The AAS was conceived on 6 July 1985 when 22 prominent scientists met in Trieste, Italy, at the inauguration of the Third World Academy of Sciences (TWAS). A task force under the leadership of the late Professor Thomas R. Odhiambo completed and presented the constitution of the AAS within six months leading it to be ratified on 10 December 1985 at a meeting held at the TWAS headquarters in Italy. Thirty-three African scholars who had taken part in the July and December meetings became Founding Fellows with Prof Thomas R. Odhiambo elected as the first President of the AAS.