ANNUAL REPORT 2018 2 International Science Council
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ANNUAL REPORT 2018 2 International Science Council The International Science Council (ISC) is a non-governmental organization with a unique global membership that brings together 40 international scientific Unions and Associations and over 140 national and regional scientific organizations including Academies and Research Councils. The ISC was created in 2018 as the result of a merger between the International Council for Science (ICSU) and the International Social Science Council (ISSC). Front Cover: Photo of a silver fern by Sandy Millar on Unsplash. The Māori word for this tightly furled frond is “koru”, and it signifies new life, new beginnings. council.science/AnnualReport2018 Work with the ISC to advance science as a global public good. Connect with us at: www.council.science [email protected] International Science Council 5 rue Auguste Vacquerie 75116 Paris, France www.twitter.com/ISC www.facebook.com/InternationalScience www.instagram.com/intsciencecouncil www.linkedin.com/company/international-science-council Annual Report 2018 3 CONTENTS 1. Our Organization 4 Message from the President and CEO 6 Our Vision, Mission and Values 8 Our Launch 8 A global voice for science in the contemporary world, by Craig Calhoun 10 2. Our Global Reach 14 Activities and Impact 16 i. Headquarters 16 ii. Regional Offices 20 Committee on Freedom and Responsibility in Science 23 Co-sponsored Programmes 24 3. Our Governance 28 Governing Board 28 Finances 30 4. Our Members 32 5. Our Future 36 Action Plan 2019-2021 38 Confronting the Problems of Our Time, by Ismail Serageldin 38 4 International Science Council 1 OUR ORGANIZATION Photo: Heide Hackmann and Daya Reddy Message from ISC President, Daya Reddy and CEO, Heide Hackmann: With the creation of the International Science Council, 2018 marked a milestone in the world of international science. As we publish our first Annual Report, it is appropriate to reflect on the process that led to the merger of our two predecessor organizations, the International Social Science Council (ISSC) and the International Council for Science (ICSU). We acknowledge and thank all our members for their support of the merger: those who served on task teams to prepare the process; the individuals who served on our executive boards and committees; leaders of unions and associations, regional and national committees; members of the Secretariat past and present; and more widely the supporters and critical friends who have helped us shape the vision and mission of the International Science Council. We are particularly grateful to Gordon McBean, past President of ICSU, and Alberto Martinelli, past President of the ISSC, for their leadership throughout the merger process. ...continued page 6 Annual Report 2018 5 6 International Science Council The first General Assembly and launch of the and our meetings with partners from the wider Council in July 2018 was undoubtedly a highlight of science and policy community have demonstrated the year, bringing together representatives from our that there is real interest in and appetite for an members across the world at the Maison des Océans emboldened International Science Council that can in Paris. We thank the Académie des Sciences for represent all disciplines and can catalyse trans- hosting the launch event and General Assembly, and national, inter- and trans-disciplinary activities in for helping to make the events memorable. addressing today’s global priorities. At the launch of the Council, together with our As we proceed to implement plans for new activities members, we set ourselves a bold mission: to be a and seek to boost the visibility of the new Council, powerful, prominent and credible voice for science it is an opportune moment to re-examine our place at the global level. The new Council should make the in the global science landscape and to re-state our case for the value of all science as a global public good, commitment to the key principles that have driven universally accessible and its benefits universally the Council since its earliest beginnings almost 100 shared. The ISC builds on the impressive legacy of years ago as the International Research Council its predecessor organizations, yet it must continue (IRC). As several of our scientific union members to learn from their experiences, and – crucially – it prepare for centenary celebrations, it is pertinent must be greater than the sum of its parts. to ask: what is the role of international science collaboration today? In order to fulfil this mission, the ISC must work harder to promote and defend science as a source As a scientific community, we are more connected of innovative solutions to global challenges, of than ever before, more accustomed to working critical evidence to inform decision-making, and across disciplines and continents, and yet barriers of inspiration and wonder for future generations. to mobility and academic freedom persist. Scientific Meeting the ambitions for the ISC will depend practice is weakened by enormous inequalities on active engagement with its members, and in access to knowledge and to facilities. There is on managing relationships with the Council’s still work to do to nurture a culture of scientific key partners. cooperation, exchange and benefit sharing, and to protect and promote the freedom of science. This work has now begun in earnest, with the newly elected Governing Board members leading The science system itself is also confronting the development of three-year action plans for sweeping and potentially disruptive changes, from science, for outreach and engagement, for regional the impact of advanced digital technologies and engagement, and for freedom and responsibility artificial intelligence, to a re-consideration of forms in science. We were heartened by the constructive of scientific publishing around the aims of open and detailed feedback from members on the science. The ISC must establish itself as a leader development of our science plan in recent months, in addressing challenges in the evolving system Annual Report 2018 7 of science, and establishing principles for the In considering the very large range of activities responsible conduct of science and scientists. that the ISC has inherited and the many issues on which it is expected to lead within the four core The creation of the ISC also comes at a time when action areas described above, the Council must we’re experiencing major changes in the geopolitical make judgements as to which are uniquely relevant landscape, and the emergence of new players in to its members and the broader community, and the international fora which the Council seeks to thus central to the ISC mission. In 2019, we will influence. It is essential that the Council continues publish more detailed plans for the coming years, to promote the use of scientific evidence to inform in order to move the vision of the ISC towards a policy at every level of governance, and to make the realisable goal. Our engagements throughout 2018 case for increased understanding as a driver and the overwhelming support for the merger have of progress and human development. suggested that there is broad support – and demand Whilst public trust in science remains high, new – for the ISC’s scientific aims, and a desire on the online media have amplified the spread of scientific part of our broad and active membership to move misinformation on topics such as environmental forward with a new, exciting agenda. change and vaccination. Simply sharing more This report sets out our highlights and key impacts of scientific information has not worked. We need to find the year from before, and after, the inspiring launch new ways of increasing trust in and engagement with events in July. We hope that you will enjoy reading it. science: through the newly established Committee for Outreach and Engagement the Council will work towards a better understanding of science across all Daya Reddy sectors of society, in order to strengthen the ability of President science to serve the public good. International Science Council Since their election in 2018, Governing Board members have worked to frame this mission Heide Hackmann around four strategic domains which will guide our CEO activities in the coming years: International Science Council 1. The 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development } 2. The Digital Revolution } 3. Science in Policy and Public Discourse } 4. The Evolution of Science and Science Systems } 8 International Science Council OUR VISION The founding General Assembly of the new Photo: Chin- organization was held on 3 and 4 July 2018, where Chun Yi, from the International The vision of the Council is to advance science as a the combined membership of ICSU and the ISSC Sociological global public good. Scientific knowledge, data and elected their representatives on the governing Association expertise must be universally accessible and its structures of the new Council. Representatives benefits universally shared. The practice of science of the Council’s members elected Daya Reddy, a must be inclusive and equitable, also in opportunities mathematician from South Africa, to be the first for scientific education and capacity development. President. Peter Gluckman, the former Chief Science Adviser to the Prime Minister of New Zealand, became the President-elect, and will assume the OUR MISSION Presidency durning the next General Assembly in 2021. The mission of the International Science Council is to act as the global voice for science. As part of that The ISC’s membership elected Elisa Reis (Vice- mission, the ISC: President), Jinghai Li (Vice-President), Alik Ismail- Zadeh (Secretary) and Renée van Kessel (Treasurer) i. Speaks for the value of all science and evidence- as executive Members, and Geoffrey Boulton, informed decision-making; Melody Burkins, Saths Cooper, Anna Davies, Pearl ii. Stimulates and supports international scientific Dykstra, Sirimali Fernando, Ruth Fincher, James research and scholarship on major issues of C. Liao, Natalia Tarasova and Martin Visbeck as global concern; ordinary Members.