What is The Royal Society?

All the way back in 1660, a fellowship of like-minded erudite individuals began meeting in London to share knowledge, experiments, and observations before having results published. These intellectuals were called natural philosophers and came from vastly different professions, from lawyers and physicians to merchants and aristocrats. Their shared interest in the world, or natural philosophy, is the precursor to what we now call modern science. Research, experiments, and peer-reviewing are all regular aspects of the profession for today’s scientists, who continue to delve into the facets of our world. Whether it is geology, marine biology, or physics, the seeds of how science operates today can be traced to The Royal Society of London for Improving Natural Knowledge, or The Royal Society, for short. The fellowship included some of the most prominent minds we discuss today, like Isaac Newton and John Locke.