International Science Council

International Science Council
Name	International Science Council
Abbreviation	ISC
Formation	2018
Type	Non-governmental organization
Headquarters	Paris
Region served	Global
Leader title	President
Leader name	David Griggs

International Science Council The International Science Council is a global non-governmental organization that brings together international science bodies such as the International Council for Science and the International Social Science Council to coordinate science policy, research coordination, and advocacy. Founded in 2018, it operates alongside institutions like the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization and engages with actors such as the World Health Organization, the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change, and the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change to advance evidence-based responses to global challenges. It links national academies, disciplinary unions, and research councils including the National Academy of Sciences (United States), the Royal Society, the Chinese Academy of Sciences, and the Max Planck Society.

History

The council was created through the merger of the International Council for Science and the International Social Science Council following discussions at meetings involving the Royal Swedish Academy of Sciences, the Australian Academy of Science, and the National Academy of Sciences (India). Early governance drew on precedents from the International Union of Geodesy and Geophysics, the International Mathematical Union, and the International Astronomical Union. Its formation was influenced by global processes such as the Sustainable Development Goals negotiations at the United Nations General Assembly and assessments by the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change. Founding figures included leaders with ties to the European Research Council, the National Institutes of Health, and the Wellcome Trust.

Organization and Governance

The council's governance model features a General Assembly, an Executive Board, and a Secretariat located in Paris. Leadership roles interact with bodies like the International Science Council, professional organizations such as the American Association for the Advancement of Science, and regional entities including the African Academy of Sciences and the Academy of Sciences of South Africa. Election processes mirror practices from the International Union of Pure and Applied Chemistry, the International Geographical Union, and the Union for International Cancer Control. The Chief Executive liaises with policy fora such as the Group of Twenty and the Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development through advisory committees.

Membership and National/Union Members

Membership comprises national science academies and learned societies like the Royal Society of Canada, the Brazilian Academy of Sciences, the Deutscher Akademischer Austauschdienst, and unions including the International Union of Soil Sciences and the International Union of Biological Sciences. Institutional members include the European Science Foundation, the African Academy of Sciences, the Indian National Science Academy, and the Academia Sinica. Affiliates and partner bodies span from the World Meteorological Organization to the International Union for Conservation of Nature and specialist groups such as the International Association of Hydrogeologists and the International Union of Geodesy and Geophysics.

Programs and Initiatives

The council runs global programs addressing issues raised by bodies like the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change, the Global Climate Observing System, and the United Nations Environment Programme. Initiatives include research coordination with the Future Earth initiative, data stewardship aligned with the Committee on Data for Science and Technology, and policy briefs for the United Nations High-level Political Forum on Sustainable Development. The council supports capacity-building through partnerships with the International Centre for Theoretical Physics, the Latin American Academy of Sciences, and the International Science Programme at Uppsala University, while coordinating thematic activities with the World Food Programme and the International Atomic Energy Agency.

Policy Influence and Global Engagement

The council feeds scientific advice into multilateral processes such as the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change, the Convention on Biological Diversity, and the Sendai Framework for Disaster Risk Reduction. It engages with international commissions and panels including the Lancet Commission, the Global Commission on Adaptation, and the High-level Panel on Water. The council's statements interact with policy actors like the G7 Summit, the European Commission, and the African Union, and inform reports by the World Bank, the International Monetary Fund, and the Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development.

Funding and Partnerships

Funding sources include contributions from national members such as the Department for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy (UK), grants from philanthropic organizations like the Wellcome Trust and the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation, and collaborations with multilateral agencies including the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization and the World Health Organization. Partnerships with research funders such as the European Research Council, the National Science Foundation (United States), and the Deutsche Forschungsgemeinschaft support programs and fellowships. The council also works with private-sector partners and foundations like the Rockefeller Foundation and consults with standards bodies such as the International Organization for Standardization.

Criticism and Controversies

Critiques have addressed tensions familiar from debates involving the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change, the World Health Organization, and the International Monetary Fund concerning transparency, representation of Global South institutions like the African Academy of Sciences and Academia Brasiliera de Ciências, and perceived influence by donor agencies including the Wellcome Trust and the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation. Questions have been raised about governance parallels with the International Council for Science and the International Social Science Council merger, and about engagement strategies in contexts such as the Belt and Road Initiative and research partnerships with the People's Republic of China institutions. Scholarly debates referencing journals like Nature, Science (journal), and The Lancet have scrutinized the council's role in science diplomacy and global agenda-setting.

Category:International scientific organizations