ABSTRACT
The Royal Society is the UK national academy of science. Founded in 1660, it is the world’s oldest science academy in continuous existence. The Society was established to promote the ‘new experimental philosophy’, namely that new knowledge is acquired by constantly testing ideas and theories through observation and experiment, and accepting only those for which there is evidence. This was the revolutionary idea behind the Royal Society and is embodied in its motto ‘Nullius in verba’. Above all else, Fellows of the Royal Society have sought, through ceaseless enquiry, a better understanding of ourselves and the universe in which we live.
