Founded in 1780, the American Academy of Arts and Sciences is an international learned society whose members are the world's leading scientists, scholars, artists, business people, and public leaders. The Academy promotes service and study through analysis of critical social and intellectual issues and the development of practical policy alternatives; fosters public engagement and the exchange of ideas with meetings, conferences, and symposia bringing diverse perspectives to the examination of issues of common concern; mentors a new generation of scholars and thinkers though its Visiting Scholars Program; and honors excellence by electing to membership men and women in a broad range of disciplines and professions.