Latin American
Academy of Sciences

History and mission

The Latin American Academy of Sciences was created to honor the memory of Simón Bolívar by a group of scientific researchers from Latin America gathered for this purpose at the Pontifical Academy of Sciences in 1982. As agreed at that meeting, it established its permanent headquarters in Caracas in 1983, the bicentennial year of the birth of Simón Bolívar.

Its mission is to promote and contribute to the development of mathematical, physical, chemical, life, and earth sciences and their applications for the benefit of development and human, cultural and social integration of Latin America and the Caribbean. For this purpose, ACAL develops cooperation programs that include the dissemination of regional scientific events, the permanent evaluation of the research potential of Latin America and the Caribbean, the exchange of researchers, the transfer of knowledge, and the formation of regional research networks. The Academy also encourages and conducts science policy studies and promotes interest in science at different educational levels and among the entire population.

The Academy does not have a specific number of Members, new academics are elected annually through the nomination and subsequent voting of the members.

Currently the Academy has more than 250 members from Argentina, Bolivia, Brazil, Chile, Colombia, Costa Rica, Cuba, Ecuador, Guatemala, Honduras, Mexico, Nicaragua, Panama, Peru, Puerto Rico, Uruguay and Venezuela. The Academics are researchers recognized nationally and internationally for their contributions to scientific knowledge.

Annually ACAL organizes a scientific meeting in a different country from the region, simultaneously with the annual meeting of the Council of the Academy. It is customary for both activities to be jointly supported by the local national science and technology body, the national academy, research institutions, universities, and the Simón Bolívar Foundation for the Latin American Academy of Sciences (FSB-ACAL). These meetings have so far taken place in Asunción, Bogotá, Buenos Aires, Caracas, Lima, Mexico, Montevideo, Rio de Janeiro, Santiago, Sao Paulo, and Viña del Mar.

Since its creation, ACAL has been sponsored by: the Simón Bolívar Foundation for the Latin American Academy of Sciences · FSB-ACAL, the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization · UNESCO and its Regional Office for Science and Technology for Latin America and the Caribbean · ORCYT-UNESCO, the International Council for Science · ICSU and the Third World Academy of Sciences · TWAS.

Throughout the years, when ACAL has held meetings and other scientific activities in various countries of the region, it has received significant support from local entities such as National Science and Technology Organizations · ORCYTs, Universities, Foundations, and Companies.