The academicians

Discover the backgrounds and work of the eminent French and international scientists who make up our community. Each member brings his or her unique expertise in a variety of fields, contributing to the richness of exchanges and the advancement of science.

Academicians are elected for life, following a rigorous process spanning almost a year.

The opening of an election session is decided at the beginning of the year. At least half of the seats to be filled are reserved for candidates aged under 55 on January 1 of the election year. Nominations may only be made by Academy members.

Academicians are divided into sections belonging to one of two divisions: "Mathematical and physical sciences, sciences of the universe, and their applications" and "Chemical, biological and medical sciences, and their applications."

The election of academicians

How do you become an Academician?

Academicians are elected for life, following a rigorous process lasting almost a year. The opening of an election session is decided at the beginning of the year. At least half of the seats to be filled are reserved for candidates aged under 55 on January 1 of the election year. Candidates may only be nominated by members of the Academy.

The electoral commission decides on the final list of candidates for each position and assigns them to a line-up committee. There, each candidate is presented by his or her "presenter", who defends the candidate, and by a "rapporteur", who provides a more distanced perspective. Each commission then deliberates and votes once, to put the candidate with the most votes on the "first line", and then a second time, for the candidate who will be presented "on the second line".

The recommendations of all the commissions are then presented to the secret committee, a body bringing together all the members of the Academy, which proceeds to the final vote, for each position. The results are then submitted to the President of the Republic for approval. The new members are officially appointed when the decree is published in the Journal Officiel.

A large community

Today, the Académie des Sciences boasts a large number of members, foreign associates and correspondents elected from among the world's most eminent scientists, affirming its multidisciplinary character and international openness.

SOME KEY FIGURES

305

Academy members
112

Foreign associates
57

Correspondents

They carry out their mission mainly within thematic committees, essential for the Academy's advice and expertise.

The Academy's lines of intervention and strategic choices are decided by the Perpetual Secretaries, who base their decisions on several governance bodies: the Plenary Assembly of Academicians (or Secret Committee), the Select Committee, the Bureau and three delegations (International Relations, Scientific Information and Communication, Education and Training).

Perpetual Secretaries.