The institute of navigation has been formed to promote the interests of science and of practical navigation, by uniting together in a scientific body those who are concerned with or are interested in the science and art of navigation. For navigation is both a science and an art, whose development must be based upon the knowledge and experience of many different types of persons. The formation of the Institute was stimulated by the formation in 1945 in the United States of an Institute with the same aims; it is likely that similar Institutes will be formed in other countries also. Arrangements are in hand whereby the members of either the British or the American Institute will have the privileges of both, and it is planned to form an international committee to co-ordinate the work of the various separate Institutes. In navigation, as in other branches of science, there is much to be gained by international co-ordination and co-operation.