TheScience Council was established by Royal Charter in 2003 with theobjects to advance science and its applications for public benefit.

Itis a membership organisation for learned and professional bodies acrossscience and its applications and works with them to represent thissector to government and others.

TheScience Council promotes the profession of scientist through theChartered Scientist designation and the development of codes ofpractice it promotes awareness of the contribution of professionalscientists to science and society and advances science education andincreased understanding of the benefits of science.

TheScience Council provides a forum for discussion and exchange of viewsand works to foster collaboration between member organisations and thewider science, technology, engineering, mathematics and medicalcommunities to enable inter-disciplinary contributions to sciencepolicy and the application of science.

The Special Interest Groupscover scientific issues in the education, health and sustainabilitysectors, and operate in partnership with other organisations toidentify and act upon major issues relevant to their sectors. Thepolicy groups are composed of experts in the sector from memberorganisations and invited advisors from organisations with significantinfluence in the sector.

In October 2003 the Science Council wasgranted a Royal Charter, which enables it to licence appropriateprofessional institutions to award the designation Chartered Scientist (CSci) to individual scientists who meet the high standards for the qualification.

The Science Council acts on behalf of itsmember organisations to ensure consistent high standards of practiceand continuing professional development (CPD) for scientists andtechnologists throughout their careers. One of the many advantages ofthe CSci designation is the requirement for CPD which is monitoredthrough the five-year revalidation process.