With the Académie des Sciences in 2013-2014

With the Académie des Sciences in

2013 - 2014

The Académie: Always in tune with its time

Soon 350 years old

On 22 December 1666, Colbert introduces about fifteen savants to King Louis XIV, who

bestows upon them the task of

driving and fostering science for the public good and

glory

. In return, he grants them his protection and funds their work.

Today, despite the trials and tribulations brought about over the centuries by the

instability of power relations, the Académie remains the enlightening institution it was

at the end of the 17

Century. Still protected by the highest magistrate of the country,

it has however won independence: it administers itself independently, under the sole

control of the

Cour des comptes

(French Court of Audit).

Adapting to the evolution of science

Faced with an unprecedented boom in science and the birth of new disciplines, the Académie has revamped itself. In the early 2000s,

it has adopted new statutes that, in particular, have seen its membership increased – on 1 June 2015, the Académie is composed

of 264 members, 126 foreign associates and 93 correspondents – and rejuvinated: at each session of elections, at least 50% of the

new members – junior members – are less than 55 years old on 1 January of the year of their election, and therefore engaged in

professional activities. In doing so, the Académie covers as widely as possible the whole range of scientific disciplines, including the

most emerging ones.

From Louis XIV onwards

1666 - Birth of the

Académie des Sciences de Paris

, at the initative of Colbert

1699 - Birth of the

Académie Royale des Sciences

, with Statutes established by the king

1793 - Termination of the three Académies:

Française

(founded in 1635),

Inscriptions et Belles-Lettres

(1663) and Sciences (1666)

1795 - Foundation of the

Institut National des Sciences et des Arts

, composed of the three Académies

1805 - Napoléon moves the

Institut National des Sciences et des Arts

to the premises of the former

Collège des Quatre-Nations

, on the

Quai de Conti in Paris

1816 - The three Académies become independent within the

Institut de France

. They are joined by the

Académie des Beaux-arts

(founded

in 1816) and later the

Académie des Sciences morales et politiques

(1832)

Today - The

Académie des Sciences

is a legal person governed by public law with a particular status under the Research Programme Law

of 18 April 2006