The Scientific Advisory Board (SAB) is completely free and independent. It is exclusively composed of scientists who are not members of the MNHN. Initially composed of 10 members, it has been increased to 13 in 2015 (5 women, 2 working out of France), because of the high number of projects submitted to the AAP.
The SAB meets yearly in December and it is invited to the annual BCDiv scientific meetings. It gives opinions on the project submitted to the annual AAP, and rates, selects and ranks them. It also writes pieces of advice for the CP, about the orientations and the progress of the project.