About

ISAS was founded in 1907, with its organizational meeting held in Springfield, IL on December 7, 1907. Every year since an annual meeting of the Illinois State Academy of Science has been held at varying locations around the state. Likewise, the Academy’s refereed journal, Transactions, has been published continuously since its inaugural first volume in 1908.

At that opening meeting, Professor T. C. Chamberlin spoke on The Advantages of a State Academy of Science. Documentation of the opening address is showcased in the first volume of Transactions, the peer-reviewed journal of the Illinois State Academy of Science.

Professor Chamberlin’s address began with a brief history of the preceding 50 years that led to the emergence of ISAS and its journal. As Professor Chamberlin noted, one of the primary values of a scientific academy was the publication of research, with our journal Transactions beginning in 1908. Yet a venue for published research was only one of the advantages, with Professor Chamberlin noting also the importance of having an annual meeting where fellow scientists could mean, present work, and share ideas. That initial meeting of the Illinois State Academy of Science in 1907 has continued on an annual basis since, continuing Professor Chamberin’s emphasis of a “means of disseminating the spirit, the method, and the love of science among the people of the State.”  Professor Chamberlin closed his address “with an earnest advocacy of the value of the spirit and method of science to the state and nation as an essential element” in solving problems and creating solutions with an ending note that “more than anything else … the intellectual and moral methods of science are a protection against current evils and a guarantee of safety in the future.”

We welcome you to explore our website, search our article database, currently from 1932 to current, learn more about us, and find value in joining our organization, publishing in our refereed journal, and presenting at our annual meeting.

Mission

Our mission is the promotion of scientific research, the diffusion of scientific knowledge, and the unification of scientific interests in Illinois.

In doing so, ISAS has a strong commitment to diversity, equality, and inclusion.

Scientific Areas Represented

ISAS is organized around 14 broad areas of science. These areas evolve as science evolves.

Agriculture

The Agriculture Division supports research in the following areas: Agricultural Business, Agricultural Education, Agricultural Technology Management, Precision Agriculture, Agronomy, Plant Breeding, Animal Science, Horticulture, and Urban Forestry.

Anthropology and Archaeology

The Anthropology and Archaeology Division includes the scientific investigation of human biology and culture. This includes the study of human, hominin, or other primate skeletal remains, primate behavior and evolution, and human material culture.

Botany

The Botany Division incorporates all areas of classical botany, ranging from plant biochemistry to plant conservation and ecosystems ecology. In addition, areas of phycology and mycology are represented in the Botany Division.

Cell, Molecular, and Developmental Biology

The Cell, Molecular, and Developmental Biology Division houses a large assortment of work that emphasizes biologically relevant molecules and the cells and tissues of multicellular organisms. Topics relevant to this division include, but are not limited to, the areas of genetics, biochemistry, cell physiology and communication, and tissue or organismal development.

Chemistry and Biochemistry

The Chemistry and Biochemistry Division supports research efforts in all fields of chemistry and biochemistry.

Computer Science

The Computer Science Division welcomes submissions from all areas of the Computer Sciences, including Computer Science, Cybersecurity, and Information Systems.

Earth Science

Earth Science is the study of our planet’s physical and chemical properties and processes ranging from the inner core to the upper layer of the atmosphere. The Earth Science Division welcomes research in geology and physical geography, including climatology, geomorphology, hydrology, meteorology, mineralogy, oceanography, petrology, stratigraphy, and tectonics.

Engineering and Technology

Engineering and Technology share one essential concept: innovation. Engineering entails translating ideas into concrete concepts, essentially transforming a dream into something plausible. Technology-related areas focus on interpreting the validated concepts and specifications, verifying and reassessing all envisioned elements, in order to transform them into tangible, profitable goods.

Environmental Science

The Environmental Science Division invites contributions that advance our understating of the complex interactions within environmental systems. We welcome environmental research that highlights the relationships among chemistry, biology, and environmental science.

Health Sciences

Topics covered in the Health Sciences Division include diet, nutrition, fitness, clinical, health care management, health care, wellness, public health, pathology, and physiology.

Microbiology

The Microbiology Division supports research involving living organisms too small to be visible with the naked eye, including algae, archaea, bacteria, fungi, prions, protozoa, and viruses. Description of species, and research into their functions, effects, and practical uses are all welcome.

Physics, Mathematics, and Astronomy

The Physics, Mathematics, and Astronomy Division supports theoretical, computational, observational, experimental, interdisciplinary, and teaching methods research in the disciplines of Physics, Mathematics, and  Astronomy, and in any closely-related emerging areas of inquiry. 

STEM Education

The STEM Education Division advances research on the teaching and learning of STEM at any educational level. The Division aims to support and highlight research on innovative instruction in STEM disciplines, factors that increase student success in STEM, models of institutional transformation for STEM education, and communication of STEM to general audiences. Studies that build and understanding of diversity, inclusion, and equity in STEM education are of particular interest.

Zoology

The Zoology Division supports research efforts for any scientific studies involving animal species. In particular, the Zoology Division is interested in work that employs ecological, evolutionary, physiological, morphological, and integrative approaches.

Officers

Division Chairs & Section Editors

Councilors at Large

Documents

Contact Information

Please use our Contact Us page. In addition, the physical address of the ISAS Home Office is:

Illinois State Academy of Science
Research & Collections Center
1011 East Ash Street
Springfield, IL 62703
Phone: 217-782-6436
Executive Secretary: Robyn Myers, robyn.myers@illinoisstatemuseum.org

ISAS Email: IllinoisStateAcademyofScience@gmail.com