International Academy of Science

What International Academy of Science does

The International Academy of Science (IAS) is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization headquartered in Kansas City, Missouri, founded in 1985 to advance applied science and scientific education. IAS operates three principal initiatives: the Science Information System (SIS), a digital repository comprising the peer-reviewed Journal of Science, the Encyclopedia of Science and Technology, and the Scientific Community Registry; the Institute of Science and Technology (IST), which delivers online undergraduate, graduate, and doctoral degree programs in applied science with an emphasis on "inventioneering"; and the Acellus Learning Accelerator, an interactive K-12 online learning platform used by schools nationwide. The organization also operates Acellus Academy (a K-12 online school) and a Private School Teacher Certification Program.

The Academy's revenue model is hybrid and mission-driven: Acellus is licensed to K-12 schools; IST currently admits only students who meet criteria for 100% scholarships covering tuition and fees; the teacher certification program charges a $499 one-time registration fee; the Scientific Community Registry operates on membership fees; and the organization accepts tax-deductible donations through multiple channels (credit card, check, PayPal, securities, bequests, retirement plans). Notable proprietary technologies include Prism Diagnostics (which identifies student concept deficiencies and delivers Customized Personal Instruction videos), Vectored Instruction, the Writing Tutor, and B2 Cryptography, a cryptographic breakthrough co-invented by IST faculty in 2018 and deployed by the Department of Defense. The organization also holds U.S. Patent 4,714,989 for the foundational client/server computing model, donated by founder Dr. Roger Billings.

IAS is led by President Dr. Roger Billings, who holds the first Doctor of Research degree issued by the Academy in 1991 and is known as the "Godfather of Hydrogen Energy." The founding group included distinguished figures such as British aerospace engineer Sir Geoffrey Pardoe, Professor Michael A. Laughton (Emeritus Professor of Electrical Engineering at Queen Mary, University of London, and Fellow of the Royal Academy of Engineering), and Dr. Willis Hawkins (former President of Lockheed California Company and National Medal of Science recipient). The Academy is authorized by the Missouri Coordinating Board for Higher Education to grant doctoral degrees, is COPPA-compliant for student data on K-12 sites, and operates through a global membership community of scientists. Reported outcomes include 85%+ of IST graduates employed in their field of study and K-12 schools reporting reduced dropout rates and increased graduation rates after Acellus adoption.

Name

International Academy of Science

Legal name

International Academy of Science

Website

https://science.edu

Company type

Private

Founded year

1985

Operating status

Operating

Short description

The International Academy of Science is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit operating the Acellus K-12 learning platform, the Institute of Science and Technology degree programs, and the Science Information System peer-reviewed research repository, serving schools, students, and scientists globally.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Educational Technology

NAICS

Colleges, Universities, and Professional Schools (6113), Technical and Trade Schools (6115), Computer Training (611420)

SIC

Services-Educational Services (8200), Electronic Computers (3571)

akta.pro primary industry

Engineering & Technology Institutes (Comprehensive) (EDAHAEAA)

akta.pro secondary industries

Institutes of Technology (IoT / Technical Universities) (EDAHAEAC), Identity & Access Management (IAM) (EDAOAIAF)

Keywords

• K-12 online learning
• Scientific publishing platform
• Applied science degrees
• Adaptive learning technology
• Scientific community registry

Headquarters

HQ city

Kansas City

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices2 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2B and B2C

Offering type

Software

Cost components

Personnel, Technology or R&D, Operations, Marketing or Sales, Infrastructure

Revenue model

1. Membership Fees: IAS operates as a membership organization for scientists. Members pay fees to join the Scientific Community Registry and access the Science Information System, including The Journal of Science, Encyclopedia of Science and Technology, and community collaboration tools.
2. Educational Programs: IST provides undergraduate and graduate degree programs in high-tech disciplines. Currently admissions are scholarship-based (100% scholarship covering tuition and fees). Teacher certification program charges a $499 one-time registration fee.
3. Donations and Gifts: As a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization, IAS accepts tax-deductible donations through credit card, check, PayPal, securities, bequests, and retirement plans. All contributions support the mission of providing education to students.
4. Acellus Platform Licensing: The Academy develops and maintains Acellus courses for K-12 schools nationwide. Schools that adopt Acellus report reduced dropout rates, increased graduation rates, and growing success helping students transition to careers and college studies.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion2 records

Distribution channels4 records

Marketing channels5 records

Core offering

International Academy of Science (IAS) is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit that develops and operates the Acellus Learning Accelerator, an interactive K-12 online learning platform distributed to schools nationwide, alongside the Institute of Science and Technology (IST), which offers undergraduate, graduate, and doctoral degree programs in applied science, and the Science Information System (SIS), a digital repository hosting a peer-reviewed journal, encyclopedia, and scientific community registry.

Product overview

The International Academy of Science operates a multi-platform educational and research ecosystem. The core Science Information System (SIS) serves as a digital repository comprising three interconnected components: The Journal of Science (peer-reviewed publication), The Encyclopedia of Science and Technology (EnSciTech wiki), and The Scientific Community Registry. The Institute of Science & Technology (IST) is the higher education division offering undergraduate (B.S.), graduate (M.S.), and doctoral (Ph.D.) degree programs focused on applied science and 'inventioneering.' The Acellus Learning Accelerator provides K-12 online education with adaptive features including Prism Diagnostics, Vectored Instruction, and Writing Tutor. The STEM-10 Program and Acellus STEM Robotics Lab extend K-12 STEM education. Cybersecurity initiatives include B2 Cryptography and GoldKey technology developed through the Cyber Security Research Center. All components are united by IAS's mission to advance scientific knowledge and transform research into practical technologies.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• Acellus: Interactive K-12 learning accelerator that blends technology and learning science to boost student mastery through engaging, multimedia-rich, high-definition video lessons.
• The Journal of Science
• Encyclopedia of Science and Technology
• Scientific Community Registry

Products and services

• Science Information System (SIS) A cutting-edge digital repository that houses scientific research and discoveries, designed to facilitate scientific collaboration, peer-reviewed research, and visibility. Includes The Journal of Science, The Encyclopedia of Science and Technology, and The Scientific Community Registry.
• Institute of Science & Technology (IST) The higher education arm of IAS offering undergraduate and graduate degree programs in applied science, with emphasis on practical research, problem-solving, and 'inventioneering' for impactful careers.
• Acellus Learning Accelerator An interactive K-12 online learning system that blends technology and learning science to boost student mastery through standards-compliant, multimedia-rich, high-definition video lessons. Distributed to K-12 schools nationwide.
• Bachelor of Science (B.S.) Degree Program An undergraduate degree program preparing students for careers in applied research, technology innovation, and entrepreneurship, requiring 120 credits.
• Master of Science (M.S.) Degree Program A graduate degree program focused on preparing students for success through advanced science coursework and practical experience, requiring 30 graduate credit hours.
• Research Doctorate (Ph.D.) Program A doctoral program intended for students in residency, involving hands-on applied research and inventioneering, culminating in an original doctoral dissertation. Requires 48 graduate credit hours beyond Master's degree.
• Private School Teacher Certification Program A fully online self-paced training course designed to prepare aspiring private school teachers with essential skills and knowledge, providing certification upon successful completion of 18 hours of coursework. $499 one-time registration fee.
• The Journal of Science A peer-reviewed, open-access journal that publishes scientific research and serves as the primary publication platform within the Science Information System.
• The Scientific Community Registry A membership registry within the Science Information System that enables scientists to register, collaborate, and contribute to article workgroups.
• The Encyclopedia of Science and Technology (EnSciTech) A wiki-based reference resource containing scientific and technological information in the form of articles written by members of the Scientific Community Registry, presided over by workgroups led by Principal Authors.

Quantifiable outcome

• Over 85% of IST graduates employed in their field of study
• +2 more outcomes

Named customers1 record

Segments4 records

Ideal customer profiles4 records

Technology focussed Yes

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature7 records

Scale indicators4 records

Recent moves7 records

Expansion highlights6 records

Direct peers

• Edmentum: A leading K-12 online learning and intervention provider used by schools and districts across the U.S. Closely comparable to Acellus in offering standards-aligned digital curriculum with adaptive, personalized instruction pathways.
• Connections Academy: Operator of tuition-free online public schools serving K-12 students across the U.S. Comparable to Acellus Academy and the Acellus Learning Accelerator in delivering K-12 online instruction at scale.
• Western Governors University: A nonprofit, accredited online university offering competency-based degree programs at scale. Comparable to IST as a nonprofit, online-focused higher-education institution serving working adults seeking applied/technical degrees.
• Public Library of Science (PLOS): A nonprofit open-access scientific publisher operating peer-reviewed journals. Comparable to The Journal of Science as an open-access publishing platform in the scientific research ecosystem.
• K12 Inc. (Stride, Inc.): One of the largest U.S. K-12 online learning providers, serving schools and homeschool families nationwide. Directly comparable to Acellus Learning Accelerator as a digital curriculum and instruction platform targeting K-12 schools with reported student-outcome metrics.
• American Association for the Advancement of Science (AAAS): A global nonprofit membership organization advancing science and publishing Science. Comparable to IAS as a membership-based scientific society with peer-reviewed publishing and an international community of scientists.

Emerging players

• Khan Academy: A widely adopted nonprofit providing free online learning content across K-12 and beyond. Comparable to Acellus as a free / low-cost digital learning platform, though Khan Academy is content-only and does not license to schools in the same way.
• Coursera: A leading online learning platform partnering with universities to deliver courses, certificates, and degree pathways. Comparable to the Acellus + IST stack as a digital credentialing and learning platform, though Coursera focuses on adult learners and content partnerships rather than K-12.

Broad incumbents

• Southern New Hampshire University: A large nonprofit university with a substantial online degree portfolio. Comparable to IST in delivering online undergraduate and graduate programs in applied fields, though SNHU operates at significantly larger scale.

Others

• National Geographic Society: A nonprofit scientific and educational organization with a global membership base and a focus on exploration and science communication. Comparable to IAS in mission alignment (advancing science for humanity) and nonprofit, donation-driven operating model.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat6 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• Xtwitter.com/AcellusLearning
• YouTubeyoutube.com/channel/UCCBx1YsEhnhK-BxJWp1GHgw
• Facebookfacebook.com/International-Academy-of-Science-112884853815850
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/acellus
• Instagraminstagram.com/acelluslearning

Compliance2 records

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles5 records

Subsidiaries5 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

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M&A

Investments

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Frequently asked questions about International Academy of Science