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The Norwegian Academy of Science and Letters

The Norwegian Academy of Science and Letters

The Norwegian Academy of Science and Letters has run its activities from this building since 1911. (Photo: Eirik Furu Baardsen)

advancement of science and scholar­ship

Founded in 1857, The Norwegian Academy of Science and Letters is a non-govern­mental, nationwide, and interdisciplinary body which embraces all fields of learn­ing. The main purpose of the Academy is the advancement of science and scholar­ship in Norway. It provides a national forum of communication within and between the various learned disciplines, and it represents Norwegian science vis-á-vis foreign academies and international organizations.

The Academy fulfills these functions by ini­tiating and supporting research projects, by organizing meetings and seminars on topics of current interest, by publishing scientific and scholarly works, and by par­ticipating in and nominating representa­tives to various national and international scientific bodies.

The Norwegian Academy of Science and Letters represents Norwegian research internationally in the “International Coun­cil for Science” (ICSU), including its many sub-organizations, and in the “Union Académique Internationale” (UAI), the “European Science Foundation” (ESF), and “ALLEA” (All European Academies).

The Academy has annually awarded the Abel Prize for outstanding scientific work in mathematics since 2003. The prize amount is NOK 7,5 million (approx. EUR 730,000 or USD 840,000).

The Norwegian Academy of Science and Letters has both Norwegian and foreign members, as well as honorary members. The members are divided into two sec­tions; Mathematics and Natural Sciences and Humanities and Social Sciences. The Academy had a total of 922 ordinary members by the end of 2019.

His Majesty King Har­ald is the Honorary President of the Acad­emy. Her Majesty Queen Sonja, His Royal Heighness Crown Prince Haakon, Her Royal Highness Crown Princess Mette-Marit, and Fred Kavli are honorary members of the Academy.

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