 frame|right|"british science association" logo frame|right|"the ba" logo  the british science association, formerly known as british association for the advancement of science or the ba, (founded 1831) is a learned society with the object of promoting science, directing general attention to scientific matters, and facilitating interaction between scientific workers. its youth wing is the british association of young scientists. ==history== ===foundation=== the association was founded in 1831 and modelled on the german gesellschaft deutscher naturforscher und Ãrzte.the german organisation was founded in 1822, see gesellschaft deutscher naturforscher und Ãrzte (german language wikipedia article). the prime mover (who is regarded as the main founder) was reverend william vernon harcourt, following a suggestion by sir david brewster, who was disillusioned with the elitist and conservative attitude of the royal society. brewster, charles babbage, william whewell and j. f. w. johnstondavid knight, 'johnston, james finlay weir (1796â1855)', oxford dictionary of national biography, oxford university press, 2004. are also considered to be founding members. the first meeting was held in york (at the yorkshire museum) on tuesday 27 september 1831 with various scientific papers being presented on the following days. it was chaired by lord milton, president of the yorkshire philosophical society, and "upwards of 300 gentlemen" attended the meeting.caledonian mercury, 6 october 1831. the preston mercury recorded that those gathered consisted of "persons of distinction from various parts of the kingdom, together with several of the gentry of yorkshire and the members of philosopher societies in this country". the newspaper published the names of over a hundred of those attending and these included, amongst others, eighteen clergymen, eleven doctors, four knights, two viscounts and one lord.preston chronicle, 8 october 1831. from that date onwards a meeting was held annually at a place chosen at a previous meeting. in 1832, for example, the meeting was held in oxford, chaired by reverend dr william buckland. by this stage the association had four sections: physics (including mathematics and mechanical arts), chemistry (including mineralogy and chemical arts), geology (including geography
1831_establishments_in_the_United_Kingdom Learned_societies_of_the_United_Kingdom Science_festivals Scientific_organisations_based_in_the_United_Kingdom Scientific_societies