National Academy of SciencesAcademyof Sciences，United States，Abbreviation: NAS), founded in 1863, is composed of famous American scientistsScientific organizationsIts members served as "national consultants of science, engineering and medicine" for free during their term of office, and it is an honorary and government advisory body in the scientific community of the United States.
The National Academy of Sciences is not a government department, but a private, non-profit, honorary and autonomous organization of scientistsScientific research institutions。The National Academy of Sciences is the top four academic institutions in the American scientific community (the National Academy of SciencesNational Academy of Engineering、National School of MedicineNational Natural Science Foundation of the United States).[1]
The National Academy of Sciences has about 2400 members and 500 international members, of which about 190 have wonNobel PrizeA maximum of 120 members and 30 international members can be elected each year.[14]
The National Academy of Sciences was established by President Lincoln in 1863.In 1970, the branch of the National Academy of Sciences in the field of health - the United StatesAcademy of Medical SciencesFormally established.As independentNon profit organizationThe Academy of Medical Sciences provides impartial and authoritative guidance to decision makers and the public outside the government.The American Academy of Medical Sciences is famous for its scientific research projects in the world.Every year, the current academicians will make secret nominations based on the professional achievements of the selected scholars, their contributions to public health and other considerations, and finally elect up to 70 new academicians and up to 10 foreign academicians from around the world to commend their highest achievements in their respective professional fields.[13]
On March 3, 1863, the former President of the United StatesAbraham LincolnSign the bill and announce the establishment of the National Academy of SciencesAcademyof Sciences，United States，NAS for short).At that time, the United States wasCivil WarDuring this period, the government urgently needed to build a scientific advisory organization, and the National Academy of Sciences was born in response to the times.So this think-tank and consulting service organization was born very smoothly. On March 3, 1863,MassachusettssenatorHenry Wilson(Henry Wilson) proposed the idea of establishing the National Academy of Sciences in the Senate Chambervoice voteIt was passed. A few hours later, the bill was passed by the Congress. At night, the bill was passed to President Lincoln, who signed the bill, making itlegal statusThe National Academy of Sciences was officially born.[2]This Academy of Sciences is entrusted by a legal organization. Since 1863, no matter which government department requests, it will investigate, test, experiment and report on any subject of science and art.
Although 1865 was at the end of the civil war, which could not provide a good environment for the establishment of the Academy of Sciences, the government still tried its best to help the youngScientific consultationThe organization looks for sources of demand.The war is overAll the problems that followed need to be solved. Therefore, in January 1867, the Academy of Sciences was asked to evaluate the feasibility of replacing fallen metal blocks with galvanized ones as headstones for soldiers who died in the war.Therefore, according to the experiments conducted by the Zinc and Iron Association, the Academy of Sciences has established a current action committee, which is described in the report as follows: "A piece of ironUse oneGalvanometerConnect the two ends of the wire.Insert them into water and slowly inject sulfuric acid to increase the current from zinc to iron.When zinc dissolves rapidly, iron is not affected at all... "The committee concluded that neither the zinc recommended nor the fallen iron headstone will last forever.I wonder whether Congress was directly influenced by the recommendations of the Academy of Sciences. In 1872, it issued a decree that the headstones in the national cemetery should be made of "durable stones".
During the 1960s, 1970s and 1980s, CAS made reports on many kinds of topics.The following are only some committees set up at the request of the government. It can be seen from this list that the topics studied by the committee cover a wide range.These committees include: "Detection of extracts and elimination of counterfeits" (1866);"StateMetric Units”（1866）；"Methods for distinguishing cattle hair from wool products" (1875);"Waterproofing of some coins" (1875);"Declaration on the Restoration of Independence" (1880);"DecisionSugar contentOfSaccharometerQuartz plate in "(1887), etc.Some of the topics required by the Academy of Sciences may be trivial, but they reflect the concerns of an agricultural country in the process of industrialization.Perhaps the most outstanding contribution made by the Academy to the country during this period is the proposal to establishAmerican GeographyAnd assisted in the establishment of a national forest service organization.In 1878, the Academy of Sciences wanted to evaluate the results of five independent investigations on public land in western Mississippi, which was later turned over to the military and civilians.Therefore, the Academy of Sciences established a survey and mapped the United StatesterritoryPlanning Commission, and authorized the design of a plan to investigate the western region.The Commission also recommended the establishment of a new government agency, the United States Geographic Survey, under the Department of the Interior.Then through aAct of CongressThe main recommendations of the Committee came into effect.This is the first time that a committee of the Academy of Sciences has assisted in the establishment of a scientific government agency.
About 20 years later, in 1895, the Academy of Sciences was asked to explain the generally ignored problem of the state of forests in the United States.Therefore, a committee on reasonable forest land policies in the United States was established.In its concluding report submitted to the Ministry of Internal Affairs in May 1897, the Committee recommended that the part ofmilitary strengthdeprotectionNational forests protected from fire andnatural disasterThe pain.The Committee recommends that long-term monitoring and patrolling of the national forest should be carried out in order to better protect it.After 10 years of political debate, the proposal of the Academy of Sciences was finally written into law in 1905, and the Forest Service Department was established under the jurisdiction ofMinistry of Agriculture。
By the 1890s, after many successes in investigation, forestry and other research, the government no longer made frequent demands on the Academy of Sciences.The relative reduction of such research activities has made theSome membersBecome conspicuous.However, the Academy soon came out of this dormant period, and it was precisely because of these activists that the Academy regained its vitality in the past, which also paved the way for the establishment of the National Research Council under the Academy.
In 1924, Florence Sabin became the first woman elected to the National Academy of Sciences.
In 1965, David Blackwell became the first African American elected to the National Academy of Sciences.In the circle of Chinese scholars,Lin KeshengCan be regarded as the first to obtainNational Academy of Sciences The title of scholar.
Benjamin Franklin founded it in 1743American Philosophical Association（APS）。37 years later, the National Academy of Arts and the National Academy of Sciences were also established, and 60 years later, the National Association for the Advancement of Science was also born.By the mid-19th century, these organizations had joined the Smithsonian Association andAmerican Association for the Advancement of Science（AAAS）。
The most direct origin of the National Academy of Sciences can be traced back to some scientists in the early 1850s, most of whom came from Cambridge.In 1853, this group began to hold formal meetings and called themselves "scientific vagrants" - they self mockingly compared themselves to beggars and vagrants in Naples.Their original members are: CoastInvestigation organizationAlexander Dallas Bache, Director,natural scientistLouis Agassiz，HarvardBenjamin Peirce, professor of mathematics and astronomy, Benjamin Gould, astronomer, and HarvardGreekandLatinProfessor Cornelius Felton.Soon, other members joined, including Joseph Henry, who may be called the American scientist at that timeLeader。But it was Bache who put forward the open and clear idea of establishing a national academy of sciences.
As the outgoing leader of the American Association for the Advancement of Science, Bache publicly proposed in 1851federal governmentEstablish an organization to promote scientific development throughout the country.Bache advocated the establishment of "a scientific research institute that can guide scientific research activities".This organization will serve as the central organization for the government to consult science and technology.In 1858, Agassiz outlined the structure and organizational form of scientific research institutes in a personal letter.
The civil war that broke out in 1861 brought various demands, which prompted the formation of a scientific advisory organization.Many citizens wanted to contribute to the war, submitted many personal inventions and made some relevant suggestions to the government.At the same time, in order to speed up the evaluation of these suggestions, Henry suggested that the Navy Department set up an advisory office to test new weapons.In February 1863, Secretary of the Navy Gideon Welles agreed to Henry's plan. At the same time, a standing committee composed of Henry, Bache and Admiral Charles Henry Davis was established.Meanwhile, Agassiz gotMassachusettsCongressman Henry Wilson's support.With the help of Wilson, Agassiz, Bache, Peirce and Gould drew up a new plan, which was written by Davis and proposed the proposal to establish the National Academy of Sciences.Wilson submitted the bill to the Parliament on February 20 and passed it on March 3.After that, the bill was passed againhouseThe Representative's approval was written into law by President Lincoln.In this way, the National Academy of Sciences was officially established.
As of 2003, the National Academy of Sciences has 1922 academicians, 93 lifelong academicians, and 341 academicians of foreign nationality.Among them, more than 170 academicians have wonNobel Prize。The current academicians elect new academicians every year.
The National Academy of Sciences consists of three parts: the National Research CouncilNational Academy of Engineering(National Academy of Engineering) and the Institute of Medicine, which were established in 1916, 1964 and 1970 respectively.Recently, the Institute of Medicine was renamedNational School of Medicine（National Academy of Medicine）。
From the initial 50 members, the National Academy of Sciences has grown to 2250 members, 452 of whom are foreign academicians (scholars with nationalities other than the United States), and about 200 academicians have won Nobel Prizes.
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The National Academy of Sciences is the highest honor institution in the American scientific community.[10]
in recent yearsThe American Academy of Sciences annually elects about 120 academicians and 26 foreign academicians (by 2020).The National Academy of Sciences now has nearly 20 Chinese academicians.
Courses taught
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The National Academy of Sciences has mathematics, astronomy, physics, chemistry, geologygeophysicsBiochemistry, Cell andDevelopmental biologyPhysiology, neurobiology, botany, geneticsPopulation biology, evolution and ecology, engineering, applied biologyApplied PhysicsAnd mathematical science, medical geneticsHematologyandoncology, medical physiology, endocrine and metabolismMedical MicrobiologyAnd immunology, anthropology, psychology, social and political science, economic science and other departments.It belongs to mathematical science, biological science, application andEngineering Science, medical science and social science.
Early work
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Shortly after the founding meeting of the National Academy of Sciences was held on April 22, 1863, the National Academy of Sciences received its first request for consultation.Salmon P. Chase, the minister of the Ministry of Finance, needs a research report on "the consistency of weight, size and coins under the comprehensive consideration of domestic and international business".Therefore, the National Academy of Sciences has set up a "weight, size and coin committee" to undertake the research task.stayPhiladelphia、CambridgeAfter many meetings with Washington, the committee submitted a report to the Secretary of the Treasury on January 7, 1864.The report suggests that a thorough investigation should be carried out on the currency and size systems of other countries, and the relevant contents of the subject should also be investigated.Interestingly, after discussion, the Commission felt that the United States should accept the metric system of weights and dimensions.
Obama's speech at the National Academy of Sciences
The "Committee on Weights, Dimensions and Coins" is a model for the next activities of the National Academy of Sciences.There are three reasons for this.First, in the process of investigating the current problems, it has established a working mode, which will provide a model for the research work of most scientific academies.Second, it will submit the conclusions and recommendations to the requesting department in the form of a report.The last point is that the form of "specific subject committee" adopted by the National Academy of Sciences is not only consistent with the fact that President BacheUS CongressHe made the recommendations in his first annual report, and became the common pioneer of most research departments in the National Academy of Sciences and the National Research Council subsequently established.
Although the National Academy of Sciences was established during the civil war, its first research work had nothing to do with war.However, requests for war related advice soon emerged.Shortly after the establishment of the "Committee on Weights, Dimensions and Coins", the Ministry of the Navy requested at least three studies, two of which were directly related to the Joint FleetCombat capabilityRelated.On May 8,AdmiralCharles H. Davis, who is both a naval officer and a member of the Academy of Sciences, asked the Academy to develop a method for the Navy to protect the bottom of ships with metal shells from seawater erosion and other injuries.In this way, a "committee for protecting the bottom of metal ships" came into being in March 1863, and was entrusted with the task of providing advice to the Naval Commission.In January of the following year, the committee submitted a concise report, which could have recommended an uncertain solution, but it proposed a more in-depth investigation.However, they failed to meet their expectations, and the work of the Committee was thus ended.
Although the Commission failed to design an effective method to protect the bottom of steel ships, the fault was not due to the Commission itself, but due to the technical level at that time.In the 50 years since the work of the Commission ended, the Navy Department is still studying different types of hull coatings, trying to find the most effective protective ingredients.
In the case of Admiral Davis, the Academy was asked to assume the responsibility of joint protectionIroncladsOn the same day of the team's bottom research work, he also asked the Academy of Sciences to "study the magnetic deviation phenomenon of the armored ship and make a report".Therefore, the Academy of Sciences has established the "Iron Armored Ship Magnetic Deviation Committee", which is usually called the "Compass Committee".Although most ironclad ships use wooden hullsWaterlineThe hull above is made of iron plated, but some are made of iron, or have iron plated decks.A large number of iron substances on the ship caused the compass to deviate from the direction. In this case, the navy fell into an uncertain and potential danger.Therefore, the Compass Committee must propose a method to correct the compass deviation.In January 1864, the Commission submitted a 73 page detailed report, in which it recommended that a magnet should be placed in an appropriate position to counter the impact of iron on the compass.After making recommendations, the Commission personally supervised the adjustment of the compass on 27 joint ships from March to September 1864.
The Compass Committee is famous not only for its successful research, but also for setting an example of written reports.This example is also the object that most research groups in the Academy of Sciences follow.
The federal government, through Congress and various departments, constantly put forward research requirements for a series of topics to the Academy of Sciences at the end of the Civil War and after the war.In 1867, the Academy of Sciences received a request from the Ministry of Operations to propose how many metal headstones should be used on soldiers' tombstones.In this way, the Academy of Sciences, which had been greatly expanded since its establishment in the Civil War, began to study the preservation of a memorial for those who sacrificed themselves for the victory of the war.
David Blackwell, the first African American, was elected as an academician in 1965.
Edward C. Pickering is the youngest scientist elected. He was only 26 years old when he was elected as an academician in 1873.
Florence R. Sabin, the first female scientist elected, was elected an academician in 1925.
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According to the official website of the National Academy of Sciences, as of September 2023, the National Academy of Sciences has about 2400 members and 500 international members, of which about 190 have wonNobel Prize, vote at the annual meeting in April every year, and can elect up to 120 members, who must be American citizens;Non citizens are elected as international members, and 30 international members can be elected every year.[17]
Membership
Physical and Mathematical Sciences
bioscience
Engineering and Applied Science
Biomedical Science
Behavioral and Social Sciences
Applied Biology, Agriculture and Environmental Sciences
Chinese nationality
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At present, the National Academy of Sciences has 21 Chinese academicians, which are listed as follows according to their employment time:
Among the 120 newly elected academicians and 26 foreign academicians in 2020,Cao XiaofengAcademicians were elected as foreign members of the National Academy of Sciences. In addition, six Chinese scientists were elected as members of the National Academy of Sciences, Howard ChangCheng Yifan（Yifan Cheng）、Huang Yonggang（Yonggang Huang）、Huataili（Terence Hwa）、Cao Ying(Doris Y. Tsao) andRadisson Yang（Lai-Sang Young）。
On April 30, 2024, the National Academy of Sciences announced the newly elected 120 academicians and 24 foreign academicians.The Chinese scientists elected to the National Academy of Sciences this time include Bao Zhenan (Stanford University), Jin Fangrong (University of California, San Diego), Feng Guoping (Massachusetts Institute of Technology), Fu Qiang (University of Washington), Hou Yizhao (California Institute of Technology),Liu Chen yu (University of Illinois at Urbana Champaign), Shi Yang (University of Oxford), Sun Taiping (Duke University), and Wang Yifang, Institute of High Energy Physics, Chinese Academy of Sciences, were elected foreign academicians of the National Academy of Sciences.[18][21]
The "dynamic programming" independently invented by him is widely used in finance and many scientific fields;His "renewal theorem" is still used in many fields of engineering;The Rao Blackwell theorem he created is a basic concept of modern statistics.[15]
