The Royal Society of Western Australia (RSWA) promotes
science
Science is a systematic discipline that builds and organises knowledge in the form of testable hypotheses and predictions about the universe. Modern science is typically divided into twoor threemajor branches: the natural sciences, which stu ...
in
Western Australia
Western Australia (WA) is the westernmost state of Australia. It is bounded by the Indian Ocean to the north and west, the Southern Ocean to the south, the Northern Territory to the north-east, and South Australia to the south-east. Western Aust ...
.
The RSWA was founded in 1914, and also gained the "Royal" name in the same year. It publishes the ''Journal of the Royal Society of Western Australia'', and has awarded the
Medal of the Royal Society of Western Australia (also known incorrectly as the Kelvin Medal) on an occasional basis since 1924.
Journal
The ''Journal of the Royal Society of Western Australia'' is a quarterly
peer-reviewed
Peer review is the evaluation of work by one or more people with similar competencies as the producers of the work ( peers). It functions as a form of self-regulation by qualified members of a profession within the relevant field. Peer review ...
scientific journal
In academic publishing, a scientific journal is a periodical publication designed to further the progress of science by disseminating new research findings to the scientific community. These journals serve as a platform for researchers, schola ...
covering scientific research carried out in
Western Australia
Western Australia (WA) is the westernmost state of Australia. It is bounded by the Indian Ocean to the north and west, the Southern Ocean to the south, the Northern Territory to the north-east, and South Australia to the south-east. Western Aust ...
, or on topics related to Western Australia. It is the official journal of the Society and traces its roots to the ''Journal and Proceedings of the Mueller Botanic Society of Western Australia'' published from 1899 to 1903. The Mueller Botanic Society became the West Australian Natural History Society in 1903, and from 1904 to 1909, the journal was published as ''Journal of the West Australian Natural History Society''. In 1909 the society again changed its name, becoming the Natural History and Science Society of Western Australia, and its journal was subsequently published as ''Journal of the Natural History and Science Society of Western Australia'' until 1914. In that year, the Royal Society of Western Australia was established, and the journal obtained its present name.
Awards
*
RWSA Medal or Kelvin Gold Medal
*Doug Clarke Medal
*Student Medal
*Prizes
History
The Mueller Botanic Society was presided over by E. J. Bickford and F. Tratman from its foundation in 1897. It was later to join with the West Australian Natural History Society, and renamed the Natural History and Science Society of Western Australia.
The first president of the Royal Society was
W. J. Dakin, serving from 1913 until his replacement in 1915 by
Andrew Gibb Maitland. Past presidents have included the palaeontologist
Duncan Merrilees (1966–1967).
Sylvia Hallam was the first women president (1985–1986).
Publications
* ''Journal and Proceedings'' (1915-1924)
* ''Journal'' (1924-current)
References
External links
*
History of the Medal and its name
1914 establishments in Australia
Society of Western Australia, Royal
Learned societies of Australia
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