National Academy of Sciences

The National Academy of Sciences is a private, nonprofit U.S. institution that elects members for distinguished scientific achievements and provides independent scientific advice to the federal government.

NAS membership election: The National Academy of Sciences process for electing members based on distinguished scientific achievement. This annual peer-elected process determines who joins the Academy.
Abraham Lincoln: The 16th president of the United States, who signed the legislation establishing the Academy. Lincoln approved the Academy’s charter during the Civil War.
Marcia McNutt: An American geophysicist who became the first woman to serve as president of the National Academy of Sciences. Her presidency marked a milestone in the Academy’s leadership.
Climate Change: Evidence and Causes: A National Academies and Royal Society report summarizing evidence for human-caused climate change. It illustrates the Academy’s role in synthesizing climate evidence for public and policy use.
Scientific advisory committee: A group of experts appointed to provide evidence-based advice to decision-makers. The Academy helped establish expert committees as a durable model for federal advice.
National Academies consensus study: A research process in which an expert committee reviews evidence and issues a consensus report. These studies are the Academy’s main way to turn expertise into advice.
Act of Incorporation of the National Academy of Sciences: The 1863 U.S. law that established the National Academy of Sciences as a private institution with a federal advisory role. This statute created the Academy and defined its original relationship with government.
Ralph J. Cicerone: An American atmospheric scientist who served as president of the National Academy of Sciences from 2005 to 2016. Cicerone led the Academy during prominent debates over climate science.
Human Genome Project: An international research effort that produced a reference sequence of the human genome. Academy committees assessed priorities and scientific issues surrounding large-scale genomics.
Scientific integrity: The use of reliable methods, transparent evidence, and ethical standards in scientific work. The Academy’s credibility depends on safeguarding the independence and rigor of its studies.

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