National academy


A national academy is an organizational body, usually operating with state financial support and approval, that co-ordinates scholarly research activities and standards for academic disciplines, most frequently in the sciences but also the humanities. Typically the country's learned societies in individual disciplines will liaise with or be co-ordinated by the national academy. National academies play an important organizational role in academic exchanges and collaborations between countries.
The extent of official recognition of national academies varies between countries. In some cases they are explicitly or de facto an arm of government; in others, as in the United Kingdom, they are voluntary, non-profit bodies with which government has agreed to negotiate, and which may receive government financial support while retaining substantial independence. In some countries, a single academy covers all disciplines; an example is France. In others, there are several academies, which work together more or less closely; for example, Australia. In many states they are organized in Academies of Science. In the countries of the former Soviet Union, and in the People's Republic of China, the national academies have considerable power over policy and personnel in their areas. There is however a growing consensus among international federations of learned academies that bona fide national academies need to adhere to certain criteria:
In 1863, President of the United States Abraham Lincoln incorporated the United States National Academies of Sciences, Engineering, and Medicine. The affiliated organizations were granted congressional charters to operate under the National Academy of Sciences. Today NASEM is composed of three non-profit member organizations: the National Academy of Sciences, the National Academy of Engineering, and the Institute of Medicine. In 1916 President Woodrow Wilson reincorporated the organization under the National Research Council to foster scientific research emphasizing American industries. The most recent change to NASEM came in 2015 when the IoM was reconstituted as the National Academy of Medicine.
NameYear foundedArea of focusPresidentNotes
National Academy of Sciences1863Hard sciences, soft sciencesMarcia McNutt
National Academy of Engineering1964EngineeringJohn L. Anderson
National Academy of Medicine1970MedicineVictor DzauEstablished as the Institute of Medicine

United Kingdom

In the United Kingdom there are four national academies: the Academy of Medical Sciences, British Academy, the Royal Academy of Engineering and the Royal Society. Together they are the major learned societies in England. In addition, there is the Royal Society of Edinburgh in Scotland; Royal Irish Academy in Ireland; and the Learned Society of Wales in Wales.
NameCountryYear foundedArea of focusPatron and PresidentNotes
Royal SocietyEngland1660Hard sciences, soft sciencesQueen Elizabeth IIThe Invisible College was a precursor to the Royal Society of London. In 1660, the informal committee of 12 philosophers formed the College for the Promoting of Physico-Mathematical Experimental Learning.
Royal Society of EdinburghScotland1783Hard sciences, soft sciences, arts, humanities, medicine, social sciencesProfessor Dame Anne Glover as PresidentThe Royal Society was founded during the Scottish Enlightenment as the Edinburgh Society for Improving Arts and Sciences.
Royal Irish Academy Ireland1785Hard sciences, soft sciences, arts, humanities, medicine, social sciencesMichael Peter Kennedy as President
British AcademyEngland1902Humanities and social sciencesSir David Cannadine as PresidentThe British Academy was first proposed in 1899 as the British Academy for the Promotion of Historical, Philosophical and Philological Studies. The name was subsequently shortened and incorporated in 1901, receiving Royal Charter from King Edward VII in 1902.
Royal Academy of EngineeringEngland1976EngineeringPrince Philip, Duke of Edinburgh as Senior FellowThe Fellowship of Engineering was conceived in the late 1960s under Harold Wilson, and subsequently established in 1976. It was granted Royal Charter in 1983 and renamed the Royal Academy of Engineering in 1992.
Academy of Medical SciencesEngland1998Biomedical and health researchSir Robert Lechler as PresidentThe Academy was established by a working group chaired by Michael Atiyah.
Learned Society of WalesWales2010Hard sciences, soft sciences, arts, humanities, medicine, social sciencesSir Emyr Jones Parry as President; Charles, Prince of Wales as Patron

List

Within most countries, the unqualified phrase "National Academy" will normally refer to that country's academy. For example, within the United States, the plural phrase "National Academies" is widely understood to refer to the U.S. National Academies.