The Academy of Science of South Africa was established in 1996. It is a member of the InterAcademy Panel (IAP) on which over 80 countries are represented, and has ties or agreements with some of the world's leading Science Academies. The Academy is taking up a place in South Africa's Science system as an independent, merit-based, "activist" body committed to assisting the nation to find science-based solutions for its problems and to create science-based opportunities for growth and prosperity.