The National Academy of Sciences is an autonomous organisation acknowledged with a Decree from the President of the ItalianRepublic. The aim of the Academy is to foster the advancement of scientific knowledge and promote topics concerning the history of science.

The traditional activities of the Academy include the promotion of scientific progress in mathematical, physical and natural sciences, with particular interest, in the last few years, in the study of life sciences and biotechnology, biodiversity and environment, chemistry and mathematical, physical and biomolecular basis of informational and computational methodologies. The development of studies in the History of Science and extensive disclosure to schools are also included in the recent activities. There are currently two Centres operating at the National Academy of Sciences: the Centre for the History of Contemporary Sciences and for the History of the Italian National Academy of Sciences “Edoardo Amaldi” and the Centre for Environmental Sciences “Giovanni Battista Marini Bettolo”.

With this purpose the Academy annually awards scientific prizes, organises meetings and conferences at various levels, publishes periodicals and series, maintains relations and collaborations with Italian and international organisations and institutions, and establishes consultative committees for governmental agencies.

Since 1994, the Academy manages the research, study and monitoring program of the ecosystem of the Presidential Estate – Castelporziano. The program makes use of numerous scientific and technical institutions, and is supported by the Presidency of the ItalianRepublic. In 2003 the “Osservatorio-Centro Multidisciplinare per l’ambiente costiero mediterraneo” was established. It is a data centre which analysis and elaborates data and results of the environmental monitoring activities of the estate; an interface between the scientific world and the state services and territorial conditions.

The Academy is also committed to the conservation and enhancement of the cultural heritage. In the last few years the Academy has developed, and applied to the enormous historic-scientific patrimony in its possession, instruments of research, consultation and documentation of the most modern technology in communication.

For the past 20 years the Academy has managed the patrimony left by attorney Cesare Tumedei, with the task to devolving it entirely for assisting hospitals in Rome. So far, RomanUniversity hospitals and clinics received equipment estimated at 20 Million Euro.