Physiology Showcase: Celebrating 150 years of the Society in Parliament
As part of the Physiological Society’s 150th celebrations in 2026, we are hosting an anniversary reception and ‘Physiology Showcase’ in the Houses of Parliament on the evening of Tuesday 20 October.
The Society shaping physiology into the policy landscape
The Society was founded in 1876 in response to the Royal Commission on the practice of subjecting live animals to experiments for scientific purposes and to ensure that scientific discovery was not impeded by the 1876 Cruelty to Animals Act. As such, the Society and its members have taken a keen interest in how the policy landscape can support scientific innovation since our inception 150 years ago.
150th anniversary reception
The event is being hosted by Sam Carling MP, Chair of the Parliamentary and Scientific Committee and will include guests drawn from the Society’s membership and supporters of our policy work. The event will include short remarks from the Chair of the P&SC alongside the President of the Physiological Society, the Society’s CEO and a Minister from the Department of Science, Innovation and Technology (DSIT). This will then be followed by an exhibition of research and its impact from members drawn from across the different subdisciplines of physiology and representing the geographical spread of the Society’s members across all four nations of the UK and beyond.
Physiology Showcase: Call for exhibitors
As part of this 150th anniversary reception, a limited number of exhibitors will be selected to participate in our parliamentary showcase, to highlight the important role of physiology and physiologists, in helping to solve global challenges. As exhibition space is limited, participation will be through a competitive selection process. Applications will be assessed on the basis of:
- Scientific excellence and innovation
- Relevance to public policy and societal challenges
- Current or potential impact on health, wellbeing, healthcare, animals, or the environment
- Ability to engage policymakers and non-specialist audiences
- Suitability for exhibition in a parliamentary setting.
We are seeking exhibits that demonstrate how physiological research is helping to improve the health of humans, animals, and the planet. We welcome applications from across the full breadth of physiology, spanning discovery science through to clinical, translational, and applied research.