 The Institute was again revived in 1851, when the new American Association for the Advancement of Science held its third annual meeting at the Albany Academy.As had happened before, the addition of members changed the nature of the organization, making it a learned society interested in many areas besides the natural sciences.John V. L. Pruyn, a Congressman and officer of the New York Central Railroad, became president in 1857 and reoriented the society toward the public rather than the interests of its members.