Research institutions and their activities [antikvár]

PREFACE Two hundred years ago by Act VIII of 1808 the need for establishing a scholariy society in Hungary was mentioned first. During the last decade of the 18"^ and the first decade of the 19"^ century, various plans were conceived for the establishment of an academy for developing and propagating the Hungarian language and for promoting the development of science, but funds for establishing such a society were not available. Count István Széchenyi an outsanding personality offered one year's income of his estate for the purposes of a learned society. From that very day up to now the Hungarian Academy of Sciences serves as a scholarly public body founded on the principle of self-government, whose main task is the study of science, the publicizing of scientific achievements, and the aid and promotion of research. The scientific network of the Academy comprises a wide range of research institutions as well as integrates almost the whole of higher education represented by various research teams. The field of research done in this network covers natural, life, and social sciences and humanities. This booklet has been written and compiled to provide readers with valuable information concerning the scope and field of research work done at the scientific institutions of the Academy. We do hope, that the following passages will enable readers to get acquainted with the research network of ours. Budapest, PJune 2008 Tamás Németh Secretary General