Academia Sinica Logo

The American Philosophical Society (APS) recently announced its 2026 class of new members. Academia Sinica President James C. Liao has been elected to the Class of Mathematical and Physical Sciences, becoming one of the few international scholars selected this year. APS elects no more than 10 scientists worldwide each year in this class, underscoring the distinction and significance of this honor. Election to the APS recognizes outstanding scientific achievements, intellectual contributions to the world, original insights into the philosophy of science, and their positive impact on society.

Founded in 1743 through the efforts of American Founding Father Benjamin Franklin, the APS is the oldest existing learned society in the United States. It has long brought together scholars across disciplines, fostering research presentations and discussions through its meetings and academic forums, while facilitating continued dialogue on major contemporary issues in science, the humanities, and public policy. It is widely regarded as one of the world’s most prestigious scholarly societies.

Its elected members have included more than 260 Nobel laureates and 14 U.S. presidents. Internationally renowned historian and Academia Sinica Academician Ying-shih Yu was also elected to the APS in 2004 as a member of Class 4: Humanities and Social Sciences, underscoring the Society’s historic standing and scholarly influence.

President Liao was elected to Class 1: Mathematical and Physical Sciences, which encompasses astronomy, computer science, chemistry, engineering, mathematics, and physics. Several APS members sent congratulatory messages, including Sir Paul Nurse, President of The Royal Society and a Nobel laureate, who expressed high praise for President Liao’s perspectives on AI’s implications for human evolution and the development of science. Marcia McNutt, President of the National Academy of Sciences, and Professor Joanna Aizenberg of Harvard University’s Department of Chemistry and Chemical Biology, Chair of the APS Class 1 Committee, also sent their congratulations. Professor Aizenberg noted that Class 1 covers a broad range of disciplines and that election is highly selective and competitive, making APS membership one of the most prestigious honors in the international scholarly community.

President Liao will be invited to attend the induction ceremony in Philadelphia this November. In keeping with APS tradition, he will sign the Roll Book, a register of elected members that preserves the Society’s scholarly legacy dating back to the 18th century.
President Liao is an internationally renowned synthetic biologist whose expertise lies in the design and evolution of metabolic pathways. His research has long focused on how microbes and plants absorb carbon dioxide and other greenhouse gases, addressing the global challenge of climate change.

Since assuming the presidency of Academia Sinica in 2016, President Liao has actively advanced key research areas including artificial intelligence, energy technology, and quantum computing. He is also one of the few Taiwanese scholars elected to multiple leading international academies and scholarly organizations, including Academia Sinica, the National Academy of Sciences, the National Academy of Engineering, the European Molecular Biology Organization, and The World Academy of Sciences. These honors reflect the high regard in which his research achievements are held by the global scholarly community.

Founded during the 18th-century Age of Enlightenment, the APS has long served as an important international platform linking science, the humanities, and public affairs, guided by its mission of “promoting useful knowledge.” In 2026, the APS elected 42 new members: 33 resident members and only nine international members. This year’s new members include 2025 Nobel laureate in Economic Sciences Joel Mokyr, Northwestern University materials scientist John A. Rogers, and Google Principal Researcher and futurist Ray Kurzweil.

Since its founding, the APS has elected only about 5,900 members, many of whom have made profound contributions to human civilization. Past members include Charles Darwin, who advanced the theory of evolution; Albert Einstein, a pioneer of modern physics; and Marie Curie, a founder of radioactivity research. The APS continues to uphold a rigorous nomination and election process, with only about 1,000 current members worldwide, and continues to advance global scholarship through sustained interdisciplinary dialogue.

APS Elects 2026 Class of New Members: https://www.amphilsoc.org/news/aps-elects-2026-class-new-members