The Encyclopedia Americana (1920)/Academy of Sciences

ACADEMY OF SCIENCES, an institution founded at Paris in 1666 by Colbert and approved by Louis XIV in 1699. It published about 130 volumes of memoirs from 1666 to 1793, when it was suppressed. It was re-established in 1816. It has now 66 ordinary and 10 honorary members in 11 sections, with two perpetual secretaries, eight foreign associates and 106 corresponding members. Its prizes include an annual sum of 3,000 francs, given alternatively for the best essay on a subject in mathematics and physics; the Montyon prizes, six in number and valued at 45,000 france annually, the Laland prize for astronomy, awarded annually, and several others. The Academy meets annually in December and publishes Mémoires.