National Academy of Sciences

THE NATIONAL ACADEMY of Sciences (NAS) is the leading scientific community in the United States. It is composed of invited citizen members and foreign associates who represent the most prominent and highly regarded scientific researchers in engineering as well as life sciences, who use their research for the improvement of general welfare. It is one of the National Academies; other Academies are the National Academy of Engineering, the Institute of Medicine, and the National Research Council.

President Abraham Lincoln created the NAS on March 3, 1863. It was to serve the government to “investigate, examine, experiment, and report upon any subject of science or art,” according to its Act of Incorporation. Its role is thus to provide scientific advice that will shape public policy. Over time, ...