History

The Society was formed in 1985 when a group of Lichfield residents realized that, though there were a number of people living in and near the City with an interest in technical matters, there was no local organisation where they could meet. The decision to found the Society grew also from a desire to encourage young people to pursue a career in science, engineering and technology. There are now over 250 members, who range from some at the very top of their profession to interested amateurs, whose experience is valued too. There are 11 schools in corporate membership.

The aims of the Lichfield Science & Engineering Society are:

• To arrange activities, including lectures and visits, co-operating when appropriate with other technical institutions.
  
  
• To provide information on industry, science and engineering to local schools and to assist pupils on the choice of careers.
  
  
• To undertake other activities which may contribute to the understanding and development of science and engineering within the Lichfield neighbourhood.

Erasmus Darwin, grandfather of Charles, practised as a general practitioner in Lichfield for 25 years. His interests and achievements ranged from medicine, through the industrial arts of invention and manufacture, to botany and poetry, and we are in a sense building on his inspiration in interdisciplinary science.

A Lichfield landmark is Erasmus Darwin’s house in the Cathedral Close. In 1994 the Erasmus Darwin Foundation was founded to restore it, develop it as a fitting memorial to Erasmus Darwin, open it to the public and develop educational resources in the many fields in which he was eminent.