Israel Academy of Sciences and Humanities

Israel Academy of Sciences and Humanities
Name	Israel Academy of Sciences and Humanities
Native name	הָאֲקָדֶמְיָה לַמַּדָּעִים וְלַמֻּדָּעִים בְּיִשְׂרָאֵל
Formation	1961
Headquarters	Jerusalem
President	David Harel
Website	https://academy.ac.il

Israel Academy of Sciences and Humanities. The Israel Academy of Sciences and Humanities, based in Jerusalem, is the preeminent national academy of the State of Israel. It was established by the state in 1961 to foster and promote scientific and scholarly excellence, advise the government on research-related matters, and represent Israeli academia internationally. The academy operates under its own law passed by the Knesset and serves as a vital bridge between the nation's scholarly community and public policy.

History

The academy's establishment was championed by Israel's first prime minister, David Ben-Gurion, and prominent scientists like Aharon Katzir and Ernst David Bergmann. Its founding law was enacted by the Knesset in 1961, with the inaugural assembly held at the official residence of President Yitzhak Ben-Zvi. Early presidents included distinguished figures such as Martin Buber and Gershom Scholem. The academy has played a crucial role in major national projects, including advising on the establishment of universities like the University of Haifa and the Ben-Gurion University of the Negev. It has also been instrumental in founding key research institutions such as the Israel Institute for Biological Research and the National Library of Israel.

Structure and organization

The academy is governed by an assembly of all its members and an elected presidium led by the president, a position held by notable figures including Nadav Na'aman and current president David Harel. It comprises two distinct sections: the Natural Sciences and Technology section and the Humanities and Social Sciences section, each with its own chairperson and committees. The academy's permanent secretariat is located in the historic Albert Einstein House in Jerusalem, near the Israel Museum and the Knesset. It maintains formal ties with other national academies worldwide, including the Royal Society in London and the National Academy of Sciences in the United States.

Membership

Election to the academy is considered the highest scholarly honor in Israel, with membership capped at 120 active members. New members are elected annually by existing members in a rigorous process recognizing outstanding contributions to either the sciences or humanities. The roster includes Nobel Prize laureates such as Ada Yonath and Robert Aumann, as well as renowned intellectuals like historian Anita Shapira and philosopher Avishai Margalit. Distinguished foreign members have included figures like Noam Chomsky and Steven Weinberg. Membership is for life, and the academy includes both active members and emeritus members.

Activities and research

The academy initiates and coordinates major interdisciplinary research projects on issues of national importance, such as water resource management, climate change, and ethics in technology. It provides expert counsel to government bodies including the Ministry of Finance and the Ministry of Education on science policy and research funding. A core function is representing Israeli science in international bodies like UNESCO and CERN. The academy also organizes prestigious lecture series, including the Einstein Memorial Lectures, and hosts conferences with global partners like the British Academy and the French Academy of Sciences.

Prizes and awards

The academy administers Israel's most prestigious scholarly awards. The Israel Prize, awarded annually on Israeli Independence Day, is bestowed under the academy's auspices in fields such as Life Sciences, Humanities, and Social Sciences. Other notable awards include the EMET Prize for Art, Science and Culture, established by Alfred A. Moses, and the Harvey Prize, awarded in collaboration with the Technion – Israel Institute of Technology. The academy also confers the Israel Young Academy awards to promising early-career researchers and the Gershom Scholem Prize for the study of Jewish mysticism.

Publications

The academy publishes a wide range of scholarly works to disseminate research findings. Its flagship Hebrew journal, Iyunei Mishpat, focuses on legal studies, while the Scripta Hierosolymitana series publishes works in the humanities. It issues comprehensive reports from its research committees, such as studies on Dead Sea conservation and national cybersecurity strategy. The academy also publishes the proceedings of its symposia, biographical memoirs of deceased members, and policy documents intended for the Knesset and the Prime Minister's Office.

Category:National academies Category:Scientific organizations based in Israel Category:Organizations based in Jerusalem Category:1961 establishments in Israel