Pontifical Academy of Sciences

The Pontifical Academy of Sciences (Italian: Pontificia accademia delle scienze, Latin: Pontificia Academia Scientiarum) is a scientific academy of the Vatican City, established in 1936 by Pope Pius XI. Its goal is to help advance the fields of mathematics, physics, and natural sciences, as well as to study important questions about how we learn and understand these subjects.

The idea for such an academy started much earlier, in 1847, with the founding of the Accademia Pontificia dei Nuovi Lincei. This new academy was created to carry on the work of the older Accademia dei Lincei, which began in 1603 in Rome. That original academy was founded by a young scientist named Federico Cesi and had even counted the famous scientist Galileo Galilei as its leader.

Today, the Pontifical Academy of Sciences is one of the many Pontifical academies based in the Vatican in Rome. The academy meets and works in a beautiful building called the Casina Pio IV, located in the middle of the Vatican Gardens. It brings together scientists from around the world to share ideas and work on solving important problems.

History

The Pontifical Academy of Sciences was created in 1936 by Pope Pius XI. It aims to help advance math, physics, and natural sciences, as well as study related questions. The academy was first started much earlier, in 1603, by a scientist named Federico Cesi, who called it the Academy of Lynxes because its members had sharp eyes for observing nature closely. The famous scientist Galileo Galilei was its first leader.

Later, Pope Pius IX recreated the academy in 1847, and it was renamed again in 1936. Over time, the academy has grown and includes scientists from many countries. It works independently and focuses on many different areas of science together.

Activities

The Pontifical Academy of Sciences works to share unbiased scientific information with the Holy See and scientists around the world. It focuses on six key areas: fundamental science, science related to global issues, science that helps developing countries, the ethics and politics of science, bioethics, and the study of how we understand science.

The Academy looks at science through eight different fields, including physics, astronomy, chemistry, earth and environmental sciences, life sciences, mathematics, applied sciences, and the history and philosophy of science.

The Academy publishes several important works, such as meeting records, detailed reports, quick summaries of discussions, and special scientific studies. Every two years, it awards the Pius XI Medal to a promising young scientist under 45 for their exceptional work. Some of these winners later join the Academy as members.

Goals and hopes of the Academy

The Pontifical Academy of Sciences was re-founded in 1936 by Pope Pius XI. He believed that science and religion can work together and support each other. He wanted the Academy to help advance science and show how it can agree with Christian beliefs.

Later leaders also supported the Academy. In 1979, John Paul II spoke about how important it is for science and faith to work together. He said the Academy shows that science and religious truths can live in harmony. In 2012, Pope Benedict XVI talked about the need for science and faith to talk to each other to build a world that cares for people and the Earth. He believed both are needed to answer big questions about life and the universe.

Members

The Pontifical Academy of Sciences chooses new members based on their important scientific work and good character. These members can be men or women from any background. The Pope officially appoints them. The Academy is led by a President, who is chosen by the Pope from among the members. The President gets help from a scientific Council and the Chancellor.

The Academy started with 80 members who served for life. In 1986, Pope John Paul II increased this number to 80, and added some Honorary Academicians who are very skilled, as well as others who hold special positions, like the Director of the Vatican Observatory, the Prefect of the Vatican Apostolic Library, and the Prefect of the Vatican Apostolic Archive.

President

The Pope selects the President of the Academy from its members. As of 21 June 2017, the President is Joachim von Braun. He took over after Werner Arber, who won a Nobel Prize and was the first Protestant to hold this job.