The 478^th meeting of the Scientific Council of the Academy was held on February 4^th.  Prof. Reza Davari Ardakani chaired this meeting in which the Vice-President for Research in Pure and Applied Sciences, chairmen of the departments and Rector of the Center for Science and Technology Studies of the Academy were present.

At first, Prof. Hassan Zohoor, rector of the Center, informed the Council that the World Academy of Sciences (TWAS) has issued an invitation for nomination for TWAS-Lenovo Science Prize in the field of Engineering Sciences. The Prize carries a monetary award of US 100,000. It was decided in the Council that the departments of Engineering Sciences and Agricultural Sciences propose their candidates.

The meeting continued with the approval of the nomination of six outstanding engineers in Agriculture and Natural Resources selected by the Department of Agricultural Sciences of the Academy in 2018 to be honoured on March 7^th, 2018. Then the collaboration of three invited scholars of the Academy were extended for a further two-year term.

Afterwards, the vice-presidents of the Academy were assigned to submit a letter to the Ministry of Sciences, Research and Technology and ask the authorities to add the names of the Academy's publications (With reference to their assigned scientific ranks) to the Ministry's list of authentic scientific publications.

Finally, the Council discussed the proposal of the Department of Engineering Sciences of the Academy to create specialized groups related to the areas included in the Comprehensive Science Plan of the Country. After the exchange of views, the academic departments of the Academy were encouraged to review the above Plan and submit their views to the president of the Academy.