The Academy of Science was a British institution.
Professor Thaddeus Maine intended do a demonstration in 1894 at the Academy of the time machine he had invented. However, after various attempts were made to steal the machine and kill Maine, Madame Vastra insisted the time machine be deactivated because no nation could handle its power. Thaddeus sadly agreed, but instead of deactivating the time machine, he got inside and travelled away. (PROSE: The Singular Case of the Time Machine)