The Royal Society, one of the oldest scientific societies in the world with 350 years of existence, has been awarded the Prince of Asturias Award for Communication and Humanities in 2011.
Founded in 1660 with the aim of disseminating scientific research, the Royal Society emerged victorious in the latest jury votes over the Magnum photography agency and the British public broadcaster BBC. This prestigious award, which comes with a prize of 50,000 euros and a sculpture by Joan Miró, was previously awarded to sociologists Alain Touraine and Zygmunt Bauman, as well as renowned figures like María Zambrano, El País, and Umberto Eco.
The Royal Society was established to promote the science of the time, drawing inspiration from the principles of Sir Francis Bacon and led by Henry Oldenburg as its first secretary. Its primary mission is to push the boundaries of knowledge through the development of science, mathematics, engineering, and medicine, aiming for the progress of humanity and the health of the planet.
The society’s members are elected for life from among the most distinguished scientists in their respective fields. Notable figures who have been part of the Royal Society include Isaac Newton, Charles Darwin, Ernest Rutherford, Albert Einstein, Dorothy Hodgkin, Francis Crick, James Watson, and Stephen Hawking.
Currently, the Royal Society boasts 1,500 members, including 75 Nobel laureates and nine Prince of Asturias Award winners, as well as five members of the British Royal Family, including Queen Elizabeth II. The institution is governed by a council of 21 members, currently chaired by Sir Paul Nurse, a Nobel Prize winner in Medicine.
Funded by contributions from individuals and organizations, the Royal Society is governed by a council of 21 members chaired by Sir Paul Nurse and advised by around 140 members. Since March 1665, it has published the journal Philosophical Transactions of the Royal Society, where Isaac Newton published 17 papers, including „A New Theory of Light and Colors“ in 1672, which launched his scientific career.
Among the notable works published by the Royal Society are the description of an early blood transfusion by chemist and physicist Robert Boyle in 1666, Stephen Hawking’s 1970 theory on black holes, and recent discoveries related to DNA.
In celebration of its 350th anniversary, the Royal Society launched the interactive online service Trailblazing in 2009, providing access to over 60 significant scientific works published since its inception.
The Royal Society fulfills three fundamental objectives: serving as the National Academy of Sciences, functioning as a scientific society, and acting as a funding body that supports over 460 post-doctoral fellowships and 17 professorships. It provides grants to more than 3,000 British and international scientists, aiming to enhance the scientific base of the UK and promote collaboration between countries.