  The Royal Statistical Society is a learned society for statistics and a professional body for statisticians in the UK.-History:It was founded in 1834 as the Statistical Society of London , though a perhaps unrelated London Statistical Society was in existence at least as early as 1824...
  
  
• Society for Cardiological Science and Technology
• Society of Dyers and Colourists
  Society of Dyers and Colourists
  The Society of Dyers and Colourists is an international professional society, with headquarters in Bradford, United Kingdom, specializing in colour in all its manifestations. Founded in 1884, it was granted a Royal Charter of Incorporation in 1963...
  
  
• Society for General Microbiology
  Society for General Microbiology
  The Society for General Microbiology is a learned society based in the United Kingdom but with members in more than 60 countries. With approximately 5000 members, it is the largest microbiological society in Europe...
  
  

Membership of the Science Council is open to organisations that meet the following criteria:

• the profession represented is based on a recognised body of learning of a scientific nature;
• the organisation is an independent UK body which exists for the collective pursuit of professional aims and objectives in science as set out in a Royal Charter or Memorandum and Articles of Association incorporated under the Companies Acts or formally registered in some other way;
• the organisation has, among its objectives, the practice of the profession in the interest of the public as well as that of its members;
• admission to full membership of the organisation shall be based on standards of competence as attested by an appropriate degree or equivalent qualification, as well as relevant professional practice, provided that if an organisation does not have strict entry standards for its members it must be able to demonstrate that the majority of its members are so qualified;
• the organisation recognises its responsibility to advance and extend the body of learning on which the profession is based, * the organisation recognises its responsibility to concern itself with facilities, methods and provision for educating and training future entrants to the profession and for enhancing the knowledge of present practitioners.

External links

• The Science Council
• CSci
• Future Morph - The Science Council's website aimed at providing young people with information about science and scientific careers.
• Defintion of Science
• policy portal