Neil H. Shubin, Robert R. Bensley Distinguished Service Professor of Organismal Biology and Anatomy and vice dean for academic advancement at the University of Chicago, has been elected as the next president of the National Academy of Sciences.
“I am honored to be elected to lead the National Academy of Sciences at a time when its tradition of objective, nonpartisan counsel — offered in service to the country for over 160 years — is increasingly vital to advance the health, security, and prosperity of our nation,” said Shubin.
The Academy has also elected Cherry Murray as International Secretary and Naomi J. Halas, Susan Marqusee, Diana C. Mutz, and David A. Tirrell as councilors.
Francis Collins to Receive Public Welfare Medal — Academy’s Most Prestigious Award
The National Academy of Sciences is presenting its 2026 Public Welfare Medal to Francis S. Collins, former director, National Institutes of Health (NIH), for his pioneering research in human genetics and critical contributions to public welfare as the leader of the Human Genome Project. Collins’ scientific and public service career has advanced understanding of human…
2026 NAS Awards Recipients Announced
Academy Honors 19 for Major Contributions to Science WASHINGTON — The National Academy of Sciences will honor 19 individuals with awards recognizing their extraordinary scientific achievements in a wide range of fields spanning the physical, biological, social, and medical sciences. Roland Bürgmann, University of California, Berkeley, will receive the Arthur L. Day Prize and Lectureship…
Membership
Election to membership in the NAS recognizes excellence in research and is one of the highest honors a scientist can achieve.
MEMBERSHIP
Programs
Learn about our work on issues of national and worldwide concern, and explore science in new and engaging ways.
March 4, 2026
Distinctive Voices — Climate change in the press
Public interest in news stories about climate change is at…
Scientific Meetings
Listen to leading scientists talk about the latest in research.
Public Engagement
Explore the intersection of science and art and engage with science in new and exciting ways.
Science & Society
Learn about our special initiatives on national and worldwide issues from human rights to arms control.
Awards
NAS awards have recognized the outstanding contributions of more than 1,000 individuals in the physical, biological, and social sciences.
Featured Awards
Publications
Explore our flagship journal PNAS, reports from the National Academies, and other NAS publications.
Proceedings of the National
Academy of Sciences
The Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences (PNAS) is an authoritative source of high-impact, original research that broadly spans the biological, physical, and social sciences. The journal is global in scope and submission is open to all researchers worldwide.
PNAS Nexus
PNAS Nexus is a gold open access journal dedicated to publishing high-quality original research from across the biological, medical, physical, social, and political sciences, and engineering and mathematics, promoting collaboration across diverse fields.
News
Access news, features, and postings about our members, programs, and special initiatives.