To mark the 250th Anniversary of the foundation of The Royal Society for the
encouragement of Arts, Manufactures & Commerce (the RSA) which was founded
in 1754, a Coffee House Challenge is being launched throughout the nation.
Dr Samuel Johnson was one of the founder members of the RSA which used to
meet in London’s coffee houses. To mark the event, there will be a
discussion to devise a ‘Scientists Oath’ on Saturday 24th April at 11am
until 1215 pm in the Dr Samuel Johnson Birthplace Museum, Lichfield which
Michael Fabricant will be attending. Michael was recently made a Fellow of
the Royal Society and has been invited by EurPhys Francisco Da Costa FRSA,
FCPS, Cphys who has organised the event.

Mr Da Costa has arranged a series of meetings for scientists, the judiciary,
the Royal Institution and members of the community to attend (maximum of 12
people per meeting) in order to discuss the possibility of initiating a
‘Scientists Oath’. Mr Da Costa says "As a European and chartered
physicist, I feel that our group may be able to formulate an oath and that
Michael Fabricant’s experiences as a chartered engineer and MP would be
invaluable to this Royal Society of Arts meeting."

Michael Fabricant says: "With its strong Lichfield connections through Dr
Johnson, I am delighted to attend this meeting which is part of the
national celebration of the 250th Anniversary of the founding of the Royal
Society. With so much controversy surrounding genetic and other research, a
‘Scientists Oath’ – rather like the doctors’ Hippocratic Oath – would
seem an idea which is now overdue."