A philomatic society is an association of persons who love sciences. The term "philomatic" (in French, philomathique) is no longer in use. The philomatic societies were influential in the nineteenth century. The most remarkable was the Philomatic Society of Paris (Société Philomathique de Paris). Société Philomathique de Paris This Society was created on 10 December 1788 by Augustin-François de Silvestre, Alexandre Brogniard, Audirac, Broval, Petit and Riche. It was defined by J.-André Thomas, one of its members, as: "La Société Philomathique de Paris est une société scientifique et philosophique pluridisciplinaire, de haut niveau. On en devient membre par cooptation, puis par vote de substitution, car le nombre de ses adhérents est limité. Elle est républicaine, non secrète, entièrement ouverte à la connaissance, farouchement indépendante; elle cultive l'authenticité, la tolérance, la liberté." "The Philomatic Society of Paris is a high-level multidisciplinary scientific and philosophical society. One becomes a member by co-option, then by substitution vote as the number of members is limited. The Society is republican, non-secret, and fully open to knowledge, fiercely independent; it promotes authenticity, tolerance and freedom." Many great scientists belonged to the Société: Lavoisier, Laplace, Lacroix, Cuvier, Gay-Lussac, Ampère, Cauchy, Fresnel, Pasteur, Becquerel, De Broglie. Since 1944, the Société has had several Nobel Prizes awarded to scientists among its members, and has, today: Françoise Barré-Sinoussi, Emmanuelle Charpentier, Claude Cohen-Tannoudji, Jean-Marie Lehn, Michel Mayor, and Gérard Mourou. It also has had seventeen emeritus members (including Dirac, Heisenberg, Morgan, and Planck). The Société still exists, although it is less influential, partly due to lack of funds. French provinces Another society based in Saint-Dié (Vosges) uses the alternative spelling 'philomatique'. The Association philomathique d'Alsace et de Lorraine (Strasbourg) and the Académie philomatique ancienne also existed. At Bordeaux the Société Philomathique (founded 1808) was responsible for the Exposition de Bordeaux held from May to November 1895 (the 13th exhibition organised by that society). - Publications (available on Gallica) Bulletin de la Société philomathique de Bordeaux, 1856-1897; Bulletin de l'Association des anciens lauréats des classes d'adultes de la Société philomathique de Bordeaux, 1885; Revue philomathique de Bordeaux et du Sud-Ouest, 1897-1939. Société philomatique de Perpignan. – Publication: Bulletin de la Société philomathique de Perpignan, 1835-1839, ; Société philomathique de Verdun (fondée en 1822). – Publication : Mémoires de la Société philomathique de Verdun : Meuse, 1840-1953, . Société philomatique vosgienne (founded 1875). Philomathic Literary Society at the University of South Carolina The