The Finnish Society of Sciences and Letters (Swedish: Finska Vetenskaps-Societeten r.f., Finnish: Suomen Tiedeseura r.y., Latin: Societas Scientiarum Fennica) is a Finnish learned society for natural sciences, social sciences and humanities. It is a bilingual (Swedish and Finnish) science academy and the oldest of the four science academies in Finland.[1]
The society was founded in 1838 and is based in Helsinki. It has a total of 120 full ordinary Finnish members, excluding members who have reached the age of 67 (a member who reaches the age of 67 retains the rights as a member but leaves his or her chair open for election of a new member), and about 120 foreign members. It is divided into four sections: I: mathematics and physics, II: biosciences, III: humanities, and IV: social sciences.[2]
The society publishes a yearbook, Sphinx, and the book series Commentationes Humanarum Litterarum, Commentationes Scientiarum Socialium, Bidrag till kännedom av Finlands natur och folk and The History of Learning and Science in Finland 1828-1918. It also awards a number of prizes and grants for scientific and scholarly work.
In addition to the Finnish Society of Sciences and Letters, there are three other academies in Finland: the Finnish Academy of Science and Letters and two academies of engineering sciences. The four Finnish academies have an umbrella organisation for cooperation, the Council of Finnish Academies.[1]
The society awards prizes for scientific excellence.
E.J. Nyström Prize is awarded annually since 1962 for scientific accomplishments.[3] The prize alternates between the four sections of the society.
Theodor Homén Prize was established in 1963 and initially awarded every three years. Currently it is awarded annually, alternating between physics and the history of Finland.[4]
Magnus Ehrnrooth Foundation Prize is awarded annually since 1986 and it alternates between mathematics, chemistry and physics.[5]
Lorenz Lindelöf Prize is awarded every three years since 2013 for scientific work in mathematics.[6]