The [[The Royal Society of London for Improving Natural Knowledge|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, recognising excellence in science, supporting outstanding science, providing scientific advice for policy, education and public engagement and fostering international and global co-operation. Founded on [[1660-12-28|28 November 1660]], it is the oldest continuously existing scientific academy in the world.