Events

The Mission Goes On: 85 Years of the Lithuanian Academy of Sciences

16 01 2026

The idea of an academy of sciences first emerged in ancient Greece, where free thinkers assembled in Plato's academy. In Lithuania, similar ideas started spreading in the eighteenth century, when in 1773 a group of scholars of Vilnius University, led by the university professor, astronomer, and mathematician Martynas Počobutas (Marcin Poczobutt-Odlanicki), took the initiative to establish an institution of scientific education, Vilnius Academy of Sciences, and prepared a project of such a society of scientists. Unfortunately, the never-ending wars at that time obstructed the implementation of those plans.

When the ideas of national revival began to spread in the late nineteenth–the early twentieth centuries, Jonas Basanavičius organised a meeting of the most prominent representatives of the intelligentsia in Vilnius in 1905. A decision was made to establish the Lithuanian Scientific Society. The founding meeting of the society took place on 7 April 1907 (25 March according to the Old Style calendar), and Jonas Basanavičius was elected chair of its board. The statute of the society provided for the organisation of scientific research in various fields, collection of material for such research, dissemination of scientific knowledge, and publishing activities. The society maintained contacts with foreign scientific institutions and achieved a great deal, but it was persecuted by the Polish authorities and was finally closed on 1 April 1938. On 11 January 1939, it was allowed to resume its activities as the Lithuanian Society of Science Lovers, but in 1940, when the Institute of Lithuanian Studies moved to Vilnius, it also ceased to operate.

In 1928, a group of professors from the University of Lithuania in Kaunas drafted the statutes of the highest scientific and cultural institution, the Academy of Sciences. In 1933, regulations were prepared for the establishment of the Research Institute of Lithuania. It was a narrowed-down variant of the statute of the Academy of Sciences. The Antanas Smetona Institute of Lithuanian Studies was finally established on 1 March 1939, by a resolution of the Seimas of the Republic of Lithuania. In the opinion of the initiators of this institute, it was supposed to evolve into the Academy of Sciences. On 16 January 1941, after Lithuania had already lost its independence, the academy was founded on the basis of the Institute of Lithuanian Studies.

Over the years, the Academy of Sciences has been changing. After the re-establishment of independence, a decision was made to separate research institutes from the Lithuanian Academy of Sciences. In 2011, in order to keep up with global trends, it was decided to abolish the hierarchy within the Lithuanian Academy of Sciences and abandon the division of academicians into full members, corresponding members, and expert members. Thus, only two categories of membership – a full member and an emeritus or emerita member – were introduced. One of the latest decisions was the establishment of the Young Academy of the Lithuanian Academy of Sciences, the members of which are concerned about the smooth career development of the new generation of scientists and maintain contacts with the members of young academies in other countries around the world.

One can confidently say that by bringing together the brightest minds in the country, the Lithuanian Academy of Sciences has always played an important role in promoting the development of science in Lithuania and contributing to the progress of the state and the education of society. This mission continues in the challenge-laden twenty-first century. The Lithuanian Academy of Sciences successfully represents Lithuanian science by adapting to rapid changes.

Dr Rolandas Maskoliūnas
Translated by Biana Barnard