Science Council: Meaning (information, definition, explanation, facts)

The Science Council is the umbrella body covering scientific professional institutes and learned societies in the UK. Together, the member organisations cover over 150,000 scientists. A similar organisation (the Engineering Council UK (ECUK)) covers engineering institutes.

The Science Council was launched on June 16, 2000 by Lord Sainsbury of Turville, the UK Science Minister, with thirteen member organisations from the former Council of Scientific and Technology Institutes. The Science Council was granted a royal charter on June 12, 2003. It offers, through its member organisations, the qualification of Chartered Scientist. This is similar to EC(UK)'s Chartered Engineer and qualifications such as Chartered Geologist and Chartered Physicist offered by some member organisations.

The President of the Science Council is Sir Gareth Roberts, FRS. It is based at 76, Portland Place - the headquarters of the Institute of Physics.

Aims and Objectives

The aim of the Science Council is:

"To be the leading co-ordinating body for science and the science community by promoting the collective knowledge, resources and achievements of its constituent professional and learned bodies and their members worldwide."

The objects of the Science Council are:

• "To encourage the contribution of scientists and technologists to society, a sustainable environment and the economy and to promote their status and maintain their professional standards."

• "To seek improvement of education and training in science and technology at all levels by contributing to the promotion and recognition of qualifications, accreditation, occupational standards and continuing professional development and by contributing to the development of curricula."

• "To press for the allocation of appropriate resources for academic, government and industrial research."

• "To increase public awareness of the role and contribution of science and technology and to participate in the debates on relevant issues."

• "To ensure that professional interests of scientists and technologists are taken into account in any relevant legislation."

• Association of Clinical Biologists
• Association of Clinical Microbiologists
• British Computer Society
• Chartered Institute of Water and Environmental Management
• Geological Society
• Institute of Biology
• Institute of Chemical Engineers
• Institute of Corrosion
• Institute of Environmental Science
• Institute of Food Science and Technology
• Institute of Marine Engineers
• Institute of Materials, Minerals and Mining
• Institute of Mathematics and its Applications
• Institute of Physics
• Institute of Physics and Engineering in Medicine
• Institute of Professional Soil Scientists
• London Mathematical Society
• Royal Aeronautical Society
• Royal Astronomical Society
• Royal Geographical Society
• Royal Society
• Royal Society of Chemistry