The President of the Learned society Slovakia visited the Pontifical Academy of Sciences

The President of the UcSS, prof. Jozef Noga, as a member of the SAS delegation, visited the Pontifical Academy of Sciences in the Vatican on 17-18 January 2024, as well as the Dicastery for Culture and Education at the Holy See. The visit took place at the invitation of the current Chancellor of the Pontifical Academy of Sciences, Cardinal Peter Kodwo Appiah Turkson. On the first day, the SAV delegation was received by the Secretary of the Dicastery for Culture and Education, Msgr. Paul Desmond Tighe, who took keen interest in the state of science in Slovakia and also in the functioning of the UcSS. He also explained how this Dicastery enters its documents into recommendations in educational processes, taking inspiration from themes from all over the world. Subsequently, on 18 January, the delegation was received by the Vice-Chancellor of the Pontifical Academy of Sciences and, in one person, by the Vice-Chancellor of the Pontifical Academy of Social Sciences, Msgr. Dario Edoardo Viganò, who informed the delegation of the Academy of Social Sciences about the activities of the Academy and the procedure for the appointment of new members. In addition to the members by virtue of their position in the Executive, the Academy has a limited number of 80 members. New members are appointed by the Pope after election by the Plenary of the Academy. The Pontifical Academy of Sciences is the most prestigious institution of its kind in the world; its members are elected without distinction of ethnic or religious affiliation from among the world’s most eminent scientists in the mathematical, physical and natural sciences. Although its roots go back to the 17th century, its present form was established by Pope Pius XI in 1936. During its modern history, no fewer than 89 Nobel Laureates have been elected to the Academy. The Academy regularly produces reports for the Holy See on the latest trends in basic research, global issues, science policy and bioethics.