I recently visited the Royal Society (26.09.19) to attend my first Dorothy Hodgkin Fellow’s Networking Event.
The event began with a talk from Sir John Skehel FRS FMedSci, Biological Secretary and Vice-President of the Royal Society. There were also talks from current and past DHF awardees, addressing the challenges and opportunities of a DHF.
Some pretty radiolaria!
The event provided a great opportunity to meet current DHFs. It was also great to visit the Royal Society. This is the oldest national scientific institution in the world and was formed in 1663 by Christopher Wren (amongst others). Since then, the the Royal Society has elected nearly 8,000 fellows, including Isaac Newton, Charles Darwin, Robert Hooke (my favourite polymath), Dorothy Hodgkin and Joceyln Bell.
I also learnt that the building itself (6-9 Carlton Terrace) has only been home to the Royal Society since 1967 and was previously inhabited by the German Embassy (including during WWII). Prior to 1967, the Royal Society was based at Burlington House (i.e. where the Geological Society is based).