 Academy Coat of Arms | |
 location of the Australian Academy of Science in Canberra | |
| Formation | 1954 |
|---|---|
| Headquarters | Canberra, Australian Capital Territory |
Membership | ≈500 Fellows |
President | Chennupati Jagadish |
| Website | www.science.org.au |
The Australian Academy of Science was founded in 1954 by a group of distinguished Australians, including Australian Fellows of the Royal Society of London.[1] The first president was Sir Mark Oliphant. The academy is modelled after the Royal Society and operates under a Royal charter;[1] as such, it is an independent body, but it has government endorsement. The Academy Secretariat is in Canberra, at the Shine Dome.
The objectives of the academy are to promote science and science education through a wide range of activities. It has defined four major program areas:
- Recognition of outstanding contributions to science
- Education and public awareness
- Science policy
- International relations
The academy also runs the 22 National Committees for Science which provide a forum to discuss issues relevant to all the scientific disciplines in Australia.
- ^ a b "The Charter". Australian Academy of Science. Archived from the original on 19 July 2008. Retrieved 22 September 2008.