NATIONAL ACADEMY OF SCIENCES- 

 NATIONAL RESEARCH COUNCIL 



The National Academy of Sciences-National Research 

 Council is a private, nonprofit 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 Con- 

 gressional 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 Gov- 

 ernment, and a number of members-at-large. In addition, 

 several thousand scientists and engineers take part in the 

 activities of the Research Council through membership on its 

 various boards and committees. 



Receiving funds from both public and private sources, by 

 contributions, grant, or contract, the Academy and its Re- 

 search Council thus work to stimulate 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. 



