The National Academies of Sciences is an honorary society of scholars who are engaged in scientific and engineering research. Dedicated to the use of science and technology for the general welfare, the Academy was authorized initially as the National Academy of Sciences (NAS) by President Abraham Lincoln in 1863. In 1916, the National Research Council (NRC) was created to focus on public policy work, and incorporated under the umbrella of the NAS. The National Academy of Engineering was incorporated in 1964, and in 1970, the Institute of Medicine. Today, these three entities make up the National Academies.

The National Academy of Sciences was created to provide national leaders with independent scientific advice relating to public policy decisions. The membership of the NAS is elected from the ...