The Hungarian Academy of Sciences (Hungarian: Magyar Tudományos Akadémia [ˈmɒɟɒr ˈtudomaːɲoʃ ˈɒkɒdeːmijɒ], MTA) is Hungary's foremost and most prestigious learned society. Its headquarters are located along the banks of the Danube in Budapest, between Széchenyi rakpart and Akadémia utca. The academy's primary functions include the advancement of scientific knowledge, the dissemination of research findings, the support of research and development, and the representation of science in Hungary both domestically and around the world.
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History
The origins of the Hungarian Academy of Sciences date back to 1825, when Count István Széchenyi offered one year's income from his estate to establish a Learned Society. He made this offer during a session of the Diet in Pressburg (Pozsony, now Bratislava), then the seat of the Hungarian Parliament. Inspired by his gesture, other delegates soon followed suit. The Society's mission was defined as the development of the Hungarian language and the promotion of sciences and the arts in the Hungarian language. It was officially named the Hungarian Academy of Sciences in 1845. The academy's central building, designed in the Renaissance Revival architecture by architect Friedrich August Stüler, was inaugurated in 1865.
Sections
Within the academy, scientific sections are organized according to individual disciplines or closely related fields. Each section monitors, promotes, and evaluates scientific activities within its domain. It provides expert opinions on scientific matters, science policy, and research organization. Additionally, the sections assess the work of the academy's research institutes, university departments, and other affiliated research units. They also play a key role in the process of awarding the Doctor of the Hungarian Academy of Sciences (D.Sc.) degree, Hungary's post-Ph.D. academic qualification.
Today, the academy is composed of eleven main scientific sections:
Linguistics and Literary Scholarship
Philosophy and Historical Sciences
Mathematics
Agricultural Sciences
Medical Sciences
Engineering Sciences
Chemical Sciences
Biological Sciences
Economics and Law
Earth Sciences
Physical Sciences
Research institutes until 2019
MTA Agricultural Research Centre
MTA Chemical Research Center
MTA Research Centre for Astronomy and Earth Sciences (involved with Konkoly Observatory)
MTA Szeged Research Centre for Biology
MTA Centre for Ecological Research
MTA Research Centre for Economic and Regional Studies
MTA Centre for Energy Research
MTA Research Centre for the Humanities
MTA Research Institute for Linguistics
MTA Rényi Institute of Mathematics
MTA Institute of Experimental Medicine
MTA Research Centre for Natural Sciences
MTA Institute of Nuclear Research
MTA Wigner Research Centre for Physics
MTA Centre for Social Sciences
Presidents of the Hungarian Academy of Sciences
Széchenyi Academy of Literature and Arts
The Széchenyi Academy of Literature and Arts (Hungarian: Széchenyi Irodalmi és Művészeti Akadémia) was created in 1992 as an academy associated yet independent from the MTA. Some of the known members are György Konrád, Magda Szabó, Péter Nádas writers, Zoltán Kocsis pianist, Miklós Jancsó, István Szabó film directors. The last president was Károly Makk, film director, who succeeded László Dobszay (resigned on 20 April 2011).