National Young Academies

A (National) Young Academy (NYA/YA) is an academic organisation typically formed by young scientists and scholars at the beginning of their independent careers who have been selected for the excellence of their research impact and commitment to service. Membership in a NYA/YA is for a limited term, normally 4-5 years, after which members become academy alumni.

Young Academies typically work as the voice of young scientists for the advancement of issues important to young scientists. This includes, for example, science education or the dialog between science and society. Most Young Academies are affiliated with an established Science Academy.

One of the strategic aims of the GYA is to act as a facilitator of the growing global network of young academies and to support their establishment as well as joint projects and meetings between them.

Information on regional and global meetings of young academies can be found here.

Since its establishment, the GYA has boosted the establishment of NYAs around the world. Since its inception, more than 45 NYAs have been established, many of them with support from the GYA and its members. Overall, more than 60 National Young Academies exist worldwide (January 2025), with a number of additional national similar bodies, transnational young academies and young scientists networks also being part of the broader young academies network. More are close to launching in 2025.

Information on establishing a young academy can be found here.

See also the 2019 Declaration on the Guiding Principles of Young Academies.

See here for the 2025 Booklet on “The World’s Young Academies”, to learn more about what they do and how they operate.

National Young Academies, Similar Bodies and YS Networks