About

Welcome to the Royal College of Science Association, the home of science alumni, students and faculty at Imperial College London, the world’s leading science, medicine and engineering innovation university for over 110 years.

Click here to see our Constitution & Rules

Click here to see our Strategy to 2026

Affiliations & Links

The Royal College of Science Union (RCSU) (click here for RCSU Newsletters)

Royal College of Science Motor Club

The ORCS Darts Club

The RCSA Double Elevens Darts Club

The ’22 Club

The XV Club

Imperial College

Imperial College Union (click here for help setting up an ICU account)

Imperial College Alumni

(If you would like to suggest a group, club or association for listing here, please email the Committee.)

A Brief History

The Royal College of Science Association (RCSA) was set up in 1908 and is a Chapter under the Imperial College Association umbrella comprising the former students from the Departments of Biochemistry, Biology, Chemistry, Maths and Physics (collectively termed the “Royal College of Science”) at the Imperial College of Science, Technology and Medicine, in London, UK.

The first President was the author H G Wells, whose books include The Time Machine and War of the Worlds.

The RCS Chant: The Kangela

A traditional song apparently sung back in the day – originating in 1950 and still going in the 1980s. (Apparently derived from a Zulu fertility chant – maybe you’ll get lucky…)

Exec member ONLY: Ladies and Gentlemen of the RCS, Are you in good voice?
ALL: YES!
Exec member: Then let’s have a KANGELA!
ALL:
Kangela Armadola
Kangela Armadola
Kangela Armadola
Teia, Teia, Teia,
Pakamisso, Pakamisso,
Inkangala, Kubinala,
Watsi, R.C.S.
Hooray!

Past Presidents

Below is a list of all of the Presidents of the Royal College of Science Association from H G Wells in 1909 to the current President.

1909-1910	Mr H G Wells
1910-1911	Sir Thomas Holland K.C.S.I., K.C.I.E., F.R.S.
1911-1912	Sir Alexander Pedler C.I.E., F.R.S.
1912-1913	Sir William Crookes O.M., F.R.S.
1913-1914	Dr A E H Hutton F.R.S.
1914-1919	Professor H E Armstrong F.R.S.
1919-1922	Sir Richard Gregory Bart., F.R.S.
1922-1924	Professor L Bairstow C.B.E., F.R.S.
1924-1926	Sir Herbert Wright
1926-1928	Professor J W Hinchley
1928-1930	Mr J Whitehead K.C.
1930-1932	Sir Gilbert Morgan O.B.E., F.R.S.
1932-1934	Professor J C Philip O.B.E., F.R.S.
1934-1936	Professor W W Watts F.R.S.
1936-1938	Instructor Rear-Admiral Sir Arthur E Hall K.B.E., C.B.
1938-1946	Lt-Colonel P C Bull D.S.O.
1946-1948	Dr H J T Ellingham O.B.E.
1948-1950	Mr J F Ronca O.B.E.
1950-1952	Assistant Professor H R Hewer
1952-1954	Mr F P Dunn
1954-1956	Professor H V A Briscoe
1956-1958	Dr E H T Hoblyn M.B.E.
1958-1960	Dr L A Jordon C.B.E.
1960-1962	Mr A A Eldridge
1962-1964	Mr M Bogod
1964-1966	Professor D M Newitt M.C., F.R.S.
1966-1969	Mr A P Buchanan
1969-1972	Dr R W B Stephens
1972-1975	Dr J D Kendall
1975-1977	Mr W L Hewlett
1977-1979	Professor W K Hayman F.R.S.
1979-1981	Dr A C C Newman
1981-1983	Dr B Atkinson
1983-1985	Mr P Coaker
1985-1987	Dr L L Katan
1987-1989	Professor J F Levy
1989-1991	Mr B F Middleton
1991-1993	Mr M D C Campbell
1993-1996	Mrs C Nuttall
1996-1998	Mr K Arundale
1998-2002	Dr MC Black
2002-2007	Dr D L James
2007-2012	Mr J Sanderson
2012-2017	Mr R J Park M.R.I.
2017-2022	Mr M S Dulloo
2022-	Mr M J Munroe

The RCSA Prize

A prestigious prize originating in 1997 and awarded annually at Commemoration Day to a student “who has excelled academically and made a great all-round contribution to the College“.