The Slovenian Academy of Sciences and Arts

The Slovenian Academy of Sciences and Arts (SAZU) has the oldest roots of all the scientific institutions in Slovenia. Its origins can be traced back to the Jesuit theology and philosophy schools of the 16th century and the Academia Operosorum, founded in Ljubljana in 1693. Today, SAZU has regular members, 22 associate members, and 63 associate members from scientific institutions abroad.

The aim of SAZU is to promote excellence in the sciences and arts and to concern itself with the fundamental works on the natural and cultural heritage, which define the Slovene nation as such, e.g. the Dictionary of the Slovene Language, the Etymological Dictionary of the Slovene Language, Maps of Dialects, Archaeological Sites of Slovenia, Materialia ad Ethnographiam Slovenorum Spectantia, the Encyclopaedia of the Economic and Social History of the Slovene People, the Historical Topography of Slovenia, the Series of Monumenta Artis Musicae Sloveniae, the Slovene Biographical Encyclopaedia, Slovene Folk Songs, Vegetation and Geomorphological Maps of Slovenia, etc.

The Slovenian Academy is active in different areas of research, including:

In every field of research, there are close academic links with research centers and universities all over the world. There are also links with other prestigious academic institutions - the British Academy, the Austrian Academy of Sciences, the Royal Society of London, the National Academy of Sciences in Washington, the Hungarian Academy of Sciences, and many others.

Many members of the Academy participate as leading scientists in research programs being conducted at the Center of Scientific Research at SAZU and other research institutes and universities in Slovenia, as well as in universities and other academic institutions abroad.

Members of SAZU are also involved in professional and administrative bodies dealing with the evaluation of science in Slovenia, and its relation to science in the rest of the world, an endeavor which is important for defining future trends in science policy.

The two most important projects of SAZU are: "Invesfigations into the Natural and Cultural Heritage of the Slovene Nation" and "The Study and Preservadon of the Environment".

Members of the Slovenian Academy have, since 1938, published more than 18,000 scientific papers, books, monographs, and periodicals.

Since 1938, the publishing house of the Slovenian Academy of Sciences and Arts and its Research Center has published approximately 650 titles.

In 1946, the SAZU Library started a regular exchange of these publications with scientific institutions all over the world. In 1992, the exchange covered 1,481 addresses.

 

The Presidency

The President is France Bernik; Vice-Presidents are Robert Blinc and Ciril Zlobec; the Secretary General is Matija Drovenik

 

The members of the Presidency are also the secretaries of the following Sections:

Biblioteka SAZU / SASA Library