Overview

The Tanzania Academy of Sciences (TAAS) is an institution/society of distinguished scholars and scientists. It is a non-political, non-sectarian, non-profit making national body of learned and men and women in physical, natural and social sciences and technologies: Persons distinguished in their own rights and interested in the promotion, advancement and application of Science and Technology for human development. It was launched in June 24, 2005 by His Excellency, Dr. Benjamin William Mkapa, the then President of the United Republic of Tanzania. The academy is fully registered. TAAS was initiated by a few Tanzanian scientists led by Prof. Peter Msolla, the then Deputy Vice chancellor of Sokoine University of Agriculture and later the Minister of Communication, Science and Technology. It was established on 24th February, 2004 with the cooperation and support of the government of Tanzania and registered as an NGO scientific body on the April 13, 2005 with Certificate No. 0796. The primary objective of TAAS is to cooperate and collaborate with the government, other scientific organisations and the general public in the promotion, advancement and scholarly application of all aspects of science and technology for the socio-economy. The key functions of the TAAS relate to three main areas: a) Duties to the Scientific Community - i.e. recognising scientific achievements and encourage the pursuit of scientific excellence by providing awards and elections to membership, b) Duties to socio-economic sectors and the general public - i.e. promoting public awareness of the central role of Science and Technology in development through meetings, media releases, publications and public lectures. c) Duties to the Government - i.e. providing independent and authoritative advice based on analyses of issues of national importance such as R &D policy and funding, exploitation of scientific research findings, innovations and new technologies.