Kuiper stands in front of the National Academy of Sciences sign in Washington DC.

The National Academy of Sciences

“We call it the building for the National Academy of Sciences and the National Research Council, but in reality it should be the nation’s home of science in America, and will be looked upon by our fellow citizens and the world at large as the place where the creative mind will be able to do much to bring about a better existence for the future people of the world.” NAS President Charles D. Walcott, 1922

Kuiper was SUPER excited to visit the National Academy of Sciences @thenascience this summer, even if he could only visit the outside (though we thought the Einstein Memorial was REALLY COOL.) Perhaps someday in a more just, verdant, and peaceful world they will allow young canine science educators to take a tour of the inside exhibits. In addition to the fine building you see here, NAS also has its own Koshland Science Museum; both are located in Washington DC.

Did you know we have Abraham Lincoln to thank for the US NAS? He signed it into existence in 1863, smack dab in the middle of the American Civil War. The charter had been introduced by Senator Henry Wilson of Massachusetts (who later went on to serve as the 18th vice president of the United States, under Ulysses S. Grant.) The first president of the NAS was Alexander Dallas Bache, one of Benjamin Franklin’s great-grandsons.

Although created by the government, the National Academy of Sciences (as well as the National Academies of Engineering and Medicine) are private, non-profit, non-governmental organizations; the idea was to create agencies that could independently and objectively advise on policy decisions when called upon. Members work for free, and are elected by their fellow scientists based on contributions to research; around 200 of the current members hold Nobel Prizes. PNAS, their scientific journal, is one of the most-cited scientific journals in the world.

If you’re interested in falling down a wonderful rabbithole of science (including social science & education), the National Academies Press offers a TON of reports and books on all sorts of subjects as free PDFs at nap.edu. Kuiper and I are reading through “Communicating Science Effectively.” Let us know what you find!

Original post: https://www.instagram.com/p/BbzUhmeA4yb/

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