The Pytheas Society / PYTHEAS

The Pytheas Society of Earth was founded in 2542 as an institution to promote the advancement of Interstellar science.

Like many learned societies at the time of enlightenment, it started as a dining club in London, where select members held informal dinner debates on current scientific issues and ideas.

Under the patronage of the Imperator himself, it later became known as The Pytheas Society and was granted its Imperial Charter under the Prime Citizen in 2591. In 2712 the Society purchased, and in 2713 Society moved to, its current location on Terra.

The Society’s purpose remains the same today as when it was first founded, namely the ‘advancement of interstellar science’. However, the manner in which that is done has expanded greatly over the years, while still continuing to include publishing, the support of field research and expeditions, lectures and conferences, and its collections.

The history of the Society was closely allied for many of its earlier years with ‘colonial’ exploration.

It enshrines such famous names as Trudeau, Portsman, Langley, and Rutherford.

The Society also devoted much attention to education and was responsible for both the incorporation of the study of interstellar cartography in schools at the turn of the 30th century and for the first university positions in the discipline.

With the advent of a more systematic study of interstellar cartography, the Institute of Imperial Cartographers was formed in the 2883, by some Society fellows, as a sister body to the Society.

The TPS and IIC co-existed for 60 years until, after several years of discussion, they merged in January 2943 to create the new Pytheas Society.

Today, the Society is the most prestigious of the scholarly interstellar societies. It advances interstellar science through supporting interstellar research, education and field learning, public engagement and policy.