Cuba's Sciences Academy.

The Academy of Sciences of Cuba is an official institution of the Cuban State, independent and consultative in matters of science. The Academy, throughout its history has adopted different organizational forms according to the environment in which it has carried out its activities. The first Academy of Sciences was founded, after more than 35 years of negotiations with the Spanish Crown, on May 19, 1861, with the name of Royal Academy of Medical, Physical and Natural Sciences of Havana. This is the oldest still active national academy of sciences established in the world outside Europe. After the inauguration of the Republic in 1902, that Academy retained its structure and organization but lost the title of "Royal". In 1962, the Cuban revolutionary process created the National Commission for the Academy of Sciences of Cuba and for the first time the name of the Academy showed its effective national scope. As part of the process of institutionalization of the revolutionary State, in 1976, through the Law 1323 of the Organization of the Central Administration of the State, the Academy of Sciences of Cuba was established as an administrative body with the status of a National Institute. In 1980, by the transfer to the Academy of the functions of the State Committee for Science and Technology and with the new task of being the national organization responsible for all of the scientific and technological activity in the country, the Academy acquired the rank of a Ministry. In 1994, within the process of reorganization of the Central Administration of the Cuban State, the administrative structure of the Academy, together with the National Commission for Environment and Natural Resources, and the Executive Secretariat for Nuclear Affairs, became the Ministry for Science, Technology and Environment of Cuba. In April 1996, by Decree-law 163, the Academy, formed by scientists of outstanding merit, representing, on a personal basis, and with an honorary character, with the condition of Academicians, all of the national scientific community, was established in its present character with the main aims of fostering Cuban science, to disseminate national and universal scientific progress, to recognize the scientific research of excellence in the country, to raise ethic professional standards and social recognition of science, and to strengthen links between scientists and their organizations, both among themselves, with society at large, and with the rest of the world. The Academy has a Secretariat that supports the Governing Bodies of the institution in the fulfillment of their tasks. The Academy established its Statutes and By-laws, and a system of Temporary and Permanent Commissions, as well as of Sponsoring Institutions, to advance the fulfillment of its aims as defined by law.