The Academy Releases Its Foundational Governance Framework and Transitional Secretariat Mandate

The Americas Academy of Sciences (ASA) today announced the formal release of its Foundational Governance Framework together with the mandate establishing its Transitional Secretariat, representing a critical step in the operational consolidation of the Academy following the adoption of its International Nonprofit Scientific Charter in February.

The Governance Framework sets forth ASA’s initial institutional architecture, defining the Academy’s principles of academic autonomy, collegial decision-making, and peer-reviewed excellence. It formally establishes the core governing bodies of the Academy, including the Permanent Scientific Council, disciplinary Sections, and internal review mechanisms, providing a coherent structure to guide ASA’s development as a global, non-governmental, and non-commercial scientific organization.

Central to the Framework is the articulation of ASA’s governance philosophy: a model grounded in scholarly self-regulation, transparency, and merit-based recognition. The document codifies the Academy’s commitment to multidisciplinary integration across Natural Sciences, Engineering and Applied Sciences, Medicine and Life Sciences, Social and Behavioral Sciences, and Humanities and Transcultural Studies, reflecting ASA’s conviction that complex scientific and societal challenges require cross-domain collaboration.

Alongside the Governance Framework, ASA formally instituted its Transitional Secretariat, mandated to oversee the Academy’s initial operational phase. The Secretariat is entrusted with implementing the Charter provisions, coordinating the establishment of standing committees, preparing the inaugural Fellowship nomination cycle, and supporting the launch of ASA’s academic programs and institutional services.

“The release of our Governance Framework and the creation of the Transitional Secretariat mark the beginning of ASA’s structured institutional life,” the Academy stated in its official declaration. “These instruments translate our founding principles into operational reality, ensuring continuity, accountability, and scholarly rigor as we build a permanent home for scientific excellence across the Americas.”

The Transitional Secretariat will serve as the coordinating body during this formative period, responsible for administrative integration, procedural development, and the alignment of sectional activities with the Academy’s long-term strategic objectives. Its mandate also includes the preparation of internal policies on peer review, ethical standards, archival management, and scholarly communications.

The Governance Framework further authorizes ASA to initiate its core functions, including the organization of scientific assemblies, the development of publication platforms, the establishment of digital knowledge systems, and the implementation of programs supporting early-career researchers. These measures collectively position the Academy to advance its mission of honoring scientific achievement, fostering transnational collaboration, and contributing evidence-based perspectives to matters of science and society.

With this announcement, The Americas Academy of Sciences advances from foundational establishment to institutional implementation, reinforcing its commitment to academic independence, international cooperation, and the cultivation of a durable scientific community spanning the Western Hemisphere and beyond.

About The Americas Academy of Sciences

The Americas Academy of Sciences (ASA) is an international, nonprofit, and honorary scientific organization dedicated to promoting research excellence, strengthening cross-border scholarly collaboration, supporting emerging scientists, and advancing the role of science in addressing global challenges. Through its governance structures, Fellowship system, and academic initiatives, ASA serves as a platform for interdisciplinary engagement and long-term scientific cooperation across the Americas.