NAS Colloquia

About NAS Colloquia

NAS colloquia, which began in 1991, addressed scientific topics of broad and current interest that cut across the boundaries of traditional disciplines. Three to four colloquia were scheduled each year, typically two days in length and international in scope. Each colloquium was organized by a member of the NAS, often with the assistance of an organizing committee, and featured presentations by leading scientists in the field and discussions among researchers with an interest in the topic. Most colloquia were held at the Arnold and Mabel Beckman Center in Irvine, California; at least one colloquium each year was held at the National Academy of Sciences Building in Washington, D.C. Papers resulting from colloquia were published in Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences (PNAS); collections of papers published since 1996 are available online without cost.

Colloquia from February 2001 through May 2019 were supported by a generous gift from The Dame Jillian and Dr. Arthur M. Sackler Foundation for the Arts, Sciences & Humanities, in memory of Dame Sackler’s husband, Arthur M. Sackler. One colloquium annually during this period included the Arthur M. Sackler Lectures.

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