Statutes of The Royal Danish Academy of Sciences and Letters

(1) The purpose of The Royal Danish Academy of Sciences and Letters, founded on 13 November 1742, is to strengthen the position of the sciences in Denmark and in particular to promote basic scientific research and interdisciplinary understanding.

(2) The work of the Academy consists in convening meetings of the members, issuing publications, consultancy and dissemination, and engaging in international cooperation. These activities also include work in The Young Academy under the aegis of the Academy.

(3) The Academy awards prizes and scholarships in accordance with the respective charters.

(4) In respect of the Carlsberg Foundation, the Academy performs the functions conferred on it in the Carlsberg Foundation’s charter.

(5) he President and the Secretary General represent the Academy.

(6) The language of the Academy is Danish, unless another language is agreed upon in special circumstances.

(1) The Academy admits as members academic scholars whose scientific qualifications are deemed suitable. Consideration is given to whether their knowledge and their scientific endeavours hitherto give reason to expect that they will work actively in the interests of the Academy.

(2) The members of the Academy are either ordinary members, in other words Danish citizens and foreign citizens with permanent residency or permanent employment in Denmark, or corresponding members, in other words foreign citizens who do not meet the requirement of permanent residency or permanent employment in Denmark.

(3) In cases of doubt, the Presidium decides whether a proposed candidate should be elected as an ordinary or as a corresponding member.

(1) The Academy comprises two classes: a class of humanities and a class of natural sciences.

(2) Social sciences fall within the class of humanities. Mathematical sciences fall within the class of natural sciences.

(3) Each class elects a Chairperson and two Class Representatives at a meeting within the respective class. The two Chairpersons for the classes and the four Class Representatives are responsible for matters concerning their respective class in the Academy’s Presidium.

(4) The classes may, if necessary, establish a class committee, such as for the purpose of preparing recommendations for councils and committees that are of particular concern to the class and are within the Academy’s overall field of interest.

(1) The ordinary members have the right to vote at meetings of the Academy and of the classes. Corresponding members may attend meetings of the Academy and of the classes without the right to vote.

(2) Members of one class may take part in meetings of the other class and in other activities, subject to the consent of the Chairperson for the class in question. They may not be assigned voting rights.

(1) All members with voting rights may propose candidates for election to their class as new ordinary and new corresponding members.

(2) Any academic scholar is eligible for election whose work has significantly contributed to the promotion of basic scientific research and interdisciplinary understanding, or who has contributed in some other way through important scientific findings.

(1) The rules for electing ordinary and corresponding members are set out in election regulations that apply to both classes of the Academy.

(2) Any amendments to the election regulations must be presented by the Presidium at a plenary meeting and adopted at a subsequent general meeting if at least half of the attendees vote in favour.

(1) The Chairpersons for the classes notify the Academy at the next member meeting of candidates proposed by the classes. The proposals by a class are furthermore sent to the members of the other class who are eligible to vote. In addition to the written nomination from the class, information is given for each proposal on the number of members who voted and the number of votes cast.

(2) The new candidates nominated by the classes for membership of the Academy are finally elected at the general meeting or plenary meeting after written notification of the proposals by the class. Individual proposals are voted on by written ballot. Members are elected by a simple majority.

(3) The election results remain confidential until the proposed candidate has been notified of the election and has been made familiar with the statutes of the Academy. The election is not publicised until the newly elected member has confirmed in writing that they wish to accept the election and have indicated that they will work for the fulfilment of the Academy’s aims.

(1) A member’s status as either an ordinary or corresponding member is determined by election and does not change by transferral. Corresponding members may not transfer to the group of ordinary members. If a corresponding member meets the requirements for full membership, cf. Section 2, they may be elected on the same terms as other candidates for ordinary membership or may retain corresponding membership.

(1) The plenary meeting is the supreme decision-making body in the Academy and is made up of all the members of the Academy. Member meetings and the general meeting are held in accordance with Sections 17 and 18. The plenary meeting or general meeting approves the election of new members, elects the President, the Secretary General and the Editor, and approves the budget and accounts, cf. provisions of these statutes.

(2) The Academy is steered by the Presidium, cf. Section 10, whose members are elected in accordance with the provisions in Section 13. The decision-making processes in the Presidium are guided by the Academy’s fundamental principles of transparency and participation of Academy members.

(3) For the purpose of addressing special tasks, permanent or temporary committees are appointed, cf. Section 16.

(4) The Secretary General acts as the vice-president of the Academy. The Secretary General, or alternatively the two Chairpersons for the classes, cf. Section 3(3), act as deputies for the President in the President’s absence; the Secretary General is the first deputy, and the longest serving Chairperson is the second deputy – cf. Section 20(4) on tasks relating to budget and accounts.

(5) Minutes of general meetings, Presidium meetings and procedural matters at member meetings are prepared (cf. Section 17(8) on taking minutes at member meetings) and are made available to the members.

(1) The Presidium consists of the President, the Secretary General, the two Chairpersons for the classes, the Editor, and four Class Representatives, two of whom are elected by the class of
humanities and two by the class of natural sciences.

(2) The Presidium discusses the affairs of the Academy and deliberates on all important matters concerning the activities and operations of the Academy before presenting them to the members, if relevant. The Presidium considers the draft budget submitted by the Secretary General and submits a budget proposal for consideration at the general meeting.

(3) As a rule the Presidium takes its decisions at meetings chaired by the President. In special cases the President may submit matters to the Presidium to be voted on by written ballot.

(4) Decisions are reached by the Presidium either by consensus or by simple majority of those present. In the event of a tie, the President has the casting vote.

(5) The President and Secretary General oversee the implementation of decisions by the Presidium.

(6) The Presidium determines its own rules of procedure, which may be adopted and amended in accordance with Section 10(4).

(7) In situations in which, due to circumstances, it is not possible to conduct elections according to established procedures, the Presidium may provisionally adopt a different voting procedure for elections and all other votes, such as electronic voting.

(1) The President is head of the Academy and represents the Academy externally. The President chairs the member meetings. If a decision on a matter cannot be postponed until the next meeting of the Presidium, cf. Section 10, or of the Academy, the matter may be decided by the President together with the Secretary General.

(2) The Secretary General deputises for the President in the President’s absence, cf. Section 9(4).

(3) The head of secretariat is in charge of the detailed organisation of the secretariat of the Academy and reports to the executive management comprising the President and Secretary General.

(4) The Secretary General is the treasurer of the Academy and is responsible for the Academy’s budget and accounts in cooperation with the Presidium.

(5) The editor is professionally responsible for the publishing of the Academy’s publications.

(1) The Chairperson for the class takes care of matters relating to the class within the Presidium. The Chairperson for the class assists in organising the programmes for the member meetings by, e.g., prompting communications from members of the class which in their nature, content and form can support the Academy’s efforts towards interdisciplinary understanding.

(2) The Chairperson for the class prepares and heads the meetings of the classes. The Class Representatives, cf. Section 3(3), act as deputies for the Chairperson for the class in his/her absence. The longest serving Class Representative is first deputy. In the absence of the chairperson and both deputies, the class elects the chair for the meeting. The Chairperson for the class ensures that a list of members present is drawn up and a brief record of decisions is prepared and announced at the plenary meeting.

(1) The President, Secretary General and Editor are elected by and from among the members of the Academy who are eligible to vote.

(2) The President, Secretary General and Editor are elected for a term of four years. Re-election is only possible for one additional term.

(3) The election to the positions indicated in (1) is held as far as possible at the general meeting, with a view to the elected person taking over the role after the end of the season.

(4) If a position becomes vacant during an election period, new elections are held at the earliest opportunity.

(5) The election between the nominated candidates takes place in two stages, namely at a member meeting and at the general meeting, with an interval of at least two weeks. However re-election may take place in the first stage if no other candidate is nominated. Election and re-election are by secret written ballot.

(6) In the case of nomination of and election to the positions of President, Secretary General and Editor, the candidates are required to announce and justify their candidature in writing to the members of the Academy no later than one week before the first stage. In the first stage the candidates answer questions from the members. The vote itself takes place in the second stage.

(7) The election of Chairperson for the class and Class Representatives takes place prior to the final member meeting/general meeting in the spring season. These elections are in one single round and valid for four years. Re-election is only possible for one additional term. The Academy is notified of the election results at the earliest opportunity. If a post becomes vacant during an election period, a new election is held at the earliest opportunity.

(8) The following procedure is followed for elections in plenary meetings for the position of President and for elections in the classes. The candidate for President, Secretary General or Editor who wins more than half the votes cast in the second stage for the aforementioned positions is the successful candidate. If none of the nominees gains the necessary number of votes, re-election takes place at the same meeting. In each subsequent round of voting, the candidate with the lowest number of votes in the previous vote is eliminated. In the event of a tie among the candidates, a new vote is held. In the case of an election between two candidates, the candidate with the most votes is elected. In the event of a tie between the candidates, a new vote is held. If there is still a tie after the new vote, the election is decided by drawing lots.

(1) The President, Secretary General and Editor of the Academy perform their duties with the assistance of a secretariat. The secretariat furthermore performs ongoing duties for the established committees according to Section 16 and carries out administrative functions that support the interests relating to the Academy.

(2) The Presidium appoints a head of secretariat of the Academy who is in charge of administrative matters. The head of secretariat is in charge of the detailed organisation of the secretariat and reports to the executive management. The staff of the secretariat are recruited by the head of secretariat. The head of secretariat ensures that the President, Secretary General and other members of staff in positions of responsibility are kept informed about all important matters. The head of secretariat manages the practical task of preparing an annual overview of the Academy’s activities, which is approved by the executive management. The head of secretariat is also responsible for keeping minutes of the member meetings of the Academy.

(1) The Young Academy is an independent entity within the Academy to which members are elected for a five-year term upon application and appointment by an admissions committee, as specified in separate rules of procedure for The Young Academy approved by the Academy Presidium.

(2) The Young Academy has its own executive management and may choose its own form of meetings within the parameters defined in its rules of procedure.

(3) The Young Academy comes under the authority and supervision of the Presidium. An annual meeting is held between the President and the executive management of The Young Academy.

(1) The Presidium and the classes may establish committees. The committees established by the Presidium consist of an equal number of members from each class chosen by them for three years. Re-election is only possible for one additional term. The committees elect a chair and draw up rules of procedure to be approved by the Presidium. The committees coordinate their work with the Presidium as required. The committees are assisted in their work by the Academy secretariat within a scope agreed with the Presidium.

(2) The existing permanent committees – Research Policy Committee, Research Dissemination Committee, Publication Committee and International Committee – may only be established by the Presidium with the approval of the plenary meeting.

(3) The committees provide a provisional estimate of the specific costs likely to be incurred by their activities in the following financial year for use by the secretariat in drawing up the budget.

(4) The Academy may establish temporary committees, commissions, panels or boards to perform and manage special tasks. The Academy may also in given circumstances appoint members to represent it in committees etc. and elect delegates to meetings outside the Academy.

(1) Member meetings are held every second week during the season. The standard day for meetings is Thursday.

(2) At the meetings, the members may make scientific announcements and, at the request of the Presidium, pay tribute to recently deceased members. Furthermore, matters may be submitted for decision, discussion or for the purpose of information. Matters may be dealt with on an ongoing basis, but, as far as possible, are brought together at the general meeting.

(3) The President chairs the meeting. In the absence of the President, the meeting is chaired by the Secretary General or the Chairpersons for the classes, cf. Section 11(2) and Section 9(4).

(4) Meetings are convened by the Presidium but assisted by the members and by the secretariat. The Chairpersons for the classes gather proposals for communications from the members. The meeting programme for the coming semester is sent out to members in September and January.

(5) The Presidium may in very exceptional cases invite non-members to make scientific announcements at meetings.

(6) Prior to each meeting, a notice convening the meeting is sent to the members stating the meeting agenda.

(7) The President may invite individual guests or certain groups of guests to the member meetings. By prior arrangement with the Secretary General, each speaker may bring one or two guests and other members may bring one or a small number of foreign academic scholars if there is special reason for this. Guests may not be present during discussions of matters concerning the organisation.

(8) The minutes of the meetings of the Academy shall record the names of the members and guests present at each meeting and all agenda items and resolutions. The minutes of each meeting are signed by the President and the Secretary General or their acting deputies. The minutes are made available to the members of the Academy.

-The President’s report
-Presentation of the annual accounts and final approval of the revised budget, as presented in December
-Approval of any honoraria to be paid to members of the Presidium, cf. Section 22(1) and to the Board of Directors of the Carlsberg Foundation on the recommendation of the Board of Directors
-Presentation of the Presidium’s plans
-Any proposals by the Presidium
-Any proposals by members of the Academy
-Finalization of the nomination of new members by the classes
-Election of the President, Secretary General and Editor
-Discussion of the accounts for the Carlsberg Foundation and other foundations of significance to the Academy
-Discussion of plans for the Academy’s public lectures
-Any other business

(3) If a member so requests no later than 14 days prior to the general meeting, an item submitted by the member in writing shall be included in the agenda.

(1) Decisions on matters to be decided upon are taken by majority vote (simple majority, unless otherwise stipulated) by the voting members present. The chair of the meeting has a casting vote in the event of a tied vote, unless otherwise provided by special rules. However prior to a meeting the chair of the meeting may make known their wish to draw lots in the event of a tie.

(2) Voting at meetings is by show of hands unless otherwise stipulated. However the chair of the meeting or three voting members may request a written ballot.

(3) For elections for which two stages are stipulated, proposals must normally be put forward in the first stage and a decision reached in the second stage. If, as an exception, the plenary allows new proposals to be put forward in the second stage, the decision must be taken in a third stage.

(4) The chair of the meeting or three voting members present may request that a matter be postponed until the next meeting, after which it may no longer be postponed.

(5) At any stage of deliberation on a matter, the Academy may at a member meeting establish a committee or refer the matter for deliberation by an existing committee. If this happens during a deliberation process that has already been initiated, deliberation on the matter by the Academy is suspended until the committee’s deliberation process has been concluded.

(6) A committee is quorate when more than half the members of the committee are present. The committee elects its own chair, unless otherwise decided by the Academy.

(7) The provisions in (1) to (6) also apply to voting in the classes.

(1) The Presidium considers the budget presented by the Secretary General before recommending the final draft for adoption by the members at the general meeting. The adopted budget forms the basis for the Academy’s financial transactions.

(2) The financial year is the calendar year. In budget planning, efforts are made to maintain the real value of the reserve. Prior to major purchases, the Secretary General and the head of secretariat obtain approval of the expenditure framework from the Presidium.

(3) The Secretary General closes the annual accounts by March 1 of the following year. The accounts are presented for approval by the plenary at the general meeting after an audit has been carried out. Internal audits are carried out by the Presidium. External auditing is carried out by a state-authorized public accountant in accordance with applicable rules.

(4) In the event of the temporary absence of the Secretary General, the head of secretariat takes over accounting and budgeting duties, reporting to the Presidium. If the Secretary General is unable to perform these functions for a prolonged period, the Presidium decides who performs the duty.

(1) The Academy’s securities and other assets are deposited with the Academy’s bank or in some other reliable way, and the cash balance is kept in an appropriate manner in solid financial institutions.

(2) The management of the Academy’s capital, including the reallocation and redeployment of the Academy’s assets, is the responsibility of the Secretary General. In connection with the presentation of the accounts, the Secretary General discusses the investment of the Academy’s capital with the Presidium.

(1) The Presidium determines the amount of any honoraria to be paid to the President, Secretary General and Editor, which is subject to approval at the general meeting, cf. Section 18.

(2) The head of secretariat determines the salaries, pensions, etc. for the secretariat and other staff reporting to the Presidium. The salary of the head of secretariat is fixed in agreement with the Secretary General.

(3) The Presidium approves the rates for business travel and for any meeting allowances for members residing outside Zealand.

(1) The Academy may advise public authorities and institutions upon request or on its own initiative. These matters are administered by the Presidium.

(1) The Academy’s gold medal is awarded in exceptional cases for long-term and particularly meritorious scientific endeavours. The gold medal may not be awarded to members of the Academy.

(2) Approximately every four years, following a request in a plenary meeting, the Presidium considers whether there is a suitable candidate for the Academy’s gold medal. Proposals are considered by the Presidium, after which a recommendation is sent for a vote in the plenary meeting, providing the Presidium finds that the proposal is well-founded. There are no fixed rules for how often the medal is awarded.

(3) The presentation of the gold medal normally takes place at an ordinary meeting of the Academy at which the Academy’s patron is asked to make the presentation and the medal recipient is asked to make a statement

(1) The Academy’s silver medal may be awarded each year, alternating between the two classes, to honour a younger researcher. The silver medal may not be awarded to members of the Academy.

(2) Every year in November, the Academy invites both external and internal nominations for the Academy’s silver medal and award scholarship. The nominations can only be for younger researchers who obtained a PhD degree within the last ten years (adjusted for maternity and sick leave) and who have a connection to science in Denmark.

(3) The deadline for submission of proposals is 15 February. The classes set up an evaluation committee consisting of five members from the class concerned, which reviews the proposals by mid-April and recommend a recipient to the plenary meeting. The plenary meeting considers the matter before the end of the spring session.

(4) The award is given for a basic scientific achievement. It consists of a silver medal with a marginal inscription and a sum determined by the Presidium, currently DKK 100,000, to be used for the recipient’s research.

(5) The award is usually presented before the end of the year at an ordinary member meeting, where the award recipient makes a statement.

(1) The Presidium decides on the use of the available researcher rooms.

(1) The members of the Academy elect members of the Board of Directors of the Carlsberg Foundation from among its members.

(2) Members of the Carlsberg Foundation’s Board of Directors are elected at a member meeting in accordance with the provisions in (3) to (6) and furthermore in compliance with the electoral rules of the Carlsberg Foundation charter, which is approved by the Academy.

(3) Elections are held at the end of an election period or when a board member resigns.

(4) The election between nominated candidates is subject to two stages at the Academy’s member meetings with an interval of at least two weeks and a prior stage in the class from which the outgoing member originates. However re-election may take place in the first stage if no opposing candidates have been nominated. Election and re-election are by secret written ballot.

(5) For nomination and election, candidates are required to announce and justify their candidature in writing to the Academy’s members no later than one week before the first stage. In the first stage the candidates answer questions from members. In the second stage the actual vote is taken.

(6) The candidate who obtains more than half of the votes cast in the second stage of the election for the seat in question is elected. If none of the nominated candidates receives the required number of votes, a new election is held at the same meeting. In each subsequent round of voting the candidate with the lowest number of votes in the previous vote is eliminated. If the choice is between two candidates, the candidate with the most votes is elected. In the event of a tie among the candidates, a new vote is taken. If there is still a tie after a new vote, the election is decided by drawing lots.

(1) The Academy may undertake the administration of grants and funds, and the nomination of members for grants and funds.

(1) The Presidium of the Academy ensures that the statutes take into account the entirety of the Academy’s activities. The Presidium may initiate changes of greater or lesser scope to be submitted to and approved by the members at the general meeting, cf. Section 18.

(2) Members may submit to the Presidium proposals for amendments to the statutes, which the Presidium subsequently presents to the members at the general meeting, cf. Section 18(3).

(3) Any proposed amendment is subject to deliberation at two consecutive member meetings at the least. The first deliberation on the proposals may take place two weeks after the members have been informed in writing. The final deliberation takes place at the annual general meeting.

(4) Amendments may only be adopted if two thirds of those present at the final ballot vote in favour of the proposal.

(5) Amendments to the Academy’s statutes are published in the Yearbook and as soon as possible on the Academy’s website.

(1) The Academy may be dissolved if four fifths of the Academy’s members vote in favour at two independent member meetings that are at least six months apart.

(2) In the event of dissolution, any assets of the Academy shall be used to strengthen the position of science in Denmark and in particular to promote basic scientific research and interdisciplinary understanding, cf. purpose of the Academy in Section 1(1).

(1) The Editor in the Presidium at the time of the amendment continues in office until the end of the term in 2026. In connection with the next election to the post of editor, the term of office will be changed to four years in accordance with Section 13(2).

(2) The Chairpersons for the classes in the Presidium at the time of the amendment continue in office until the end of their respective terms. However the term of office for the Chairperson for the class of natural sciences is extended to 2024. The term of office for the Class Representative for the class of natural sciences is extended to 2025. In connection with the next election of the Chairperson for each of the classes, the term of office will be changed to four years in accordance with Section 13(7).

(3) Sections 5, 6 and 7 of the existing statutes (of 2 May 2013) and Section 2(1) to (12) of the rules of procedure (of 18 April 2013) apply until the election regulations are approved in plenary; however the Presidium may, at the request of the classes, decide to deviate from the current election rules. This means that, until the election regulations enter into force, six full members are elected to the class of humanities and nine to the class of natural sciences at each election.

(4) Members who are classified as foreign members because they reside abroad but who have Danish citizenship become full members at the time of the amendment . The same applies to the group classified as “resident foreign members”.

(5) When the transitional provisions have been exhausted and have thus lapsed, this Section 31 must be omitted when the statutes are printed.