The Académie des Sciences has been a member since 1919.
The Académie des sciences was first established by Louis XIV in 1666 as the Royal Academy of Sciences. This was a chartered body representing the scientific elite which flourished until the turmoil of the Revolution. The suppression of all royal academies in 1793 brought this period to an end. The reorganization of academic and scientific life began again in 1795 with the establishment of a single institution: the “Institut de France”. This incorporated the remaining “classes” of the former Royal Academies of Sciences, Humanities, and Arts, which had previously been dispersed. Within the framework of the Institut de France, the classes of science and three other disciplines regained their initial status as Academies in 1816. Meanwhile, Napoleon I — who was elected in 1797 as Napoleon Bonaparte, an artillery general, to the Institut’s section of mechanical arts — established the location of the Institut de France, including its four Academies (five after 1832), at the Palais de l’Institut, a former royal college, in 1805.
The Academy is the enacted body devoted to the advancement of science and its applications. It regularly publishes (in French and in English) seven series of a multidisciplinary journal les comptes-rendus de l’Académie des sciences covering significant new results in Mathematics, Earth and Planetary sciences, Mechanics, Physics, Astronomy, Chemistry and Life sciences.
The French Academy of sciences encourages, supports and protects the spirit of scientific research. It contributes to the progress of science and its applications, to the dissemination of science in France and abroad, and leads reflection on current and future political, ethical and societal issues.
It regularly publishes seven series of the multidisciplinary journal Comptes rendus de l’Académie des sciences in both French and English. The journal covers significant new results in mathematics, earth and planetary sciences, mechanics, physics, astronomy, chemistry and life sciences. Recently, a new series called Vie des Sciences was introduced to promote dialogue between different scientific disciplines and practitioners.
The Academy comprises 305 full members, 57 corresponding members, and 112 associate foreign members. Its governance includes a president, an elect and a past president, two perpetual secretaries and 3 vice-presidents, with delegations for international relations, education and communication. The Academy enjoys close partnerships with the other Academies of the “Institut de France”, as well as with the National Academy of Technologies of France (NATF), the National Academy of Medicine, and the Academy of Agriculture.
