Advisors to the Nation
The charter of the National Academy of Sciences commits the Academy to provide scientific advice to the Government “whenever called upon” by any Government department. The Academy receives no compensation from the Government for its services.
Mission
The National Academy of Sciences (NAS) is a private, non-profit society of distinguished scholars engaged in scientific and engineering research, dedicated to the furtherance of science and technology and to their use for the public good.
An Act of Congress, signed by President Abraham Lincoln in 1863 at the height of the Civil War, calls upon the NAS to provide independent advice to the government on matters related to science and technology. The National Research Council was created under the NAS charter in 1916 to extend the scope of the NAS in its advisory role. The National Academy of Engineering and the Institute of Medicine were organized under the NAS charter in 1964 and 1970, respectively.
Since 1863, the nation's leaders have turned to the National Academy of Sciences for advice on the scientific and technological issues that frequently affect policy decisions. Most of the institution's science policy and technical work is conducted by the National Research Council (NRC), which was created expressly for this purpose and which provides a public service by working outside the framework of government to ensure independent advice on matters of science, technology, and medicine. The NRC enlists the nation's top scientists, engineers, and other experts, who volunteer their time to study specific issues. The reports that result from their deliberations have led to some of the most significant and lasting improvements in the health, education, and welfare of all Americans. The Academy's service to government has become so essential that Congress and the White House have issued legislation and executive orders over the years that reaffirm its unique role.
