TWAS was founded in 1983 by a distinguished group of scientists from the developing world, under the leadership of Abdus Salam, the Pakistani physicist and Nobel laureate. There were 42 Founding Fellows.
As of the start of 2025 the Academy had 1,444 elected Fellows representing 112 countries, 13 of them Nobel laureates; 270 women comprise 18.7% of the total. Currently 146 scientists from the developing world are serving a six-year term as Young Affiliates, with 82 women accounting for 56% of the total. Another 293 scientists are Alumni of the Young Affiliate programme, and 21 were elected Fellows of the Academy.
TWAS: a snapshot
The strength of TWAS resides in the scientific influence and impact of its global network. In order to
extend its reach and impact,
the Academy is committed to making its ranks of Fellows and Young Affiliates as diverse as possible. From
2013-2016, women accounted for
more than 24% of the new Fellows elected.
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* Due to a change in the election schedule, no TWAS Fellows were elected for the year 2017.
Learn more.
TWAS: a snapshot
The strength of TWAS resides in the scientific influence and impact of its global network. In order to extend its reach and impact, the Academy is committed to making its ranks of Fellows and Young Affiliates as diverse as possible. From 2013-2016, women accounted for more than 24% of the new Fellows elected.
TWAS: a deeper look
TWAS is a global science academy dedicated to building science in the developing world. Some 85% of its elected Fellows are from developing countries, and they work across all fields. In recent years TWAS has expanded representation to countries that had few or no members: Fellows have been elected from such countries as the Central African Republic, the Democratic Republic of the Congo, Finland and Kazakhstan, while Young Affiliates have been selected from Costa Rica, Mauritius, Papua New Guinea and Yemen.
TWAS: a deeper look
TWAS is a global science academy dedicated to building science in the developing world. Some 85% of its elected Fellows are from developing countries, and they work across all fields. In recent years TWAS has expanded representation to countries that had few or no members: Fellows have been elected from such countries as the Central African Republic, the Democratic Republic of the Congo, Finland and Kazakhstan, while Young Affiliates have been selected from Costa Rica, Mauritius, Papua New Guinea and Yemen.
TWAS: a worldwide network
The boundaries and names shown and the designations used on these maps do not imply official endorsement or acceptance by the United Nations.
TWAS: a worldwide network
The boundaries and names shown and the designations used on these maps do not imply official endorsement or acceptance by the United Nations.