Welcome to the Academy of Sciences of Lisbon

The Academy of Sciences of Lisbon is one of the oldest national scientific institutions in continuous existence. It was founded on 24 December 1779, during the reign of King Maria I, under the motto inspired by a verse from Phaedrus:

Nisi utile est quod facimus stulta est gloria

If what we do is not useful, vain is the glory.

Under the terms of its statutes, the Academy of Sciences of Lisbon is responsible for:

  • To Promote and to encourage scientific research, whenever possible and necessary in an interdisciplinary way, and make the results of this research public;
  • To encourage the enrichment and study of knowledge, literature, language and other forms of national culture;
  • To promote the study of Portuguese history and its relationship with that of other peoples and to research and publish the respective documentary sources;
  • To Collaborate in education and teaching activities and promote their dissemination and improvement;
  • To Draw up advice reports the opinions requested by the government and other national services;
  • Top participate in cultural exchanges with foreign countries in a spirit of open collaboration;
  • To contribute, through research, cultural extension and the discussion of ideas, to the valorization of the Portuguese people in all aspects;
  • The Academy is the Portuguese State's advisory body on linguistic matters and can also be consulted in other scientific areas.