National Academy of Sciences
The National Academy of Sciences (NAS) is a private, non-profit society of distinguished scholars engaged in scientific and engineering research, dedicated to the furtherance of science and technology and to their use for the general welfare. Upon the authority of the charter granted to it by the United States Congress, the Academy has a mandate that requires it to advise the federal government on scientific and technical matters.
History[edit]
The National Academy of Sciences was established in 1863 by an Act of Congress, signed by President Abraham Lincoln, as a result of the need for an independent body to advise the government on scientific matters. The founding of the NAS was influenced by the Civil War, which highlighted the need for scientific expertise in military and industrial matters.
The first president of the NAS was Alexander Dallas Bache, a prominent scientist and great-grandson of Benjamin Franklin. Other notable founding members included Joseph Henry, the first Secretary of the Smithsonian Institution, and William Barton Rogers, founder of the Massachusetts Institute of Technology.
Organization and Membership[edit]
The NAS is part of the National Academies of Sciences, Engineering, and Medicine, which also includes the National Academy of Engineering (NAE) and the National Academy of Medicine (NAM). Membership in the NAS is considered one of the highest honors that a scientist can receive. Members are elected by their peers in recognition of their distinguished and continuing achievements in original research.
Functions and Activities[edit]
The NAS provides independent, objective advice to the nation on matters related to science and technology. It conducts studies and publishes reports on a wide range of topics, including health, education, energy, and the environment. The Academy also promotes science education and public understanding of science.
Facilities[edit]
The NAS is headquartered in Washington, D.C., where it operates from a historic building on the National Mall. The building, designed by architect Bertram Grosvenor Goodhue, was completed in 1924 and is a designated National Historic Landmark.
In addition to its main building, the NAS operates the Keck Center in Washington, D.C., and the Beckman Center in Irvine, California. These facilities host meetings, conferences, and other events related to the Academy's work.
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