Advancing Science As a Global Public Good
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ADVANCING SCIENCE AS A GLOBAL PUBLIC GOOD ACTION PLAN 2019 – 2021 2 International Science Council Action Plan 2019 – 2021 3 Cover Photo Credit: MAGDA TURZANSKA / SCIENCE PHOTO Contents LIBRARY (Magnification: x360 when printed at 10 centimetres across). The photo on the front cover of the ISC Action Plan represents a section Table of contents 3 of vascular tissue from a stem of the maize plant (Zea mays). The green bundles contain the tissues responsible for transporting water and Preface 4 nutrients. This particular sample has been stained with berberine and imaged under an ultraviolet light, causing the berberine to fluoresce. 1 ISC Vision and Mission 6 Why we have chosen this photo for our Action Plan cover 2 The Contemporary Global Context 8 This single section of a maize stem allows us to reflect on how we grow 3 Science Creating Solutions 10 our food sustainably and responsibly, how we feed the population, how we lift people out of poverty, how we work towards the UN 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development and ultimately, the crucial role Domain One: The 2030 Agenda for that science has in identifying transformative pathways towards the Sustainable Development 16 sustainable and equitable use of planetary resources. The image also evokes a feeling that the maize stem is a celestial body, and we recall Domain Two: The Digital Revolution 20 the famous photograph “Earthrise,” taken by astronauts during the Apollo 8 mission, which first allowed us to see our home as a fragile and Domain Three: Science in vulnerable planet. Policy and Public Discourse 24 Inside photos: Domain Four: The Evolution of p5 Photo by Gerald Knights on www.geraldknights.net Science and Science Systems 30 p16 Photo by Chema Photo on Unsplash p20 Photo by Nick Fewings on Unsplash p24 Photo by Ryoji Iwata on Unsplash 4 Defending the Free and Responsible p30 Photo by Johannes Groll on Unsplash Practice of Science 38 5 Amplifying Impact Through International Science Council (ISC), 2019. Advancing Science As A Outreach and Engagement 42 Global Public Good – Action Plan 2019 - 2021. International Science Council, Paris. 6 A Stronger Regional Presence 46 DOI: 10.24948/2019.09 council.science/ActionPlan 7 Resourcing the Action Plan 48 Appendix 1: Summary Overview of Current ISC Activities 50 Appendix 2: ISC Members 54 4 International Science Council Action Plan 2019 – 2021 5 ● PREFACE IMPLEMENTATION Our success in implementing the ambitious plans This document sets out the International Science set out in this document will depend on the support Council’s (ISC) goals for action over the next two and involvement of all the Council’s members and a half years. Its most important purpose is and partners. The implementation process will to form a practical framework for the ISC’s work, be overseen by the Governing Board, assisted by in all of its key functions, until the end of 2021. four specialized Standing Committees which have It therefore gives effect to the Council’s vision recently been appointed on the basis of nominations and mission, contained in the high-level strategy from members. Their respective remits are for: published on the occasion of the Council’s launch in Science Planning, Freedom and Responsibility in 2018. In addition, it will serve as a basis for active Science, Outreach and Engagement, and Finance engagement with ISC members, and as a point and Fundraising. Each of the Committees convenes of departure for dialogue and cooperation with a rich set of expertise and networks, and is chaired partners and funders who share our objectives. and vice-chaired by members of the Board, providing The Action Plan is intended to be a living document, close alignment with the Board’s activities. allowing the ISC the flexibility to respond to new and emerging opportunities, and to adapt to ongoing strategic reflection and development. It CALL TO ACTION will also provide a basis for continual monitoring The Action Plan effectively launches the ISC’s and progress reporting to members and other global call to action – a call that aims to motivate stakeholders. and activate our growing membership to engage At the heart of the Action Plan is a selection of in the ISC’s projects and programmes listed under projects and programmes that are relevant to all our four domains of impact – the 2030 Agenda for scientific fields and all parts of the world. Some Sustainable Development; The Digital Revolution; of these are already in progress; others are ready Science in Policy and Public Discourse, and The for development. Many encompass and build on Evolution of Science and Science Systems. The ongoing ISC activities, including the Council’s ISC seeks partnerships with members, with other portfolio of international research programmes, international scientific organizations, with funders scientific committees, networks, data bodies and and with stakeholders in the public and private observing systems. sectors who are inspired by the actions presented in the Plan and who want to join us and who share the ambitions captured in our global call. PROCESS OF DEVELOPMENT The next three years will be crucial for the Council. The Action Plan was initiated at the October 2018 One year on from the merger of its two predecessor meeting of the ISC Governing Board. At that organizations (ICSU and ISSC) and the launch of International Science Council Governing Board 2018 - 2021 the ISC, we need to harness the support behind the meeting, members of the Board identified four Row 1: Renée van Kessel, Pearl Dykstra, Melody Burkins, domains of critical importance for contemporary merger in order to deliver on its promise to build a Elisa Reis, Daya Reddy, Peter Gluckman, Sirimali Fernando, science. A review of existing activities was also stronger global voice for science. In what may be a Heide Hackmann (ex-officio). challenging environment for science, we as scientists undertaken to explore how these domains were Row 2: LI Jinghai, Geoffrey Boulton, Saths Cooper, Alik have the responsibility to deliver knowledge that can already being addressed. Following this initial Ismail-Zadeh, James C. Liao, Anna Davies, Natalia Tarasova phase of priority setting, Governing Board help find solutions to the complex problems facing Absent: Martin Visbeck, Ruth Fincher Working Groups were established to develop, societies worldwide. The Council’s Action Plan is with support from the Council’s headquarters commensurate with the challenges we face, and is team, plans for the Council’s work on science, on designed to make our unique contribution as the freedom and responsibility in science, on outreach global voice for science. It represents a first step, and, and engagement, on finance and fundraising, indeed, a commitment to our vision of science as a and on the future of the ISC’s existing regional global public good. We look forward to working with structures. The process of science planning included you to make that vision a reality. consultation with members on a series of projects and programmes, which have since been further reviewed by external experts. This eight-month Daya Reddy, planning period concluded during the June 2019 President, International Science Council, Governing Board meeting. September 2019 6 ISC Vision and Mission Action Plan 2019 – 2021 7 ISC VISION 1 AND MISSION The International Science Council (ISC) is the world’s premier representative The vision of the Council is to advance The Council convenes the scientific scientific organization. It works at the global level to catalyse and convene scientific science as a global public good. Scientific expertise and resources needed to lead on expertise, advice and influence on issues of major concern to both science and knowledge, data and expertise must be catalysing, incubating and coordinating society. Its role is growing in need and importance in a world of growing complexity universally accessible and its benefits impactful international action on issues and pressing global challenges. universally shared. The practice of of major scientific and public importance. The ISC was launched in 2018 following a merger of the International Council for science must be inclusive and equitable, Science, which was created in 1931, and the International Social Science Council, also in opportunities for scientific education and capacity development. The Council is governed by an created in 1952. The Council’s growing membership includes more than 140 national international Governing Board which and regional academies, research councils and other scientific organizations, and provides scientific and strategic 40 international scientific unions and associations. Through its members and The mission of the International Science leadership for the organization, and associates, its partnerships with other international scientific organizations, UN Council is to be the global voice for is advised on key aspects of its work agencies and inter-governmental bodies, and its wider networks of expertise, the science; a trusted voice that speaks for by a number of Advisory Bodies. The Council is unique in its capacity to bring together scientific excellence and science the value of all science by: Council’s global headquarters are located policy expertise from all fields of science and all regions of the world. 1. Promoting international research and in Paris, France. The ISC currently has scholarship on key global challenges regional offices based in Africa, Asia and the Pacific, and Latin America and the 2. Increasing evidence-informed Caribbean.