Organization and governance
The Board of the French Academy of sciences decides on the areas of intervention and strategic choices, relying on governance bodies: the "restricted committee", the "secret committee" and three delegations.
The Board of the French Academy of sciences
The Board of the French Academy of sciences is made up of the president, vice-president and two perpetual secretaries - one for each division. In enlarged formation, it is completed by the Academy's delegates.
The two divisions, which encompass all of the Academy's disciplines, are:
Mathematical, physical, computer, mechanical and universal sciences (1st division)
Chemical, biological and medical sciences (2nd division)
Board missions
The Board organizes the scientific life and work of the Academy and ensures its proper functioning.
Decisions concerning budgets and the management of personnel and of the Academy's foundations, donations and properties are taken under the responsibility of the perpetual secretaries, after the advice of the administrative commission, composed of members of the Bureau and two elected members.
© Mathieu Baumer
Board composition for 2024-2025
Françoise Combes, President
Alain Fischer, outgoing president
Étienne Ghys, Perpetual secretary for the 1st division
Antoine Triller, Perpetual secretary for the 2nd division
©Simon Cassanas
The "Comité restreint"
The "Comité restreint" is made up of members of the Board, the two elected academicians from the administrative commission, delegates from the 8 sections and the applications inter-section, and elected members.
It meets once a month. It defines the Academy's areas of work and reflection: research orientation and structure, science and society, Academy reports and opinions, symposium proposals, creation of committees, ...
The "Comité restreint" prepares the decisions that will be put to the vote of the "Comité secret".
©Mathieu Baumer
The "Comité secret"
This historic term refers to the deliberative, closed-door general assembly of the French Academy of Sciences. The "Comité secret" makes all decisions relating to the Academy, within the framework of the provisions laid down by its statutes and internal regulations.
It is chaired by the President of the Academy.
Delegations
Three delegations, entrusted to academicians, contribute to the implementation of Academy policy under the responsibility of the Bureau.
The three delegates are permanent guests of the Board and the "comité restreint":
- Patrick Flandrin, delegate for scientific information and communication
- Claude Jaupart, delegate for education and training
- Francis-André Wollman, delegate vice-president for international relations
©Simon Cassanas
Thematic committees, tools for reflection and proposals
The French Academy of sciences uses its specificity of having high-level scientists in all disciplines to address modern issues of which science is a constituent element. In permanent or ad hoc thematic committees, academics analyze and synthesize the latest data, and issue recommendations for action.
The standing committees, in particular, are the cornerstone of the Academy's advisory mission.
Based on presentation-debates prepared by academics, to which outside specialists are invited when useful, proposals for reports, opinions or recommendations for decision-makers are born, and made available to all citizens on the Academy of Sciences website.
