Charitable objectives

Our charitable objectives

The Society's charitable objects are to 'promote, for the benefit of the public, the advancement of physiology, and facilitate the intercourse of physiologists both at home and abroad, and thereby contribute to the progress and understanding of biomedical and related sciences and the detection, prevention and treatment of disease, disability and malfunction of physical processes in all forms of life'.

The major activities we undertake to achieve our charitable objects include publishing two journals, supporting a number of scientific meetings annually, and awarding grants to allow Members to travel to scientific meetings and to carry out research collaborations. Interaction with outside bodies is encouraged through representation on various councils and committees, and active membership of the Society of Biology and the Federation of European Physiological Societies.

Our strategic objectives

1. To support physiological research through publications and scientific meetings

• foster the highest quality science and research ethics within the discipline of physiology
• publish scientific journals that aim to be at the top of their peer group for scientific quality, ethics and impact, and which provide significant financial support to facilitate the other activities of The Society
• support scientific meetings of outstanding international quality and relevance for the broadest possible range of physiological disciplines, with very high standards of presentation and discussion. These should provide ample opportunities for young investigators to present their findings to the most relevant experts in the field promote links with physiologists in other countries and to foster physiology internationally

2. To support education in physiology

• encourage a high quality entry of school leavers into UK and Irish undergraduate courses which provide a proper training in physiology
• develop physiology as a central component of modern biology in the context of changes to university infrastructures and to promote its teaching in biological, physiological and applied physiological courses (such as medicine, dentistry and veterinary medicine)
• support and encourage physiologists at formative stages in their careers
• provide training opportunities in new techniques of value to physiologists

3. To communicate the importance of physiology

• foster a clear medical, public and government understanding of physiology, highlighting contributions to medicine, society and the economy

4. To support our membership and maintain our operations

• actively increase and broaden the membership base of The Society
• work with other national and international learned societies in closely related scientific disciplines to share resources and organise joint initiatives, while still retaining a clear and prominent identity
• have a financial and investment strategy that generates sufficient income to achieve The Society’s objectives, with contingency plans for a range of future scenarios
• build an efficient administrative and governance structure to support these aims. To develop an administrative group that is pro-active, adds expertise and value so that the Council can concentrate on strategic matters and the Executive Committee can direct and monitor implementation

Public benefit

As a charitable organisation that is recognised and registered as a charity in England and Wales, we are legally required to demonstrate that our aims are for the public benefit.

Our public benefit statement:

The charitable purposes of The Society are the advancement of science, the advancement of health and the advancement of education. The benefits provided by The Society are the publication of scientific journals, the holding of meetings and conferences to disseminate advances in physiology, the provision of educational materials relating to physiology including the provision of grants to support attendance at scientific meetings, educational activities and training courses and information to the public and in response to consultations. We support our Members who conduct research, providing that this is within the principles of UK legislation.

The beneficiaries of The Society include those involved in research, teaching or studying physiology in industry, universities, colleges and schools. Members of the public who wish to learn more about physiology are beneficiaries and all will ultimately benefit from physiological advances that promote health and treat disease. Further beneficiaries are other charities promoting science, education and health.

Some benefits are restricted to Members of The Society who are scientists or scientific trainees. These benefits (e.g. grants to present work at scientific meetings or access to specialist training courses) would not be relevant to the public. Other benefits such as educational materials, scientific publications and outreach events are available to all.

Provisions are in place for those on low incomes. Membership and registration fees are reduced or waived for students and for those from developing countries. Educational materials and our magazine are available to all free of charge. Our journals are offered at a reduced price in developing countries and are freely available to all after twelve months. Publishing work in our journals is free to authors. Private benefits are incidental and mainly consist of prizes for exceptional scientific or educational achievements