The National Academy of Sciences (Academia Nacional de Ciencias - ANC), founded 1938 as the Academia de Ciencias Exactas, Físicas y Naturales, is now a civil association as defined by Peruvian law.
The last few years have seen an almost complete revamping of the Academy with the writing and legal approval in 2005 of a foundation record and new by-laws, the election of new members in 2008, and the discussion of new goals and programs.