Founded in 1938, the Estonian Academy of Sciences (Estonian: Eesti Teaduste Akadeemia) is Estonia's national academy of science. As with other national academies, it is an independent group of well-known scientists whose stated aim is to promote research and development, encourage international scientific cooperation, and disseminate knowledge to the public.[1][2] As of June 2006, it had 57 full members and 15 foreign members.[3] Since November 2004, the president of the Academy has been Richard Villems, a biologist at the University of Tartu.[4]
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The Academy has four divisions:[5][6]
The Academy was established in 1938 as a learned society. When Estonia was occupied by the Soviet Union the Academy was dissolved on July 17, 1940. In June 1945 it was reestablished as the Academy of Sciences of the Estonian SSR (Estonian: Eesti NSV Teaduste Akadeemia). In Soviet times, it consisted of a central library and four divisions containing 15 research institutes as well as other scientific societies and museums. In April 1989, shortly before Estonian independence, the academy regained its original name of Estonian Academy of Sciences. At this time it was also restructured into its present form.[4][7]
The Academy is located on Kohtu Street in Tallinn. Its building is the so-called palace of Ungern-Sternberg, built in 1865 by the architect Martin Gropius.[8]