The National Academies
 “…the Academy shall, whenever called upon by any department of the Government, investigate, examine, experiment, and report upon any subject of science…”
– 1863 Act of Incorporation, signed by Abraham Lincoln
With these words, Congress established the National Academy of Sciences in 1863 as a private, non-profit organization. Election to membership in the Academy was then, and still remains, a high honor for American scientists. Members of the National Academy of Sciences – and its sister organizations, the National Academy of Engineering and the Institute of Medicine – are among the nation’s most respected and authoritative leaders in the scientific, technological, and health communities, including hundreds of Nobel Prize winners and recipients of National Medals for Science and Technology.
Today, the responsibility for providing independent advice to the government on matters of science, technology, and medicine is shared by these three organizations, which – together with the National Research Council – comprise the National Academies. Each year, thousands of the world's most knowledgeable scientists, engineers, and other experts volunteer their time to work together on committees that advise the Executive Branch, Congress, and the courts on some of the most important and difficult issues of our time.
National Academies Reports
The National Academies produce more than 200 reports each year, using scientific evidence to make recommendations about many of the nation’s most pressing issues. The audiences for these recommendations are the nation’s policymakers and the general public.
These reports are enormously influential, often catalyzing new federal policies or refocusing and improving existing programs. High standards and a reputation for independence and objectivity help to give the reports their unparalleled credibility, lending weight to their conclusions and recommendations.
In addition to writing these reports, the National Academies also publish scientific periodicals and popular books. And we host many events that bring together scientists, policymakers, and the public from the United States and abroad. Access to nearly all of these reports and events is provided through the National Academies' Web site at www.national-academies.org.
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