About
Founded in 1780, the American Academy of Arts and Sciences is an independent policy research center that conducts multidisciplinary studies of complex and emerging problems. The Academy's elected members are leaders in the academic disciplines, the arts, business, and public affairs. With a current membership of 4,000 American Fellows and 600 Foreign Honorary Members, the Academy has four major goals:
- Promoting service and study through analysis of critical social and intellectual issues and the development of practical policy alternatives;
- Fostering public engagement and the exchange of ideas with meetings, conferences, and symposia bringing diverse perspectives to the examination of issues of common concern;
- Mentoring a new generation of scholars and thinkers through the Visiting Scholars Program and Hellman Fellowship Program;
- Honoring excellence by electing to membership men and women in a broad range of disciplines and professions. Click here to learn about our new members.
The Academy's headquarters are in Cambridge, Massachusetts. With its geographically diverse membership, it conducts activities in this country and abroad.
Visiting Scholars Program
The purpose of the Visiting Scholars Program is to support the work of younger public policy analysts, humanists, and social scientists who show promise of becoming leaders in their field, especially those who work on multidisciplinary topics. The Program offers opportunities for them to carry out their individual research as well as to collaborate with Academy Fellows on shared scholarly or policy-related interests. It also helps to create a national network for scholars in the early stages of their career, assisting them in their research and professional development. Finally, it has established the House of the Academy as an active research center for intensive scholarship by individuals from diverse disciplinary, institutional, and geographic backgrounds.
Hellman Fellowship in Science and Technology Policy
As part of the Initiative for Science, Engineering, and Technology, the American Academy is pleased to announce the establishment of the Hellman Fellowship in Science and Technology Policy for an early-career professional with training in science or engineering who is interested in transitioning to a career in public policy and administration. While in residence, the Hellman Fellow will work with senior scientists and policy experts on critical national and international policy issues related to science, engineering, and technology.
Visit the organization's website for complete program information.