The Royal Institution of Great Britain

Who we are

Welcome to the Royal Institution, where our vision is that science is for everyone.

Our charitable mission is to bring the public and scientists together to share their interest and passion for science. We believe there should be equitable access to science, and that people’s desire to engage with science and scientists should be nourished.

We help more people to discover science and engage more deeply. We create spaces for scientists and the public to explore science together. We inspire students to see a future with science. We empower people to explore and get involved. And we offer charitable support to those, such as young people in disadvantaged communities, who might otherwise not be able to engage with science.

We’ve been doing it for 225 years, with an international reach, working with world-leading scientists, from Hannah Fry to Carlo Rovelli and Dame Sue Black to Sean Carroll.

We are a home for science and everyone is welcome.

Our culture and values

Our belief

Science transforms lives and underpins the modern world – from health to the latest technology, the environment, and the furthest reaches of our universe. Science is part of culture, but not everyone has the same opportunity to engage. The Ri believes there should be equitable access to science, and that people’s desire to engage with science and scientists should be nourished.

The Ri is a charity that brings the public and scientists together to share their interest and passion for science. We empower people to explore and get involved. We are a home for science and everyone is welcome.

Our Values

Welcoming - We are open, friendly and accessible. We are inclusive and diverse, sharing science with people from all backgrounds, all places and all levels of knowledge and interest: from leading scientists to anyone who is curious about the world around them.

Experimental - For 200 years we have innovated and played with how science is shared with the public, presenting it in thrilling and invigorating ways. By being experimental in how we work and engage we build deep and sustained connections to science.

Impactful - We are focused on making a positive impact to people’s lives. We listen to our audiences. We evaluate what we achieve and how we achieve it. We demonstrate success.

Collaborative - We co-operate and co-create with others – within the Ri, with the public, with organisations across the scientific community and beyond.

Open - We don’t believe the story of science is ours alone, or that we have all the knowledge and ideas. We are a platform for discussion and debate, recognising that there may be as many questions as answers.