Royal Society of Sciences in Uppsala
Encyclopedia
The Royal Society of Sciences in Uppsala (Swedish
Kungl. Vetenskaps-Societeten i Uppsala), is the oldest of the royal academies
in Sweden. The society has, by royal decree of 1906, 50 Swedish fellows and 100 foreign.
Early members included Emanuel Swedenborg
and Anders Celsius
.
The Royal Swedish Academy of Sciences
was founded in Stockholm
1739, and its founders (some of which were members in Uppsala) specifically wanted an academy which was different from the Uppsala academy.
on the initiative of the university librarian Erik Benzelius (jr)
(later archbishop
) under the name of Collegium curiosorum. The name was changed to Societas Literaria Sueciae in 1719, when it received a royal charter in 1728 to Societas regia literaria et scientarium, and it was known from the mid 18th century as the Societas regia scientarum upsaliensis. All the Academy's publications were in the Latin language until 1863.
-Physical
" class, the "Natural history
-Medical" class, the "Historical-Archeological" class and the "Technical
-Economical" class. All the sections are ruled by a single Presidium
, which is formed by a president, a vice-president, a secretary, a vice-secretary and a treasurer: the king of Sweden is the Honorary President of the academy.
. It was first awarded in 1961, and it is reserved to scientists working in mathematical
and physical science
s, and as such, it is awarded upon decision by the "Mathematical
-Physical
class" of the Academy.
professor Robert Thalén.
, instituted in 1980 and entirely founded by the Academy: it is meant as a grant to young researchers.
Swedish language
Swedish is a North Germanic language, spoken by approximately 10 million people, predominantly in Sweden and parts of Finland, especially along its coast and on the Åland islands. It is largely mutually intelligible with Norwegian and Danish...
Kungl. Vetenskaps-Societeten i Uppsala), is the oldest of the royal academies
Swedish Royal Academies
The Royal Academies are independent organisations, founded on Royal command, that act to promote the arts, culture, and science in Sweden. The Swedish Academy and Academy of Sciences are also responsible for the selection of Nobel Prize laureates in Literature, Physics, Chemistry, and the Prize in...
in Sweden. The society has, by royal decree of 1906, 50 Swedish fellows and 100 foreign.
Early members included Emanuel Swedenborg
Emanuel Swedenborg
was a Swedish scientist, philosopher, and theologian. He has been termed a Christian mystic by some sources, including the Encyclopædia Britannica online version, and the Encyclopedia of Religion , which starts its article with the description that he was a "Swedish scientist and mystic." Others...
and Anders Celsius
Anders Celsius
Anders Celsius was a Swedish astronomer. He was professor of astronomy at Uppsala University from 1730 to 1744, but traveled from 1732 to 1735 visiting notable observatories in Germany, Italy and France. He founded the Uppsala Astronomical Observatory in 1741, and in 1742 he proposed the Celsius...
.
The Royal Swedish Academy of Sciences
Royal Swedish Academy of Sciences
The Royal Swedish Academy of Sciences or Kungliga Vetenskapsakademien is one of the Royal Academies of Sweden. The Academy is an independent, non-governmental scientific organization which acts to promote the sciences, primarily the natural sciences and mathematics.The Academy was founded on 2...
was founded in Stockholm
Stockholm
Stockholm is the capital and the largest city of Sweden and constitutes the most populated urban area in Scandinavia. Stockholm is the most populous city in Sweden, with a population of 851,155 in the municipality , 1.37 million in the urban area , and around 2.1 million in the metropolitan area...
1739, and its founders (some of which were members in Uppsala) specifically wanted an academy which was different from the Uppsala academy.
Historical sketch
The Academy was founded 1710 in UppsalaUppsala
- Economy :Today Uppsala is well established in medical research and recognized for its leading position in biotechnology.*Abbott Medical Optics *GE Healthcare*Pfizer *Phadia, an offshoot of Pharmacia*Fresenius*Q-Med...
on the initiative of the university librarian Erik Benzelius (jr)
Erik Benzelius the younger
Erik Benzelius the younger was a priest, theologian, librarian, and Archbishop of Uppsala, Sweden, 1742–1743. He was a highly learned man and one of Sweden's important Enlightenment figures....
(later archbishop
Archbishop of Uppsala
The Archbishop of Uppsala has been the primate in Sweden in an unbroken succession since 1164, first during the Catholic era, and from the 1530s and onward under the Lutheran church.- Historical overview :...
) under the name of Collegium curiosorum. The name was changed to Societas Literaria Sueciae in 1719, when it received a royal charter in 1728 to Societas regia literaria et scientarium, and it was known from the mid 18th century as the Societas regia scientarum upsaliensis. All the Academy's publications were in the Latin language until 1863.
Structure
The Academy has 130 national members and 100 foreign members, belonging to one of the four "classes": the "MathematicalMathematics
Mathematics is the study of quantity, space, structure, and change. Mathematicians seek out patterns and formulate new conjectures. Mathematicians resolve the truth or falsity of conjectures by mathematical proofs, which are arguments sufficient to convince other mathematicians of their validity...
-Physical
Physics
Physics is a natural science that involves the study of matter and its motion through spacetime, along with related concepts such as energy and force. More broadly, it is the general analysis of nature, conducted in order to understand how the universe behaves.Physics is one of the oldest academic...
" class, the "Natural history
Natural history
Natural history is the scientific research of plants or animals, leaning more towards observational rather than experimental methods of study, and encompasses more research published in magazines than in academic journals. Grouped among the natural sciences, natural history is the systematic study...
-Medical" class, the "Historical-Archeological" class and the "Technical
Technology
Technology is the making, usage, and knowledge of tools, machines, techniques, crafts, systems or methods of organization in order to solve a problem or perform a specific function. It can also refer to the collection of such tools, machinery, and procedures. The word technology comes ;...
-Economical" class. All the sections are ruled by a single Presidium
Presidium
The presidium or praesidium is the name for the heading organ of various legislative and organizational bodies.-Historical usage:...
, which is formed by a president, a vice-president, a secretary, a vice-secretary and a treasurer: the king of Sweden is the Honorary President of the academy.
Prizes
The brief description of the prizes awarded by the Academy are taken from the "priser (Prizes)" section of their web site.Linnaeus prize
This is the older prize awarded by the Academy, named after Carl Linnaeus: the prize was instituted upon a donation by Linnaeus widow, Sara E. Linnaeus, on 8 September 1803.Celsius Medal
This is the most prestigious prize awarded by the Academy, named after Anders CelsiusAnders Celsius
Anders Celsius was a Swedish astronomer. He was professor of astronomy at Uppsala University from 1730 to 1744, but traveled from 1732 to 1735 visiting notable observatories in Germany, Italy and France. He founded the Uppsala Astronomical Observatory in 1741, and in 1742 he proposed the Celsius...
. It was first awarded in 1961, and it is reserved to scientists working in mathematical
Mathematics
Mathematics is the study of quantity, space, structure, and change. Mathematicians seek out patterns and formulate new conjectures. Mathematicians resolve the truth or falsity of conjectures by mathematical proofs, which are arguments sufficient to convince other mathematicians of their validity...
and physical science
Physical science
Physical science is an encompassing term for the branches of natural science and science that study non-living systems, in contrast to the life sciences...
s, and as such, it is awarded upon decision by the "Mathematical
Mathematics
Mathematics is the study of quantity, space, structure, and change. Mathematicians seek out patterns and formulate new conjectures. Mathematicians resolve the truth or falsity of conjectures by mathematical proofs, which are arguments sufficient to convince other mathematicians of their validity...
-Physical
Physics
Physics is a natural science that involves the study of matter and its motion through spacetime, along with related concepts such as energy and force. More broadly, it is the general analysis of nature, conducted in order to understand how the universe behaves.Physics is one of the oldest academic...
class" of the Academy.
Bergstedt prize
This is the second older prize awarded by the Academy, instituted on 12 May 1827, upon a donation by the Secretary of State Erik Bergstedt.Thalen prize
Instituted in 1902, it is named after the physicsPhysics
Physics is a natural science that involves the study of matter and its motion through spacetime, along with related concepts such as energy and force. More broadly, it is the general analysis of nature, conducted in order to understand how the universe behaves.Physics is one of the oldest academic...
professor Robert Thalén.
(Lilly and Sven) Thureus prize
The prize was instituted upon a donation from Lilly and Sven Thureus in 1971: originally it was a single prize, but at present it is awarded yearly upon decision by each one of the four classes of the Academy.Benzeliusbelöningarna (Benzelius grants)
It is a prize, awarded yearly, named after Erik Benzelius the youngerErik Benzelius the younger
Erik Benzelius the younger was a priest, theologian, librarian, and Archbishop of Uppsala, Sweden, 1742–1743. He was a highly learned man and one of Sweden's important Enlightenment figures....
, instituted in 1980 and entirely founded by the Academy: it is meant as a grant to young researchers.