Academia de Ciencias de Cuba
The Academia Ciencias de Cuba (Academy of Sciences of Cuba) is an official institution of the Cuban State, independent and consultative in matters of science. The Academy, throughout its history, has adopted different organizational forms according to the conditions under which it has carried out its activities.
The first Academy of Sciences was founded, after many years of negotiations with the Spanish Crown, on May 19, 1861, with the title of Royal Academy of Medical, Physical and Natural Sciences of Havana. After the inauguration of the Republic in 1902, that Academy retained its structure and organization but removed the word "Royal" from its name. In 1962, the Cuban revolutionary process created the National Commission for the Academy of Sciences of Cuba, and for the first time the Academy effectively acquired national scope. As part of the process of institutionalization of the revolutionary State, in 1976, through the Law 1323 of the Organization of the Central Administration of the State, the Academy of Sciences of Cuba was established as an administrative body with the status of a National Institute.
In 1980, by the transfer to the Academy of the functions of the State Committee for Science and Technology and with the new task of being the national organization responsible for all of the scientific and technological activity in the country, the Academy acquired the rank of a Ministry, and in 1994 the Academy, together with the National Commission for Environment and Natural Resources and the Executive Secretariat for Nuclear Affairs, became the Ministry for Science, Technology and Environment of Cuba.
In April 1996 the Academy, formed by scientists of outstanding merit with an honorary character and condition of Academicians of the national scientific community, was established in its present character. It had the main objectives of fostering Cuban science, disseminating national and universal scientific progress, recognizing the prestige of scientific research of excellence in the country, raising ethic professional standards and social recognition of science, and strengthening links between scientists and their organizations, both with society and the rest of the world.
The Academy has a professional staff that supports the Governing Bodies of the institution in the fulfillment of their tasks. The Academy is now in the process of defining its Statutes and By-laws, and it will establish a system of temporary and permanent Commissions, as well as of Sponsoring Institutions, to advance the fulfillment of its aims as defined by law.