The Geological Society of London is a learned society based in England with the aim of "investigating the mineral structure of the Earth". It is the oldest national geological society in the world and the largest in Europe with over 9000 Fellows entitled to the postnominal FGS - over 2000 of whom are Chartered Geologists (CGeol). The Society is a Registered Charity, No 210161. A learned society is a society that exists to promote an academic discipline or group of disciplines. ... Royal motto (French): Dieu et mon droit (Translated: God and my right) Englands location within the British Isles Languages English (de facto) Capital London de facto Largest city London Area – Total Ranked 1st UK 130,395 km² Population – Total (mid-2004) – Total (2001 Census) – Density Ranked 1st UK 50. ...

The Society was founded in 1807. It was partly the outcome of a previous club known as the Askesian Society, and among the more prominent founders were William Babington, Humphry Davy and George Bellas Greenough. It received its Royal Charter in 1825 from George IV. 1807 was a common year starting on Thursday (see link for calendar). ... The Askesian Society was a social club for scientific thinkers, established in 1796 in London and lasting for about twenty years. ... William Babington (May 21, 1756 - April 29, 1833) was a British physician and mineralogist. ... Sir Humphry Davy. ... George Bellas Greenough (January 18, 1778 - April 2, 1855), English geologist, was born in London. ... 1825 was a common year starting on Saturday (see link for calendar). ... George IV (George Augustus Frederick) (12 August 1762 – 26 June 1830) was King of the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Ireland and Hanover from 29 January 1820. ...

In 1831 it began issuing an annual scientific award for geology, known as the Wollaston Medal. This is still the Society's premier medal, which in 2006 will be awarded to James Lovelock, the co founder of the so-called "Gaia Hypothesis". The Wollaston Medal is a scientific award for geology, the highest award granted by the Geological Society of London. ...

Since 1874 the Society has been based at Burlington House, Piccadilly, London. It is a member of the UK Science Council. Burlington House is a courtyard building off Picadilly in London. ... Piccadilly is a major London street, running from Hyde Park Corner in the west to Piccadilly Circus in the east. ... The Houses of Parliament and the clock tower containing Big Ben Part of the London skyline viewed from the South Bank London is the capital of the United Kingdom and England. ... The Science Council is the umbrella body covering scientific professional institutes and learned societies in the UK. Together, the member organisations cover over 150,000 scientists. ...

As the Society prepares for its bicentennial celebrations in 2007 a number of programmes are in hand to raise the profile of the geosciences in Britain and abroad under the auspices of the well-known popular science writer and palaeontologist Professor Richard Fortey, the President over that year. Professor Richard A. Fortey FRS (born 1946 in London) is a British paleontologist and writer, currently a Merit Researcher at the Natural History Museum in London. ...

See also

• Geology of the United Kingdom

Geological map of Great Britain. ...

External link

• The Geological Society