Still digging, still planting: the Royal Swedish Academy of Sciences - knowledge yesterday, knowledge today and knowledge for tomorrow

摘要

Since 1739 the Royal Swedish Academy of Sciences, KVA, has contributed to make Sweden, a small country, very influential. The KVA is known for the Nobel Prizes and for great names: Linnaeus, Scheele, Celsius, Berzelius, Nordenskiold, Angstrom and Siegbahn. I Survey KVA's history: foundation (18th century), Berzelius (19th), Nobel (20th) and today. I also consider KVA's future and significance. The Linnaean and the Nobel historical missions are at par with the challenges of new sciences and globalisation. Sweden can become a nation of knowledge providers. The KVA has the tradition and prestige to play a major role in this process.