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sole reason for existence was to provide its members with the means for working together for the advancement of science. The society, therefore, petitioned the Supreme Court of the State of New York for authority to change its name to "The New York Academy of Sciences." No other change in the charter was requested. This petition was approved on January 5, 1876, and the new name was officially adopted by formal vote on February 21 of the same year. It remains the name of the fourth oldest scientific society in America. Under this name its membership has grown from a few hundred to nearly 18,000 scientists, from all fifty states and eighty-six foreign countries. THE ACADEMY'S PRESENT ORGANIZATION Through the years, as scientific progress, specialization, and scientific discoveries continued, the Academy's internal organization, with noteworthy flexibility, has kept pace. The last of may reorganizations was made early last year. It reflects the breadth and modernity of the Academy's current programs. This organization consists of five major Sections which have ten Divisions under their general guidance. They are arranged as follows: SECTION OF BIOLOGICAL AND MEDICAL SCIENCES Division of Anthropology Division of Instrumentation Division of Microbiology Division of Psychology SECTION OF CHEMICAL SCIENCES Division of Biochemistry Division of Organometallic Chemistry SECTION OF GEOLOGICAL SCIENCES SECTION OF PHYSICAL SCIENCES Division of Engineering Division of Mathematics Division of Nuclear Physics Division of Space Research SECTION OF PLANETARY SCIENCES THE PUBLICATIONS OF THE ACADEMY As the Academy grew it developed effective methods for accomplishing its scientific purposes. A review of these purposes, quoted at the beginning of this article, will show that the collection, evaluation, and dissemination of the most advanced scientific knowledge and thinking are inescapable requirements for the 2