Pontifical Academy of Sciences

The Pontifical Academy of Sciences claims succession with the Academy dei Linchei , which existed in Rome in the first half of the 17th century. In 1801, the scientist Abbot Feliciano Scarpellini proclaimed the revival of the "Academy of the trot-eyed", but until 1847 his initiative existed only on paper. Michelangelo Caetani , Prince Teano, who donated his library to the Academy, promised financial and organizational support. In 1826, Pope Leo XII allocated a plot on Capitol Hill for the “Caetani Academy”, and after another 8 years, Pope Gregory XVI announced the papal academy.

In 1847, Pius IX approved the charter of the Pontifical Academy of Nuovi Lincei ( Italian: Pontificia Accademia dei Nuovi Lincei ), after which she began real activities. The secular Academy dei Linchei , established in 1871, also claims to continue the traditions of the "trot-eyed" XVII century. The current status of the Pontifical Academy of Sciences was determined by Pope Pius XI in 1936 .

Today, the work of the Academy is focused on six main issues:

• (a) fundamental science ,
• (b) the science and technology of global issues ,
• (c) science in solving the problems of the Third World ,
• (d) the ethics and politics of science,
• (e) ethics of biological research ,
• (f) epistemology .

These questions are divided into nine disciplines:

• Physics and related disciplines
• Astronomy
• Chemistry
• Earth and environmental sciences
• Life sciences ( botany , agronomy , zoology , genetics , molecular biology , biochemistry , neurology , surgery )
• Maths
• Applied Science
• Philosophy
• History of Sciences.

Along with the Pontifical Academy of Sciences were created ^{[1] [2]} :

• Pontifical Academy of Literature and Fine Arts , established in 1542. Its goals are the study, development and improvement of the arts;
• The Pontifical Academy of Theology , founded in 1718 in order to preserve the authenticity of Catholic doctrine;
• The Pontifical Roman Archaeological Academy , founded in 1810, conducts research in the field of biblical archeology and the history of ;
• The Pontifical Academy of Christian Martyrs , established in 1879, promotes the veneration of Christian martyrs and the study of catacombs;
• Pontifical Academy of St. Thomas Aquinas , founded in 1879, promotes the study of Thomism ;
• The Pontifical International Academy of Mariology was established in 1946 to develop mariology ;
• The Pontifical Academy for the Defense of Life was founded in 1994 to promote the doctrine of the Roman Catholic Church; it was led by Bishop Elio Sgreccia , Archbishop Salvatore Fisichella ; since 2010, it has been led by ;
• The Pontifical Academy of Social Sciences , founded in 1994, promotes the development of social, economic, political and legal sciences in the light of the social teachings of the Church;
• The Pontifical Academy of Latin , established in 2012 to replace the abolished Latinitas Foundation to support and develop the Latin language and culture in Latin, is an organization - the regulator of modern Latin .

New members of the Academy are nominated by the Council of Academicians and are selected from men and women of various faiths, taking into account their scientific merits and moral condition. Officially appointed by the pope .

The Academy is run by a president appointed by the pope . The President is assisted by a Scientific Council and Chancellor.

Among the members of the Academy are many famous scientists, many of whom are Nobel Prize winners . Moreover, many of them became members of the Academy even before they received the Nobel Prize. Here are the most famous of them (see also Category: Members of the Pontifical Academy of Sciences ):

• Guglielmo Marconi (physics, 1909)
• Max Planck (physics, 1918)
• Niels Bohr (physics, 1922)
• Paul Dirac (physics, 1933)
• Erwin Schrödinger (physics, 1933)
• Alexander Fleming (physiology, 1945)
• Charles Hard Towns (physics, 1964)
• Oge Niels Bohr (Physics, 1975)
• David Baltimore (Physiology, 1975)
• Paul Berg (chemistry, 1980)
• Rita Levi-Montalcini (Physiology, 1986)
• Joseph Murray (Physiology, 1990)
• Gary Becker (Economics, 1992)

The first female member of the academy was Rita Levi-Montalcini (in 1975) ^[3] .

Current Academic List

Ordinary Academics

Honorary Academics

• Jean-Michel Maldamé (1997)

Academics Perdurante Munere

• Chancellor of the Academy Marcelo Sánchez Sorondo (1998)
• Director of the Vatican Observatory Guy Joseph Consolmagno (2015)
• Prefect of the Vatican Apostolic Library Cesare Pasini (2007)
• Prefect of the Vatican Secret Archive Sergio Pagano (1997)

• Pius XI Gold Medal for Young Scientists Under 45

• Official website of the Pontifical Academy
• Message from Pope John Paul II to the Members of the Pontifical Academy
• History of the Papal Academy