Perthshire Society of Natural Science
Environment, Nature and Cultural Heritage.
From a time of pandemic, members look back over their time in PSNS and think about the future. Please contribute as well. Here’s how. Looking Back: Ornithology Bird Watching and the Birds of Perth and Kinross: A record of change Continue reading 2021 Looking Forward : Looking Back
150th Anniversary events The Botanical Section invited the Radio Scotland Out of Doors programme to the Birks of Aberfeldy to interview the Section’s dandelion expert. Dame Evelyn Glennie concert and talk First Season of Curious Minds winter season talks PSNS Continue reading 2017: The 150th Anniversary of PSNS
The winter season keynote talks are rebranded ‘Curious Minds’ and focus on the latest scientific research in Scotland. Continue reading 2016 – Curious Minds Lecture Series
Open to all, the Society’s sections continued to explore, record and influence the world around them, supporting initiatives such as the Tay and Fife Archaeological Committee and networking with like minded organisation. Extensive photographic, botanical, and ornithological records were published Continue reading PSNS People 1980’s – 2020
Perhaps the longest serving PSNS member – ever – Rhoda Fothergill became Secretary of the Society in 1968 and remained so for 47 years. Rhoda studied in Edinburgh, St Andrews and Dundee, but lived most of her life in Perth. Continue reading 1990’s A Social Record – Rhoda Fotheringham publishes historical guides to Perth
Dr W H Findlay was a Consultant at PRI from 1948 to 1970 and President of both the PSNS and the Photographic Section. From the 1950s to the 1980s he amassed a huge collection of photographs of Perth’s townscape. More Continue reading 1984 Social Record: Dr W H Finlay publishes Photographs ‘Heritage of Perth’
‘The idea of planting a commemorative grove of trees on that part of Moncreiffe Island north of the railway bridge has also been put into effect. These trees, Scots Pines interplanted with a few Grey Alders and Golden Osiers, will Continue reading 1967 100th Anniversary of PSNS
The study of birds has always been a major interest of the Society and many members and supporters donated bird skins for the museum’s collections during the Society’s first fifty years. The Ornithological Section was formed in 1963 by Valerie Continue reading 1963 Ornithology Section hatches
Post war, the scope of science accelerated rapidly into highly specialised areas. Leading scientists gave talks at well attended meetings. Local people continued to explore and record, encouraged by the academics and practitioners who retired to Perthshire. James Menzies (1854 Continue reading PSNS People 1940-1980
The Botanical Section, established in 1957, continues the work begun by the Society in the nineteenth century of studying and recording the distribution of plants in the area. The tradition of regular field excursions continues to increase scientific knowledge and Continue reading 1957 Botanical Section inaugurated
Started as lectures for schools, these annual lectures ran until 1955. They recommenced 1n 1976 and ran until 1994.
11 January 1946 First monthly lecture of PSNS since 1940 given by Dr C A Beevers, EdinburghUniversity on “Recent Discoveries in the Atomic Structure of Matter” (Proc, vol 10, xxxiii).
10 August 1935 New art gallery and museum opened by Duke of York (later George VI) (Proc, vol 9, lxxxv).
1928-29 First children’s natural history drawing and painting competition held (Proc, vol 9, iii).
The Society continued to embrace an enlightened and accessible approach to membership. Influencial members included Sir Patrick Geddes FRSE (1854 – 1932), a Scottish biologist, sociologist, geographer, philanthropist and pioneering town planner Sir D’Arcy Wentworth Thompson CB FRS FRSE (1860 Continue reading PSNS People 1900-1940