The National Academies

The National Academies
Name	The National Academies
Formation	1863
Headquarters	Washington, D.C.
Motto	"Advising the nation"
Leader title	President

The National Academies is a collective American body that provides independent, evidence-based advice to United States Congress, President of the United States, federal agencies such as the National Institutes of Health, National Science Foundation, and Department of Defense, and to state and local bodies including the New York State Assembly and California State Legislature. Its work influences policy debates involving entities like the Supreme Court of the United States, United States Department of Energy, and international organizations such as the United Nations and World Health Organization. The Academies' reports and studies frequently inform decisions by institutions including the World Bank, International Monetary Fund, and philanthropic organizations like the Gates Foundation and Rockefeller Foundation.

History

The institution traces origins to mid-19th century efforts by figures such as Abraham Lincoln, who signed the act creating an advisory body during the American Civil War, and early proponents including Alexander Graham Bell and Joseph Henry. Throughout the late 19th and early 20th centuries the organization interacted with leaders like Theodore Roosevelt, Woodrow Wilson, and administrators from the Smithsonian Institution and Library of Congress. In World War I and World War II it collaborated with the War Department and Office of Scientific Research and Development, engaging scientists such as Vannevar Bush, Robert Oppenheimer, and advisors connected to the Manhattan Project and National Aeronautics and Space Administration. Postwar expansion saw partnerships with figures including James Webb and institutions like the Atomic Energy Commission and the Environmental Protection Agency.

Organization and Governance

The Academies comprise multiple components modeled after predecessors like the Royal Society and the Académie des Sciences (France), with governance structures featuring a President, Board, and standing committees similar to boards in the Council on Foreign Relations and American Association for the Advancement of Science. Internal divisions parallel entities such as the Institute of Medicine (now National Academy of Medicine), National Academy of Sciences, and National Academy of Engineering, each overseen by councils that reflect practices used by the Carnegie Institution and Rockefeller University. Leadership selections have involved eminent figures comparable to Neil deGrasse Tyson, Norman Augustine, and Harold Varmus, and governance procedures align with nonprofit standards exemplified by the Internal Revenue Service and the Securities and Exchange Commission.

Membership and Fellows

Election to membership has historically recognized scientists and engineers akin to laureates from the Nobel Prize, recipients of the National Medal of Science, and winners of awards such as the Turing Award and Fields Medal. Notable members have included scholars associated with Harvard University, Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Stanford University, University of California, Berkeley, and Princeton University. Membership spans disciplines represented at conferences like the American Physical Society, American Chemical Society, and Association for Computing Machinery, and includes professionals connected to institutions such as the Mayo Clinic, Johns Hopkins University, Cleveland Clinic, and Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.

Functions and Activities

The Academies convene expert committees, study panels, and consensus panels to address issues ranging from public health crises like HIV/AIDS epidemic and COVID-19 pandemic to technology and security topics including artificial intelligence, nuclear nonproliferation, and cybersecurity. They host events and workshops at venues such as the Kennedy Center and produce guidance used by agencies including the Food and Drug Administration and Federal Aviation Administration. Educational and outreach programs engage partnerships with universities like Columbia University, Yale University, and University of Chicago and societies such as the National Science Teachers Association and Society for Neuroscience.

Major Reports and Impact

High-profile reports have shaped policy on issues involving the Clean Air Act, Clean Water Act, Affordable Care Act, and national initiatives such as the Human Genome Project and Apollo program. Landmark studies have influenced litigation and legislation considered by the United States Senate, the United States House of Representatives, and executive offices under presidents including Franklin D. Roosevelt, Lyndon B. Johnson, and Barack Obama. Internationally, analyses have been cited by organizations like the European Commission, World Health Organization, and North Atlantic Treaty Organization in areas spanning climate science, biomedical research, and infrastructure resilience following events such as Hurricane Katrina.

Funding and Partnerships

Funding sources include federal contracts and grants from agencies like the National Institutes of Health, National Science Foundation, Department of Defense, and Department of Energy, as well as philanthropic support from foundations including the Gates Foundation, Carnegie Corporation, and MacArthur Foundation. Collaborative partnerships extend to academic consortia such as the Association of American Universities, nonprofit groups like the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation, and international partners including the European Research Council and World Health Organization. Financial oversight and audit practices adhere to standards set by the Government Accountability Office and accounting principles similar to those followed by the Private Foundations sector.

Category:Scientific organizations in the United States