Pontifical Academy of Sciences facts for kids
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Pontificia accademia delle scienze
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| Type | Catholic, Research institute, Pontifical University |
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| Established | 1936 |
| Chancellor | Peter Turkson |
| President | Joachim von Braun |
| Location |
Casina Pio IV
00120 Vatican City 41°54′15″N 12°27′9″E / 41.90417°N 12.45250°E |
| Website | casinapioiv.va |
The Pontifical Academy of Sciences (which means "Pontifical Academy of Sciences" in Italian and Latin) is a special group of scientists in Vatican City. It was started in 1936 by Pope Pius XI. Their main goal is to help science grow, especially in math, physics, and studies about nature. They also look at how we understand scientific knowledge. This Academy is located in a beautiful building called the Casina Pio IV inside the Vatican Gardens.
Contents
History of the Academy
The idea for this Academy began a long time ago, in 1603. A smart Roman prince named Federico Cesi started a group called the "Academy of Lynxes." He wanted scientists to study nature very closely, like a lynx with its sharp eyes. The most famous leader of this first academy was the scientist Galileo Galilei.
After its founder died, the original Academy of Lynxes stopped for a while. But in 1847, Pope Pius IX brought it back, calling it the "Pontifical Academy of the New Lynxes." Later, in 1936, Pope Pius XI started it again with its current name, the Pontifical Academy of Sciences. Popes Pope Paul VI and Pope John Paul II later updated its rules.
Since 1936, the Academy has focused on studying different science topics and helping scientists from various fields work together. It has grown to include many scientists from all over the world. The Academy is an independent group within the Vatican. This means it can do its research freely. Its main goal is to help math, physics, and natural sciences move forward. It also studies how we understand scientific ideas.
What the Academy Does
The Academy and its members are not influenced by countries, politics, or religions. This makes them a great source of honest scientific information. They share this information with the Vatican and with scientists around the world. Today, the Academy works in six main areas:
- Basic Science: Studying the fundamental laws of nature.
- Global Issues: Looking at science and technology related to big world problems.
- Helping the Third World: Using science to solve problems in developing countries.
- Science Ethics: Thinking about the right and wrong ways to use science.
- Bioethics: Discussing moral questions related to biology and medicine.
- Understanding Knowledge: Studying how we gain scientific knowledge.
The scientists at the Academy work in many different fields. These include physics, astronomy, chemistry, earth and environmental sciences, and life sciences (like plants, animals, genetics, and brain studies). They also work in mathematics, applied sciences, and the history and philosophy of science.
The Academy also publishes many important works, such as:
- Acta: Records of their main meetings.
- Scripta Varia: Detailed reports from their study groups.
- Documenta & Extra Series: Quick summaries of their work and important speeches from the Pope.
- Commentarii: Notes and special studies on scientific topics.
To encourage young scientists, the Academy gives out the Pius XI Medal every two years. This award goes to a promising scientist under 45 years old. Some winners have even become members of the Academy!
Goals and Hopes of the Academy
The main goals of the Academy were explained by Pope Pius XI when he restarted it in 1936. He said that true science never goes against Christian faith. In fact, he believed that science helps us understand the truths of faith. He hoped that the Academy's scientists would work hard to advance science.
Forty years later, on November 10, 1979, Pope John Paul II also spoke about the Academy's role. He did this on the 100th birthday of Albert Einstein. He said that the Academy shows how science and faith can work together in harmony. He believed that the Church cares deeply about the search for truth, which is a very human activity.
Pope John Paul II also mentioned that both scientists who believe in God and those who don't are trying to understand nature. He said that a believer might have an advantage because they know that nature's "puzzle" has a solution. They believe that the world was made by an intelligent being, and that its challenges can be solved by humans. This belief can give them hope and help them keep working hard.
On November 8, 2012, Pope Benedict XVI told the Academy members that talking and working together between faith and science is very important. He said this helps build a culture that respects people and the planet. He believed that without faith and science learning from each other, big questions about humanity might be left to unproven ideas, which could harm humanity and world peace.
Members of the Academy
New members of the Academy are chosen by the current members. They pick men and women from any background or religion based on their excellent scientific work and strong moral character. The Pope then officially appoints them. The Academy is led by a President, who is chosen by the Pope from among the members. The President gets help from a scientific Council and a Chancellor.
The Academy started with 80 members, with 70 of them appointed for life. In 1986, Pope John Paul II increased the number of lifetime members to 80. There are also a few special Honorary Academicians and others who are members because of their jobs, like the head of the Vatican Observatory or the Vatican Apostolic Library.
President
The President of the Academy is chosen by the Pope from its members. The current president is Joachim von Braun, who started his role on June 21, 2017. He took over from Werner Arber, who won a Nobel Prize and was the first Protestant to be president.
Here is a list of all the past and current Presidents of the Pontifical Academy of Sciences:
| Name | Start of Presidential Term | End of Presidential Term |
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| Agostino Gemelli O.F.M. | 28 October 1936 | 15 July 1959 |
| Georges Lemaître | 19 March 1960 | 20 June 1966 |
| Daniel Joseph Kelly O'Connell | 15 January 1968 | 15 January 1972 |
| Carlos Chagas Filho | 9 November 1972 | 30 October 1988 |
| Giovanni Battista Marini Bettolo Marconi | 31 October 1988 | 29 March 1993 |
| Nicola Cabibbo | 30 March 1993 | 16 August 2010 |
| Werner Arber | 20 December 2010 | 20 June 2017 |
| Joachim von Braun | 21 June 2017 | - |
See also
In Spanish: Pontificia Academia de las Ciencias para niños
- Catholic Church & science
- Science and the Popes
