The Challenger Society for Marine Science (or Challenger Society) is a

learned society A learned society (; also learned academy, scholarly society, or academic association) is an organization that exists to promote an discipline (academia), academic discipline, profession, or a group of related disciplines such as the arts and s ...

established in 1903 in the

United Kingdom The United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland, commonly known as the United Kingdom (UK) or Britain, is a country in Europe, off the north-western coast of the continental mainland. It comprises England, Scotland, Wales and North ...

around the interdisciplinary subject of

marine science Oceanography (), also known as oceanology and ocean science, is the scientific study of the oceans. It is an Earth science, which covers a wide range of topics, including ecosystem dynamics; ocean currents, Wind wave, waves, and geophysical flu ...

. The central objectives of the Challenger Society are: * To advance the study of marine science through research and education; * To disseminate knowledge of marine science with a view to encouraging a wider interest in the study of the world's oceans and an awareness of the need for their proper management; * To contribute to public debate on the development of marine science.

History

The Challenger Society was founded in 1903 by two

British British may refer to: Peoples, culture, and language * British people, nationals or natives of the United Kingdom, British Overseas Territories, and Crown Dependencies. ** Britishness, the British identity and common culture * British English, ...

scientists, the

zoologist Zoology ()The pronunciation of zoology as is usually regarded as nonstandard, though it is not uncommon. is the branch of biology that studies the Animal, animal kingdom, including the anatomy, structure, embryology, evolution, Biological clas ...

George Herbert Fowler George Herbert Fowler (4 September 1861, Lincoln – 15 August 1940, Aspley Guise) was an English zoologist, historian and archivist. Fowler was educated at Marlborough College, Eton College and Keble College, Oxford. From 1887 to 1889 he was a ...

and the

physician A physician (American English), medical practitioner (Commonwealth English), medical doctor, or simply doctor, is a health professional who practices medicine, which is concerned with promoting, maintaining or restoring health through th ...

Richard Norris Wolfenden Richard Norris Wolfenden (1854-1926) was an English physician and oceanographer. Life Wolfenden was educated at Christ's College, Cambridge. He practised as a London physician, and lectured in physiology at the Charing Cross Hospital medical ...

. The Society was named in honour of , which undertook the first global marine research survey, the ''Challenger'' expedition, between 1872 and 1876. When it was founded, the Society had 25 members who met four times annually in the

Royal Society The Royal Society, formally The Royal Society of London for Improving Natural Knowledge, is a learned society and the United Kingdom's national academy of sciences. The society fulfils a number of roles: promoting science and its benefits, re ...

rooms of

Burlington House Burlington House is a building on Piccadilly in Mayfair, London. It was originally a private Neo-Palladian mansion owned by the Earls of Burlington and was expanded in the mid-19th century after being purchased by the British government. Toda ...

London London is the capital and largest city of England and the United Kingdom, with a population of just under 9 million. It stands on the River Thames in south-east England at the head of a estuary down to the North Sea, and has been a majo ...

. The Challenger Society has a current membership of several hundred scientists and students. The Society publishes the

journal A journal, from the Old French ''journal'' (meaning "daily"), may refer to: *Bullet journal, a method of personal organization *Diary, a record of what happened over the course of a day or other period *Daybook, also known as a general journal, a ...

''Ocean Challenge'' three times a year, together with a monthly newsletter, ''Challenge Wave''. Every two years since 1984, the Society holds a four-day conference, the ''Challenger Conference for Marine Science'' (formerly known as ''UK Oceanography''). This conference typically attracts around 300 delegates and its location is rotated around the key marine-based research centres and universities within the UK. The most recent conference in September 2015 was hosted at

Sheffield University , mottoeng = To discover the causes of things , established = – University of SheffieldPredecessor institutions: – Sheffield Medical School – Firth College – Sheffield Technical School – University College of Sheffield , type = Pu ...

References

External links

Challenger Society homepage

social network A social network is a social structure made up of a set of social actors (such as individuals or organizations), sets of dyadic ties, and other social interactions between actors. The social network perspective provides a set of methods for an ...

aiming to "re-photograph the voyage of HMS ''Challenger''" {{authority control Geographic societies Oceanographic organizations Organizations established in 1903 Learned societies of the United Kingdom Scientific societies based in the United Kingdom 1903 establishments in the United Kingdom