Like the American academies, the international academies celebrate the greatest scholars in their field while providing other services to their members and the global community. Their missions are unique, but all are dedicated to advancing the area of study they focus on. Membership to these organizations is based on outstanding contributions to the field.

International academies typically honor IU faculty who are from that country or whose research focused on that country. One such faculty member is Curtis Lively, Distinguished Professor of Biology, who worked on a postdoctoral fellowship in New Zealand and continues to conduct important research there, thereby earning him membership into the Royal Society of New Zealand.