The New York Academy of Sciences (NYAS), originally founded as the Lyceum of Natural History in January 1817, is a prestigious nonprofit professional society that plays a vital role in advancing global scientific research and knowledge.

NYAS is dedicated to promoting scientific literacy, supporting innovative research, and fostering science-based solutions to pressing global challenges.

Additionally, the academy addresses critical cross-disciplinary topics such as nutrition, artificial intelligence, space exploration, and sustainability.

A key focus of the academy is to provide resources and support to researchers at every stage of their careers, from emerging scientists to seasoned professionals.

In 2020, Nicholas Dirks was appointed as the president and CEO of the academy, bringing his extensive experience in academia and leadership to the organization.

Peter Salovey, Former President of Yale University, currently serves as the chair of the board of governors, guiding the academy's mission and strategic direction.

[1] Attended by the academy's founder and first president, Samuel L. Mitchill, the first meeting of the Lyceum took place at the College of Physicians and Surgeons, located on Barclay Street near Broadway in lower Manhattan.

[1] Within a few months of the first meeting, the Lyceum moved to the New York Institution (located on the northwest corner of Broadway and Chambers Street) and began its first activities—hosting lectures, collecting natural history specimens, and establishing a library.

From the outset, the New York Academy of Sciences' membership was unusual among scientific societies in the 19th century because its democratic structure allowed all to join, from laypeople to professional scientists, clinicians, and engineers.

[3] For that reason, the membership has always included a mix of scientists, business people, academics, government workers, and members of the general public.

Prominent members have included United States Presidents (Thomas Jefferson and James Monroe), as well as many notable scientists and scholars, including Asa Gray (who served as the superintendent of the academy starting in 1836), John James Audubon, Alexander Graham Bell, Thomas Edison, Louis Pasteur, Charles Darwin, Nikola Tesla, Margaret Mead (who served for a time as the vice president of the academy), Rosalyn Sussman Yalow, Elizabeth Blackburn, and Jennifer Doudna.

[9] More recent activities have included: annual meetings on machine learning; programs designed to reduce time and costs of Alzheimer's research; programs on the development of the brain from before birth through early childhood; convening the inaugural Summit on Science Enablement for the (United Nations) Sustainable Development Goals in 2017; and convening climate scientists and city planners, industry experts, policymakers, and representatives of NGOs for a conference marking the 10th anniversary of a partnership between the New York City Panel on Climate Change, the City of New York, and Annals of the New York Academy of Sciences.