European Academy of Sciences and Arts
Academia Scientiarum et Artium Europaea
Duties and Responsibilities
Networked dialog in a networked world
Interdisciplinary dialog, networked thoughts, transnational scientific discourse
The European Academy of Sciences and Arts was founded in 1990 by Prof. Felix Unger, Cardinal Franz König † and Prof. Nikolaus Lobkowicz, prominent figures in their fields. The Academy focuses on interdisciplinary discussion across specialist areas, ideologies and scientific cultures as well as promoting transnational dialog and visionary developments of new scientific knowledge and academic thinking.
As an “independent knowledge pool”, the Academy aims “to debate and work on contemporary topics across disciplinary and national borders, for the good of those living and working in Europe”. The uniqueness of the Academy of Sciences and Arts lies in its ability to work across boundaries for the aesthetics of science.
The European Academy of Sciences and Arts now brings together over 1200 scientists and researchers, philosophers and artists from Europe, Asia and the USA, including 25 Nobel Prize winners. This has resulted in a networked ‘think tank’ on ethical and scientific values in a society that is increasingly fragmented.
The European Academy of Sciences and Arts, based in Salzburg, focuses on three core areas, namely developing knowledge, disseminating scientific information and implementing major multi-national projects.
Developing knowledge
Future-critical topics such as environmental damage through technology and industry, genetic engineering, economic globalization, boundaries of medical technology are discussed at symposiums, congresses and on interdisciplinary, scientific working parties.
Ethical principles in scientific discussions are fundamental. No one topic is discussed abstractly, but its impacts on cultural, ethical and consensual values and developments are always considered. Science and research are viewed in terms of their autonomous freedom and, conversely, in terms of their possible dependence on commissioning authorities, economic constraints and humanitarian objectives. The influence of globalization and of worldwide information and communication aesthetics is also critically discussed.
Disseminating scientific information
Scientific information, knowledge and processes should be disseminated as clearly as possible to as wide an audience as possible in as many socio-political and ethical facets as possible. One of the Academy’s key aims is to ensure that everyone has access to information.
Alongside the regular publications, electronic media and new interactive communication systems are being used to disseminate information.
Implementing major projects
The first major project is “Health is Wealth”. Optimal heath care should be delivered throughout Europe based on the facts and validated research findings. This project will also focus on interdisciplinary discussion between industry and medicine, to disseminate theoretical medical findings to industry, industrial technology and medicine, to combine theory and practice.
The second major project concerns “Tolerance”. For the representatives of the European Academy of Sciences and Arts tolerance is “a virtue, by which man as an individual can live in freedom within the spirit of the law. Tolerance means behaving in a way that does not harm your neighbors or restrict their freedom.”
The aim is to set up a Tolerance institute that runs scientific symposiums, promotes and commissions research and holds public debates on tolerance.