Member of the National Academy of Sciences
The National Academy of Sciences received its charter from President Abraham Lincoln on the 3rd of March 1863. This legislation created a private organization dedicated to providing scientific advice to the federal government during times of crisis. The founding document established three distinct categories for those who would join this new body. Voting members must hold citizenship of the United States to cast ballots in academy affairs. Nonvoting international members carry citizenship outside the borders of the nation yet contribute their expertise to global science. Emeritus members are former voting members who have chosen to rescind their active rights due to age or retirement status. Current records show there were 2,382 active members and 484 international members as of recent counts. Approximately 190 of these individuals have won Nobel Prizes for their groundbreaking work. A full list of all current members exists within an online directory maintained by the institution.
Edward C. Pickering became the youngest scientist ever elected at only 26 years old in 1873. Florence R. Sabin broke barriers when she was elected the first woman member in 1924 after decades of male exclusivity. David Blackwell made history as the first African American elected to the academy in 1965 following civil rights advancements. Marcia McNutt served as the first woman president of the NAS after her election as a member in 2005. Ben Barres achieved recognition as the first transgender scientist elected in 2013 during a period of growing social awareness. Frances Arnold became the first woman elected to all three National Academies including Engineering in 2000, Medicine in 2004, and Sciences in 2008. These milestones represent significant shifts in who gets recognized for scientific excellence over time. The academy continues to track these records to measure progress toward broader inclusion.
Critics have long pointed to a selection bias favoring old white men who dominate membership of the Academy. Elite institutions such as Harvard, MIT, Stanford, the University of California and Caltech also dominate membership thereby perpetuating the Matthew effect. Diversity of age disability race religion gender and sexual orientation is lower in NAS than in the general population. In 1989 the academy had just 57 female members and 1,516 male members representing only 3% female total. By 2010 there were 14 newly elected women making up 19% of new female inductees from 72 new members. The year 2011 saw only 9 women elected out of 72 newly elected members which was 12% new female inductees. A record high emerged in 2012 when the Academy elected 84 new members with 26 women comprising 30% of new female inductees. In 2019 fifty women out of 125 new members were female reaching another record high of 40%. Persons of color remain underrepresented despite these statistical improvements over recent decades.
New members and international members have been elected annually since 1863 through a rigorous peer review system. Membership cannot be applied for directly as only voting academicians can submit formal nominations for newly elected candidates. Preferential voting occurs during an annual ballot of members every March to narrow down potential nominees. Candidates are considered by peer review and voted on again through several rounds of balloting before a final annual ballot. This final vote takes place at the annual general meeting held in April with results announced shortly after usually early May. Each nomination includes a curriculum vitae with a 250 word summary of the nominee's scientific achievements. The submission also requires a list of no more than 12 of their most important papers published in scientific journals. The publication limit of 12 aims to focus assessment on the quality of a nominee's work rather than quantity. A maximum of 100 members may be elected annually while non-citizens face a cap of 25 international members per year. Both types of members affiliate with one of six scientific disciplines ranging from physical science to environmental sciences.
Richard Feynman resigned his NAS membership because he perceived the Academy's elitism and in-group favoritism. Feynman outlines these reasons in his published correspondence titled Perfectly Reasonable Deviations from the Beaten Track. Richard Lewontin also resigned for principled reasons in 1972 instead of citing ill-health as a cause. Josiah Whitney was the first member to resign from the academy back in 1874 during its early years. These departures highlight tensions between individual scientists and institutional culture regarding exclusivity and power dynamics. Critics argue that such resignations underscore the need for structural reform within the organization. The academy has faced ongoing scrutiny over whether it truly represents the breadth of American science. Some members feel the selection process favors established networks over emerging talent from diverse backgrounds. These conflicts have sparked debates about the future direction of the institution and its role in public policy.
Since 1966 newly elected members of the National Academy of Sciences have been invited to contribute an inaugural year article. This article appears in Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences of the United States of America alongside a brief biography of the author. Biographies of deceased members are published separately in the Biographical Memoirs of the National Academy of Sciences. An example includes David Arnett's biography of Alastair G. W. Cameron which documents the life and work of a prominent scientist. These publications serve as historical records preserving the legacy of those who have shaped scientific progress. They provide detailed accounts of research achievements while also capturing personal narratives behind the discoveries. The process ensures that contributions of members remain accessible to future generations of researchers and historians. Archives of these biographies offer insight into how scientific thought evolved across different eras and disciplines.
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Common questions
When did the National Academy of Sciences receive its charter from President Abraham Lincoln?
The National Academy of Sciences received its charter from President Abraham Lincoln on the 3rd of March 1863. This legislation created a private organization dedicated to providing scientific advice to the federal government during times of crisis.
Who was the first woman elected as a member of the National Academy of Sciences and when did it happen?
Florence R. Sabin became the first woman member of the National Academy of Sciences in 1924 after decades of male exclusivity. She broke barriers by gaining election following her extensive contributions to science.
How many active members and international members does the National Academy of Sciences have according to recent counts?
Current records show there were 2,382 active members and 484 international members as of recent counts. Approximately 190 of these individuals have won Nobel Prizes for their groundbreaking work.
What is the maximum number of new members that can be elected annually by the National Academy of Sciences?
A maximum of 100 members may be elected annually while non-citizens face a cap of 25 international members per year. New members and international members have been elected annually since 1863 through a rigorous peer review system.
Why did Richard Feynman resign his membership from the National Academy of Sciences?
Richard Feynman resigned his NAS membership because he perceived the Academy's elitism and in-group favoritism. He outlines these reasons in his published correspondence titled Perfectly Reasonable Deviations from the Beaten Track.