On 10 – 12 May, the International Science Council held its Mid-term Meeting of Members, the first all-member event since its creation in 2018, under the theme “Capitalizing on Synergies in Science”.
Held in Paris, the meeting brought together more than 300 delegates from 80 countries for networking opportunities to strengthen relationships and provide a global platform to discuss the role of science in finding solutions to our complex global challenges.
“The world needs science – all science,
Packaged into actionable knowledge, ready to be acted upon to solve practical and pressing issues,” said Irina Bokova, ISC Patron and Co-Chair of the Council’s Global Commission on Science Missions for Sustainability, in the meeting’s final address.
Scientists’ collaboration to achieve concrete solutions for sustainable development was a pivotal point of discussion during the three days. Members not only exchanged views on enhancing science as a tool for diplomacy and decision-making, but also explored ways to make significant advancements in advancing gender equality and the inclusion of young scientists from all regions within the scientific community.
Apart from thematic
Sessions addressing today’s challenges email data through science, several meetings focused on the ISC’s structure and future, with Member-led dialogues on the importance of the ISC in addressing global scientific issues and fostering collaboration among scientists worldwide.
An end to “business-as-usual” for global science
With the 2030 Sustainable the future of research evaluation: a synthesis of current debates and developments Development Goals (SDGs) deadline approaching, it is vital for governments and international organizations to commit to science to provide solutions for global problems, said Bokova.
To that end, the ISC announced last week the launch of an in-house think tank, the Centre for Science Futures. The Centre will offer science-based guidance to policy-makers and undertake initiatives related to the future of the global scientific ecosystem. The Centre will focus on emerging trends in science and policy, gathering evidence and resources and providing analysis, says Mathieu Denis, Head of the ISC Centre for Science Futures.
The ISC Global Commission on Science Missions for Sustainability, which offers science-based solutions to policy-makers, will report in July to aqb directory the UN High-level Political Forum in New York, the main international forum monitoring progress on the SDGs. The Commission, composed of more than 20 committed experts, is working on making a compelling case for stepping out of our business-as-usual approaches towards structuring science, funding science and doing science.
“We are talking about
A call to the active scientific community about the need for science to engage with society to produce actionable knowledge to promote long-term sustainability, locally and globally,” said ISC CEO Salvatore Aricò. “The goal of this new way of doing and funding science is to promote a viable model for global cooperation which foregrounds complex local and regional challenges and solutions.”
