Historical Highlights
1817
The Lyceum of Natural History in the City of New York (later renamed the New York Academy of Sciences) is founded by physician Samuel L. Mitchill.
1823
The first volume of the Annals, then called the Annals of the Lyceum of Natural History of New York, is published. It includes papers on such diverse topics as "a new and gigantic species of the genus Cephalopterus" and an account of field research into swallows by artist and member John James Audubon.
1831
Members of the Lyceum help establish New York University.
1836
The Lyceum is commissioned by the State of New York to do a survey of the mineralogy, botany, and zoology of the state.
1868
Lyceum members help establish the American Museum of Natural History, which later becomes the Lyceum's home.
1891
The Academy forms the Scientific Alliance, a center for scientific organizations in New York and a precursor to the Academy's Sections.
1909
The Academy celebrates the 100th birthday of member Charles Darwin with an international symposium and exposition. (A century later, the Academy will mark Darwin's 200th birthday with special events and an online collection of historic Annals papers).
1914
The Academy begins the first survey of the topography, botany, geology, zoology, archaeology, and ethnology of Puerto Rico, work that continues into the 1940s.
1935
Eunice T. Miner begins 32-year tenure as executive director, during which membership grows from 317 to more than 20,000.
1946
The Academy convenes the first large conference on antibiotics, which results in an important Annals volume.
1948
The Academy launches the first Science and Technology Exposition, NYC's high school science fair.
1956
Aldous Huxley speculates on a future without disease at an Academy conference on the use of tranquilizers.
1957
Humphrey Osmond coins the term "psychedelic" in a paper in Annals.
1960
Academy publishes an Annals volume on its groundbreaking conference on Cardiovascular Effects of Nicotine and Smoking.
1966
Academy plays a leadership role in the controversy surrounding dimethyl sulfoxide (DMSO) by bringing together opposing parties, including the FDA, physicians, and pharmaceutical companies.
1977
The Women in Science Committee is formed.
1978
The Academy establishes the Committee on Human Rights of Scientists.
1983
The Academy holds the world's first major conference on AIDS, with a resulting Annals volume.
1988
Russian physicist Andrei Sakharov makes his first U.S. appearance at the Academy and credits it for coordinating the international pressure that led to his release.
1994
With a new focus on science and technology in national policy, the Academy convenes one of the first conferences on excellence in managed health care.
1996
The Academy launches its Web site, www.nyas.org.
2001
Responding to the terrorist attacks on the World Trade Center, the Academy sponsors a series of forums on the health consequences of the disaster, bio-terrorism, and advances in surveillance technology.
2003
In recognition of the growing global concerns about Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome (SARS), the Academy convenes an international conference and creates one of the most comprehensive online resources to facilitate worldwide access to the latest SARS information. The publication inaugurates the Academy’s eBriefings.
2004
The Science & the City calendar a comprehensive listing of science-related events, is launched, and NYC Mayor Bloomberg proclaims October 13th "Science & the City Day."
2006
The Academy moves into its new headquarters at 7 World Trade Center. NYAS is the first tenant to sign a lease at the new World Trade Center.
2007
The Academy holds the first annual Blavatnik Awards for Young Scientists, recognizing the excellence of noteworthy young scientists and engineers in the tri-state area.
2008
The Academy launches Scientists Without BordersSM to mobilize and coordinate science-based activities to improve quality of life in the developing world.
2009
The Academy hosts a landmark meeting on the swine influenza (H1N1) outbreak.
2010
The Academy launches the New York City Science Education Initiative to bring New York’s wealth of scientific resources to bear on the needs of the city's students and teachers.
2010
The Academy creates The Sackler Institute for Nutrition Science to develop and implement a global research agenda for addressing malnutrition.
2011
The Academy builds a community of scientific researchers and medical professionals through a Translational Medicine Initiative, bridging the gap between basic research and clinical treatment.
2012
The Academy hosts the first public international symposium to discuss the controversy surrounding H5N1 research and publication.