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The Science Council is a UK organisation that 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. The Science Council is the Competent Authority with respect to the European Union directive 2005/36/EC. 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 350,000 scientists. 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 in 2003 by the late Professor Sir Gareth Roberts FRS, who served as the council's Founding President. In February 2007, Sir Tom McKillop FRS, became the President of the Science Council and he was succeeded in June 2011 by Professor Sir Tom Blundell, and then by Professor Sir Keith Burnett FRS in June 2016. In May 2021 Professor Carole Mundell was appointed the new president.
In November 2008 the Science Council launched Future Morph,[1] a website aimed at providing children, parents, teachers and the general public with information about science and how it might help in future careers.
In 2015 an amended Charter was granted a Privy Council seal.
The Science Council's charitable purpose as stated in its 2015 Royal Charter is "to promote the advancement and dissemination of knowledge of and education in science, pure and applied, for the public benefit."[2][3]
To fulfil this purpose, the Science Council advances professionalism in science through the professional registration of scientists and technicians who meet a high professional standard and competence and follow an established code of conduct.
The Science Council's Royal Charter also defines its role as an umbrella organisation, providing a forum to connect members for discussion and information exchange.
The Science Council provides member bodies with a forum to raise standards through sharing practice and knowledge, and to hold each other to account through a peer-review approach. A successful example of this approach is the recent Diversity, Equality and Inclusion programme of work.
The Science Council promotes the profession and contribution of science and scientists through the Chartered Scientist (CSci),[4] Registered Scientist (RSci), Registered Science Technician (RSciTech) and Chartered Science Teacher (CSciTech) designations and the development of codes of practice.
Chartered Science Teacher was launched in 2004. Registered Science Technician and Registered Scientist were launched in October 2011 alongside the Chartered Scientist award, to build a framework of professional standards and recognition across the science workforce
To become a member of the Science Council an organisation must:
