The National Academy of Sciences 

 National Research Council 



The National Academy of Sciences — National Research Council is a 

 private non-profit organization of scientists, dedicated to the furtherance of 

 science and to its use for the general welfare. 



The Academy itself was established in 1863 under a Congressional 

 charter signed by President Lincoln. Empowered to provide for all activities 

 appropriate to academies of science, it was also required by its charter to act 

 as an adviser to the Federal Government in scientific matters. This provision 

 accounts for the close ties that have always existed between the Academy and 

 the Government, although the Academy is not a governmental agency. 



The National Research Council was established by the Academy in 1916, 

 at the request of President Wilson, to enable scientists generally to associate 

 their efforts with those of the limited membership of the Academy in service 

 to the nation, to society, and to science at home and abroad. Members of the 

 National Research Council receive their appointments from the President of 

 the Academy. They include representatives nominated by the major scientific 

 and technical societies, representatives of the Federal Government, and 

 a number of members-at-large. More than 3000 of the foremost scientists of 

 the country cooperate in the work of the Academy-Research Council through 

 service on its many boards and committees in the various fields of the natural 

 sciences, including physics, astronomy, mathematics, chemistry, geology, en- 

 gineering, biology, agriculture, the medical sciences, psychology, and anthro- 

 pology. 



Receiving funds from both public and private sources by contribution, 

 grant, or contract, the Academy and its Research Council thus work to stimu- 

 late research and its applications, to survey the broad possibilities of science, 

 to promote effective utilization of the scientific and technical resources of the 

 country, to serve the Government, and to further the general interests of 

 science. 



