The American Academy of Arts and Sciences is one of the oldest learned societies and a prestigious honorary society in the United States, founded in 1780 during the American Revolution by a group of Founding Fathers including John Adams, John Hancock, James Bowdoin, and Andrew Oliver. Established with the mission to 'cultivate every art and science which may tend to increase the wealth, the happiness, and the knowledge of the inhabitants of the United States,' the Academy honors exceptional scholars, leaders, artists, and innovators. It elects distinguished fellows and foreign honorary members from diverse fields such as the arts, humanities, sciences, social sciences, academia, business, and public affairs to foster interdisciplinary dialogue, advance intellectual inquiry, and influence public policy. Headquartered in Cambridge, Massachusetts, the Academy plays a significant role in advancing research and public engagement on pressing societal issues through initiatives like the Committee on Studies, the Visiting Scholars Program, and the Hellman Fellowship. It publishes the quarterly journal Dædalus, maintains a historic library and art collection, and has honored thousands of influential figures, including 250 Nobel laureates and numerous presidents, over its more than two centuries of existence. As a non-profit institution, the Academy operates independently to influence policy and promote the common good, often convening experts to address topics like education, democracy, and global security. Its membership, comprising around 5,000 fellows, reflects a commitment to diversity and inclusion, with recent efforts to broaden representation across genders, ethnicities, and professional backgrounds. The Academy's work continues to bridge academia, government, and civil society, reinforcing its foundational goal of advancing knowledge for the public benefit as a society recognizing intellectual leadership across disciplines.