The Enduring Pursuit of Science in America

In a new Science editorial, NAS President-elect Neil Shubin reflects on the National Academy of Sciences’ enduring mission—from its founding during the Civil War to its role today in advancing independent, trusted scientific advice for the benefit of society. “Lincoln and Congress looked at a nation in crisis and built something designed to last. They did not know what problems future generations would bring to the Academy’s door. They simply understood that a republic navigating complex challenges needed a place where the best available knowledge could be gathered, examined, and put in service of the common good. That remains the Academy’s aspiration.”