National Academies, U.S.

The National Academies are a conglomerate of four nonprofit honorary societies of distinguished [Page 497]scholars engaged in scientific and engineering research and dedicated to the advancement of science and technology and to their use for the general welfare. The first of those institutions was the National Academy of Sciences, established by President Abraham Lincoln in 1863. To keep pace with the growing role that science and technology would play in public life, the National Academies later also incorporated the National Research Council (established in 1916), the National Academy of Engineering (1964), and the Institute of Medicine (1970). The name National Academies now refers to these four institutions collectively. Because of the organization's stature, reports and other publications of the National Academies and its National Research Council, which address a broad range of topics in science policy and science education, are influential; their conclusions and findings appear regularly in the news.

The National Academy of Sciences (NAS) was chartered to look into and report on any subject whenever called on to do so by any branch of government. It has about 2,100 members and 380 foreign associates, including nearly 200 Nobel Prize winners. The academy is governed by a council consisting of 12 members (councilors) and 5 officers, who are elected from among the academy's membership.

The National Academy of Engineering (NAE) provides engineering leadership by focusing on projects that address the relationships among engineering, technology, and the quality of life. The NAE also conducts independent studies to examine important topics in engineering and technology. The NAE has more than 2,000 members and foreign associates, senior professionals in business, academia, and government, who are among the world's most accomplished engineers.

The Institute of Medicine (IOM) has as its main mission to serve as adviser to the nation on strategies to improve health, and it does so by providing scientific advice on matters of biomedi-cal science, medicine, and general health. It has nearly 1,700 members, of which about 80 are foreign associates.

The National Research Council (NRC) functions under the auspices of the three other National Academies mentioned previously and can be considered the operating arm of those academies. The mission of the NRC is to improve government decision making and public policy, increase public education and understanding, and promote the acquisition and dissemination of knowledge in matters involving science, engineering, technology, and health by providing advice to elected officials, policymakers, and the public in general. The NRC is administered jointly by the NAS, NAE, and the IOM through the NRC Governing Board. The NRC also administers a number of fellowships.

Each of the academies is a nonprofit organization composed of members elected by their peers. Being a member of any of these academies is one of the highest honors bestowed on an individual in a scientific, engineering, or medical profession; election represents recognition of an outstanding sustained record of accomplishments in one's field.

Each of the National Academies organizes its work through committees of individuals who volunteer their time and effort in projects aimed at addressing critical national issues by giving expert advice to the federal government and the public. Historically, the results of the committees' deliberations have guided policy decisions in many different areas of science, technology, and education. Both Congress and the executive branch have used their advice, both in establishing legislation and in issuing executive orders. Yet all of the academies work outside the formal framework of government to ensure the provision of both scientifically and technically informed analysis and independent direction.

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