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Royal Society of Canada
National academy of Canada From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
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The Royal Society of Canada (RSC; French: Société royale du Canada, SRC), also known as the Academies of Arts, Humanities, and Sciences of Canada (French: Académies des arts, des lettres et des sciences du Canada), is the senior national, bilingual council of distinguished Canadian scholars, humanists, scientists, and artists in Canada.
As Canada's national academy, the RSC exists to promote Canadian research and scholarly accomplishment in both of Canada's official languages; advise governments, non-governmental organizations, and Canadians generally on matters of public interest; recognize academic and artistic excellence; and mentor young scholars and artists.[1]
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History
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In the late 1870s, the Governor General of Canada, John Campbell, Marquis of Lorne, determined that Canada required a cultural institution to promote national scientific research and development. Since that time, succeeding governors general have remained involved with the affairs of the Society. In 1882, the Royal Society of Canada was founded with the personal patronage of Lord Lorne. A year later, in 1883, the Society was incorporated by an act of the Parliament of Canada.[2]
From its founding until the early 1900s, the structure of the RSC imitated the model of the Royal Society of London, but with the important addition of literature and other elements found in the Institut de France. Like their counterparts, membership to the RSC was limited and by election. Initially, the RSC was divided into four sections, each of 20 Fellows. These sections were: French literature, history, and archaeology; English literature, history, and archaeology; mathematical, physical and chemical sciences; and geological and biological sciences.
The founding fellows of the RSC included Sandford Fleming, the originator of the world system of Standard Time, and William Osler, one of the greatest physicians of his time. The fellows of the RSC were nominated by a committee directed by the Principal of McGill University, John William Dawson, and by the former Premier of Quebec, Pierre Chauveau. These two men served as the first and second presidents of the Society.[3]
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As Canadian scholarship and research increased, the RSC also grew. Within three decades, the fellowship of the RSC doubled in number. After several phases of restructuring, the RSC evolved its contemporary organization. In 2010, Governor General David Johnston was elected as an honorary fellow of the Society.
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RSC Academies
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Each year, the RSC elects approximately 100 Fellows to its three Academies: the Academy of Arts and Humanities, the Academy of Social Sciences, and the Academy of Science. These individuals have made significant contributions to their fields and Canadian public life. In 2024, the RSC included over 2,500 Fellows.[4]
There are three divisions of the Academy of Arts and Humanities: an anglophone division, humanities; a francophone division, letters and humanities; and a bilingual division for the arts, embracing architecture, creative writing, and other arts. There are two divisions of the Academy of Social Sciences: an anglophone division, social sciences; and Sciences Sociales. There are four bilingual divisions of the Academy of Science: applied sciences and engineering; Earth, ocean, and atmospheric sciences; medical sciences; mathematical and physical sciences.
Presently, the Fellowship comprises four categories: Regularly Elected Fellows, Specially Elected Fellows, International Fellows, and Honorary Fellows. Once inducted into the Society, Fellows may use the post-nominal letters FRSC (fellow of the Royal Society of Canada) in English and MSRC (membre de la Société royale du Canada) in French.
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The College of New Scholars, Artists, and Scientists
The College of New Scholars, Artists, and Scientists (also known as the RSC College) was established in 2014 to represent the emerging generation of intellectual leaders in Canada. Each year, approximately 50 Canadians and Permanent Residents are elected to the college for a seven-year term. Nomination of candidates for the college follows a similar procedure as nomination for the Fellows of RSC.[5]
The mission of the college is: “To address issues of particular concern to new scholars, artists and scientists, for the advancement of understanding and the benefit of society, taking advantage of the interdisciplinary approaches fostered by the establishment of the College.”[6]
The mandate of the college is: “To gather scholars, artists and scientists at a highly productive stage of their careers into a single collegium where new advances in understanding will emerge from the interaction of diverse intellectual, cultural and social perspectives.”[7]
Institutional Members
The RSC officially began the Institutional Member (IM) programme in 2004. The goal was to provide a mechanism by which the Society could develop its programmes in conjunction with Canadian universities and by which universities could have formal and direct input into the strategic organization and governance of the Society. This closer relationship facilitates the nomination of new Fellows and College Members from all Canadian universities and provides a means for the Society to sponsor scholarly activities at institutions of all sizes across Canada. There are currently 61 Institutional Members of the RSC.[8]
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Activities and Influence
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The Society is dedicated to making its Members’ varied knowledge available to the public. Members are available to assess issues of presumed value to Canadians and provide independent expert advice, notably to government on matters of public policy through its program of expert panel reports, events, and other opportunities.
In 1883, the RSC hosted its first annual meeting. Between 1945 and 1980 the annual meetings of the RSC were hosted at least once in every province of Canada, at 25 universities from coast to coast. In 2013, the RSC resumed the practice of moving its annual gathering around the country, beginning in Banff.
This annual gathering (now called the Celebration of Excellence and Engagement) blends symposia, lectures and sessions on urgent themes, along with the annual ceremonies recognizing that year's inductees and award winners, and the RSC's Annual Gala.
Internationally, the RSC has strengthened its relationships with national academies through bilateral agreements supporting scholarly exchanges and by contributing Canadian leadership to international initiatives, particularly in environmental and social fields. In 2024, the RSC launched a trilateral partnership with the Australian Academy of Science and the Royal Society of New Zealand Te Apārangi focused on Indigenous engagement.[9]
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Awards
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The RSC recognizes notable achievements in research and innovation by awarding medals and prizes.[10] Twenty three Society awards are offered on an annual or biennial basis and consist of either medals or certificates, some of them with cash prizes. These awards are as follows:
- Alice Wilson Award, awarded to three women of outstanding academic qualifications in the Arts and Humanities, Social Sciences or Science who are entering a career in scholarship or research at the postdoctoral level.
- Bancroft Award for instruction and research in the science of geology.
- Centenary Medal for outstanding contributions to the objectives of the Society.
- Flavelle Medal for meritorious achievement in biological science.
- Justice Rosalie Silberman Abella Prize is presented annually to a graduating law student in each of the law schools in Canada who is most likely to positively influence equity and social justice in Canada or globally upon graduation.
- Ursula Franklin Award in Gender Studies for contributions to furthering our understanding of issues concerning gender.
- Henry Marshall Tory Medal for outstanding research in any branch of astronomy, chemistry, mathematics, physics, or an allied science.
- Innis-Gérin Medal for a distinguished and sustained contribution to the literature of the social sciences.
- J.B. Tyrrell Historical Medal for outstanding work in the history of Canada.
- Jason A. Hannah Medal for an important publication in the history of medicine.
- John L. Synge Award for outstanding research in any of the branches of the mathematical sciences.
- Kitty Newman Award for outstanding contributions from an emerging scholar in the field of philosophy.
- Lorne Pierce Medal for an achievement in critical or imaginative literature.
- McLaughlin Medal for important research of sustained excellence in medical science.
- Michael P. Païdoussis Medal for outstanding contributions to research, education and leadership in applied mechanics. Solid continuum mechanics, fluid mechanics and fluid-structure interaction are all included.
- Miroslaw Romanowski Medal for scientific work relating to environmental problems.
- Pierre Chauveau Medal for a distinguished contribution to knowledge in the humanities.
- RSC Eric Jackman Prize for path-breaking and sustained scientific contributions to preventing harm, strengthening resilience, or otherwise benefiting humankind through research in one or more behavioural and social science fields.
- RSC Prize for Indigenous Engagement for outstanding contributions including research / scholarship, advancement of Indigenous knowledge, and engagement with reconciliation.
- Rutherford Memorial Medals for outstanding research in physics and in chemistry.
- Sir John William Dawson Medal for important contributions of knowledge in multiple domains.
- Willet G. Miller Medal for outstanding research in earth sciences and ocean & atmospheric sciences.
- Yvan Allaire Medal for outstanding contributions in governance of public and private organizations.
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