The Royal Society

There's still time to apply for the Career Development Fellowships, which provide talented early career scientists from underrepresented groups in STEM with research funding and training opportunities. Find out more and download the webinar slides for more on how to apply: bit.ly/47NlQiC

We have published two more essays in our series giving practical advice to early career researchers, with Ann Campbell looking at how you can increase your visibility as a researcher and Jonathan Flint exploring why it's worth investing in relationships with industry partners: bit.ly/484GKd8

For #BlackHistoryMonth, we're highlighting the achievements of the Black scientists, mathematicians and engineers who have made their impact on the modern world. Read our thread below.

Aprille Ericsson is an American aerospace engineer who is the first African American woman to receive a PhD in mechanical engineering from Howard University, and the first to receive a PhD in engineering from NASA's Goddard Space Flight Center. #BlackHistoryMonth #NASA

Mae Jemison became the first black woman to travel to space when she served as a mission specialist on the Space Shuttle Endeavour in 1992. She orbited the earth for nearly eight days during the mission. #BlackHistoryMonth

For #BlackHistoryMonth, we're highlighting the achievements of the Black scientists, mathematicians and engineers who have made their impact on the modern world. Read our thread below.

As a chemist, at the age of 26 Alice Ball (1892 – 1916) developed the only effective treatment for leprosy until antibiotics became available later on. Through Ball’s research, she developed a water-soluble compound that could be easily injected for treatment. #BlackHistoryMonth

Dorothy Vaughan (1910 – 2008) was a mathematics teacher who became one of the leading mathematical engineers in the early days of the aerospace industry. She worked on the SCOUT Launch Vehicle Program that sent America’s first satellites into space. #BlackHistoryMonth

For #BlackHistoryMonth, we're highlighting the achievements of the Black scientists, mathematicians and engineers who have made their impact on the modern world. Read our thread below.

Dr Patricia Bath (1942-2019) was an ophthalmologist and laser scientist, known for developing the laserphaco probe which allowed safer and more precise cataract surgery. She was a strong advocate for blindness prevention and a community-focused approach to eye care. #BlackHistoryMonth

James McCune Smith (1813-1865) was the first African American to earn a medical degree, studying at the University of Glasgow in Scotland. After his return to the US, he was also the first African American to run a pharmacy, and became a leader in the abolitionist movement. #BlackHistoryMonth

For #BlackHistoryMonth, we're highlighting the achievements of the Black scientists, mathematicians and engineers who have made their impact on the modern world. Read our thread below.

Dr George Carruthers (1939 – 2020) had a lifelong fascination with space, building his first telescope aged 10. In 1966 he built an image converter that detected the first molecular hydrogen in space, and designed a camera that was landed on the moon in 1972 to conduct ultraviolet imaging of Earth.

As the first African American to earn a PhD in the United States, Dr Edward Bouchet (1852-1918)'s researched geometrical optics. He was one of the first 20 Americans to receive a PhD in physics, but racial discrimination prevented him from securing a university teaching position. #BlackHistoryMonth

@royalsocietypublishing.org

In the second part of our blog series with advice for early career researchers, @magdalenaskipper.bsky.social explores the ins and outs of getting to know your publishing collaborators, whilst Dr Shewly Choudhury explains why getting to know your funder is a must: bit.ly/484GKd8 #ECRs #PostDocs

The Royal Society reposted

Royal Society Publishing

Happy Open Access Week! This year, we became 100% #OpenAccess through Subscribe to Open and Read & Publish agreements. All eight subscription journals are free to read and publish in this year, demonstrating our commitment to making high-quality research accessible to all buff.ly/1Gs9vh3 #OAWeek

Are you a researcher with an interest in data-rich sensing and healthcare technology? Join our upcoming scientific meeting in London on the topic of novel optical sensors for healthcare. You can also apply to present a poster at the session. royalsociety.org/science-even...

For #BlackHistoryMonth, we're highlighting the achievements of the Black scientists, mathematicians and engineers who have made their impact on the modern world. Read our thread below.

Beginning her career in 1955 as a ‘human computer’ for NASA, Annie Easley (1933-2011)'s skills in programming languages such as SOAP and FORTRAN made her critical in many early NASA programmes, and her research was used in battery technology for early hybrid vehicles. #BlackHistoryMonth

Percy Lavon Julian (1899-1975)’s research involved the synthesis of drugs from plants, including physostigmine which is used in the treatment of glaucoma. His work also led to the production of cortisone, corticosteroids and the birth control pill. #BlackHistoryMonth

For #BlackHistoryMonth, we're highlighting the achievements of the Black scientists, mathematicians and engineers who have made their impact on the modern world. Read our thread below.

Dr Jewel Plummer Cobb (1924 – 2017)'s most significant achievement was the discovery that methotrexate, a drug used to slow cancer growth, was effective in treating skin and lung cancers as well as childhood leukaemia. She also supported programmes for students interested in pursuing graduate study.

@senseaboutsci.bsky.social

The route to establishing research independence is a complex part of a scientist’s career. Our new blog series share the experiences of contributors from across the sciences, to provide insight and advice to early career researchers. Read the first two blogs now: royalsociety.org/independent-...

The Royal Society reposted

Sense about Science

Meet our shortlist for the 2026 Maddox Prize for standing up for science, supported by @royalsociety.org. The award recognises individuals who stand up for science and evidence, despite facing challenges or hostility. Read their stories 👇️ senseaboutscience.org/activities/m...

From self-healing concrete to radiation-resistant glass, scientists are working to build cities that are fit for people and the planet. Join us for this free event on 28 October as we gather some of the UK's brightest minds to see how we can see buildings differently: https://bit.ly/4zuaOL9

Why do some species survive extreme changes in their environment, while others are consigned to the fossil record? Join Professor Anjali Goswami FRS for this free lecture as she explores the evolutionary paths that have shaped life on Earth over hundreds of millions of years: https://bit.ly/4yYbloz

Are you a researcher with an interest in ecosystems, climate science and biodiversity conservation? Register now to join our upcoming scientific meeting in London on the topic of forecasting ecological dynamics. royalsociety.org/science-even...

Are you a researcher with an interest in neuronal computations in the nervous system? Join us in Edinburgh for a residential scientific meeting discussing the latest research on the axon initial segment. You can also apply to present a poster at the meeting. royalsociety.org/science-even...

Applications are open for the ISPF ODA International Collaboration Awards, supporting international partnerships, research collaborations, and stronger research capacity. Funded through the UK Government's International Science Partnerships Fund. Find out more: royalsociety.org/grants/inter...

Join Professor Johan Håstad for the Milner Prize Lecture on 12 November 2026. Professor Håstad will present highlights from 40 years of complexity theory and the study of efficient computation. https://bit.ly/4j9S6n7 @kthlibrary.bsky.social @scienceacademyswe.bsky.social

The Royal Society reposted

Future Earth

@futureearth.bsky.social

The 10 New Insights in Climate Science 2026/2027 are here. The new report distills the latest climate research into ten critical insights for science, policy, and society ahead of COP31. Explore the insights and read the report: 10insightsclimate.science

Join Lost Women of Science, the award-winning podcast that tells the stories of remarkable - and largely unheralded - female scientists throughout history, on 19 November for an evening celebrating Hertha Ayrton: inventor, engineer, suffragette, trailblazer and firefighter. https://bit.ly/4xZYhxQ

Join Nobel laureate and Professor of Biochemistry Dr David Baker for the Croonian Prize Lecture on 3 November 2026. Dr Baker will describe the design of a new generation of proteins to address current challenges in health, technology and sustainability. https://bit.ly/4xXYWzP

@uwproteindesign.bsky.social @uwdeptmedicine.bsky.social @uwnews.uw.edu @nobelprize.org @hhmi-science.bsky.social

Academy of Medical Sciences

From self-healing concrete to radiation-resistant glass, scientists are working to build cities that are fit for people and the planet. Join us for this free event on 28 October as we gather some of the UK's brightest minds to see if they can see buildings differently. https://bit.ly/4zuaOL9

The Royal Society reposted

@acmedsci.bsky.social

Access to trusted health information is more important than ever. Our joint Q&A with the @royalsociety.org answers common questions about how vaccines work, their safety & effectiveness. ⬇️ Explore below ➡️ Learn more from Academy Fellow Prof Helen McShane: bit.ly/4hWTubu

The Royal Society@royalsociety.org

The @acmedsci.bsky.social and the Royal Society have brought together leading vaccine scientists to answer some of the most frequently asked questions about vaccines, as childhood uptake remains below World Health Organization targets. royalsociety.org/news/2026/10...

royalsociety.orgLeading scientists answer the vaccine questions people are searching for as childhood uptake remains below target | Royal SocietyThe Royal Society and Academy of Medical Sciences have brought together world leading vaccine scientists to answer the questions people are searching for online about vaccines.

Vaccination is one of the main pillars of public health across the world. The goal of vaccination programmes is to protect and improve the health of the entire population through disease prevention. See the full Q&A on our website: royalsociety.org/current-topi...

We’re excited to announce the winner of this years’ Royal Society Trivedi Science Book Prize is the 'The Age of Alchemy: How Early Innovators Shaped Modern Chemistry' by Kit Chapman, a ‘dazzling’ globetrotting adventure in the history of alchemy. #SciBooks royalsociety.org/news/2026/09...

The Age of Alchemy stood out to the judges for its strong narrative voice and global perspective. Judges described it as “dazzling”, “beautiful”, and a “rollickingly ambitious piece of science writing” that “could have a huge impact in shaping who scientists are in the future”.

royalsociety.orgRoyal Society Trivedi Science Book Prize | Royal SocietyEach year our panel of expert judges, comprising eminent scientists, authors, journalists and broadcasters, choose the book that they believe makes popular science writing compelling and accessible to...

The Royal Society Trivedi Science Book Prize celebrates the best popular science books from the past 12 months, championing non-fiction that uses captivating narratives to open up the wonders of science to a wider audience. royalsociety.org/medals-and-p...

It traces chemistry through time and continents, long before the Enlightenment – from the first chemists who forged unimaginably strong steel in Sri Lanka millennia before it should have been possible to alchemists in Roman Egypt, such as Mary the Jewess, who designed apparatus still in use today.

royalsociety.orgRussian attack on Ukrainian Academy of Sciences | Royal SocietyPaul Nurse, President of the Royal Society, responds to the attack on the Ukrainian Academy of Sciences.

The Career Development Fellowship is a four-year fellowship that aims to support the retention in STEM of researchers from underrepresented backgrounds, providing research funding and mentoring, training and networking opportunities. Find out more and apply now: royalsociety.org/grants/caree...

President of the Royal Society Paul Nurse responds to the Russian attack on Ukrainian Academy of Sciences: royalsociety.org/news/2026/09...

youtube.comPeople of Science with Brian Cox - Dame Sally DaviesYouTube video by The Royal Society

#DidYouKnow how penicillin was discovered? #OnThisDay in 1928, Sir Alexander Fleming FRS discovered the antibiotic when he recorded a bacteria-killing mold growing in his lab. Rather than throw the dish away, he observed it under a microscope. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cUZAbsBUY2M

royalsociety.orgSpace 2075: one year on and the UK space strategy | Royal SocietyThe Royal Society responds to the new UK Government Space Strategy.

One year on from our Space: 2075 report, and following the UK government's new space strategy Professor Sir Martin Sweeting FRS looks at developments in the UK space sector over the past 12 months and where it might be heading next: royalsociety.org/blog/2026/09...

royalsociety.orgSpace: 2075 | Royal SocietyThe Royal Society’s Space:2075 report explores how activities and the technologies used in space will develop over the next half century.

Read our full Space: 2075 report, which looks at what we can expect in the next 50 years of space, and how we can ensure that activity in space is sustainable and benefits all of humanity: royalsociety.org/news-resourc...

Our Career Development Fellowships are now open for applications. This scheme provides talented researchers from underrepresented groups in STEM with funding and training opportunities to build a strong base for a research career. Find out more and apply now: royalsociety.org/grants/caree...

There's still time to apply to exhibit your work at our #SummerScience Exhibition 2027. This is a unique opportunity to connect with over 10,000 members of the public, including primary and secondary school students, potential funders and government. Find out more: royalsociety.org/science-even...

22 Sept

Michael Faraday was born #OnThisDay in 1791. He is most famous for his experiments in electromagnetism and his efforts to engage the public in science through the Christmas Lectures, though he came from humble beginnings as Dame Julia Higgins tells Brian Cox. #ScienceHistory #PeopleOfScience

There's just over a week to go until we find out the winner of this year's Royal Society Trivedi Science Book Prize! From how our cells can contain alien DNA to how we could alter our very memories, explore the full shortlist here: https://royalsociety.org/medals-and-prizes/science-book-prize/