The World Academy of Art and Science (WAAS) is an international non-governmental scientific organization, a world network of individual fellows elected for distinguished accomplishments in the fields of natural and social sciences, arts and the humanities. The Academy strives to promote the growth of knowledge, enhance public awareness of the social consequences and policy implications of that growth, and provide leadership in thought that leads to action.
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The idea of founding the Academy was voiced in the 1950s by leading scientists who were concerned about the potential for misuse of scientific discoveries. They included Albert Einstein, J. Robert Oppenheimer, and Joseph Rotblat who had been involved in the development of the atomic bomb; Bertrand Russell philosopher and pacifist; Joseph Needham, a co-founder of UNESCO; Lord Boyd Orr, the First Director General of the Food and Agriculture Organization; George Brock Chisholm, the First Director General of the World Health Organization; John A. Fleming, former President of the International Council of Scientific Unions; as well as Hermann Joseph Muller, Harold C. Urey, Francis Perrin, Panchanan Maheshwari, Theodore Monod, Detlev Bronk, Harold Lasswell and other outstanding scholars and public figures. The Academy was organized in December, 1960 with the aim of creating an informal world association of the highest scientific and ethical norms and standards.
Originally established in Geneva, Switzerland in 1960, in 2011 WAAS incorporated as a non-profit organization in the State of California, USA. The Academy maintains offices in Napa, California; Zagreb, Croatia and Pondicherry, India. It has divisions in North America and South Eastern Europe.
At present the Academy's membership consists of approximately 675 Fellows and Associate Fellows from all parts of the world. Fellows are nominated by existing members and directly elected by the members. To be a Fellow of the Academy is to be a member of the global civil society, concerned for the welfare of the increasingly interconnected global civilization with a demonstrated commitment to addressing issues of global importance. Principal criteria for election include:
activities of the Plenum of the Academy, serves on its Committees, promotes its policies, participates in its projects, programs and fund-raising.
Election in the WAAS is considered as one of the highest honors that can be accorded a scientist.Fellows include leading artists, politicians, statesmen, former heads of various counties, heads of research institutes and international organizations, Nobel Prize winners and business leaders.
WAAS conducts research and holds conferences and seminars on a wide range of topics and issues relating to the spread and application of knowledge. Its special focus in on multidisciplinary and trans-disciplinary perspectives that integrate such diverse fields as art, biotechnology, business, demography, ecology, economics, employment, energy, globalization, global security, humanities, human rights, information and media, international security, law, politics, psychology, public administration, social development and technology.
Current programs of the Academy include
Fellows of the Academy publish Cadmus Journal to provide a unique platform for examination of ideas and perspectives that fall beyond the purview of traditional academic publications.
WAAS is currently conducting collaborative programs and conferences with other distinguished institutions including Club of Rome; Global Security Institute, USA; The Inter-University Centre, Dubrovnik; The Montenegrin Academy of Sciences and Arts; and The Mother's Service Society, India.
The Academy is managed by a 20 member board of trustees. The current Chairman of the Board and Chief Executive Officer is Garry Jacobs and the current President is Ivo Šlaus.