The Resurgence of an Academy

In 2001, the New York Academy of Sciences (NYAS) was facing serious financial woes. Among efforts to correct the situation, the decision was made to stop publication of The Sciences, NYAS's well-loved and frequently awarded semi-monthly magazine. That decision was met withan outcry, and the future of the Academy seemed uncertain. But three years later, the NYAS is still on its feet. Although membership has been flat the last two years, according to spokesperson Rich Kelley, officials have been able to stem earlier double-digit losses. Ellis Rubinstein, who became president and CEO in 2002, says, "It's been very hard work under the conditions that we had ... [but] I feel like what we're doing is being regarded as something exceptionally valuable. It's been very rewarding to feel like we're playing a role that's crucial in the city."

Rubenstein hopes that NYAS, founded in 1817, will serve as "a tremendous recruiting ...