the-BA : Brief History of the BA (continued)

In addition to its annual meetings, the BA was at the forefront of the development of scientific literature, recognising that there was a need for reports on the state of science to be drawn up by experts “in order that those who pursue one branch of science may know how to communicate with the enquirer in another and so that scientific students may know where to begin their labours”.

The BA, too, inspired the formation of similar associations for the advancement of science in other countries, as well as local scientific societies in Britain. The custom of holding its annual meetings in a wide number of cities in the UK led to the foundation, for example, of the Edinburgh Geological Society; the 1855 meeting in Glasgow was followed by the founding of the Glasgow Geographical Society; the Norwich meeting of 1868 by the Norfolk and Norwich Naturalists’ Society, and so on.

The activities of the BA have gradually changed in emphasis over the years. Scientists, now much more numerous and specialised, have new ways of communicating their results to other specialists. BA meetings are no longer primarily a forum for scientists to discuss amongst themselves the results of recent research. However, this has given the BA, as the only national organisation which has retained interests which encompass all branches and aspects of science, the opportunity to develop a new and unique role. The main objective of the BA now is to develop the links between specialist scientists, scientists of other disciplines, technologists and non-scientists of all ages so that the advances in science can be understood, their technological applications exploited commercially and their implications for society as a whole examined.

This aim has led not only to changes in the Annual Meeting programmes, but also to the development of regional BA Branch activities and the formation of the Young People's Programme (YPP). 28,000 young people aged 11-19 currently take part each year in the CREST (CREativity in Science and Technology) Award Scheme managed by the YPP team. Through growing participation in CREST and the CREST Star Investigators scheme designed for 5-12 year olds, the BA is establishing a link with the next generation of scientists. During their lifetime the need for the services of the BA will continue and probably increase.

Dr Peter Briggs' personal account of the BA from 1980-2002 can be read here.

More about the history of the BA can be found in its archives.

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