Research Societies and the Advancement of Nursing Science.

Congratulations to the Western Institute of Nursing (WIN)! This year, WIN celebrates the 60th anniversary of its founding and the 50th anniversary of its Communicating Nursing Research conference. Both these exciting milestones are opportunities for reflecting on the history and ongoing importance of research societies to the advancement of science in general and to nursing science. The first meeting of a learned society for science met in London in 1660 (The Royal Society, 2017). As natural philosophers and physicians, theRoyal Societymembershipwas committed to supporting the highest standards in science and communication of discovery in science. Their Philosophical Transactions, first published in 1665, stands as the longest published journal in science. The Society timeline shows the incredible contributions that members have made to the general well-being of society, made possible in part through the supporting structures provided to scientists: opportunities for sharing their work and having it critiqued, obtaining grant funding, and creating an atmosphere for ensuring sustainability of science. Research societies have likewise played a critical role in advancing nursing science.Within the United States, WIN began in 1957 as theWesternCouncil onHigher Education for Nursing. In 1970, the American Nurses Association authorized establishment of a Council (Cabinet) of Nurse Researchers. The Cabinet operated to gain support for nursing research at the federal level (American Nurses Association, n.d.; National Institute of Nursing Research & Cantelon, 2010, p. 6). In 1975, the Midwest Nursing Research Society was founded; in 1988, the Eastern Nursing Research Society began; in 1986, the Southern Nursing Research Society was established, with membership extended to include the Caribbean Latin America and the Bahamas in 1991. In 2000, the American Nurses Association Cabinet was superseded by the Council for the Advancement of Nursing Science (CANS), an open membership entity of the American Academy of Nursing. Council for the Advancement of Nursing Science aims for “better health through nursing research” with a strong voice at the national and international levels, dissemination of nursing research, and support for life-long learning for nurse scientists (www. nursingscience.org). During these times and up through the present, similar efforts to establish societies dedicated to the