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| Islamic World Academy of Sciences | |
|---|---|
| Name | Islamic World Academy of Sciences |
| Abbreviation | IAS |
| Formation | 1986 |
| Type | Learned society |
| Headquarters | Amman, Jordan |
| Region served | Organisation of Islamic Cooperation member states |
| Leader title | President |
Islamic World Academy of Sciences is an international learned society established in 1986 to promote science and technology across member states of the Organisation of Islamic Cooperation. The academy engages scholars, policymakers, and institutions from capitals such as Amman, Riyadh, Ankara, Tehran, Cairo, Kuala Lumpur and Islamabad to strengthen links with bodies like the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization, the World Health Organization, the International Atomic Energy Agency, the World Bank and regional academies including the National Academy of Sciences (United States), the Royal Society, and the Pontifical Academy of Sciences.
The academy was founded following consultations involving leaders from the Organisation of Islamic Cooperation, science ministers from countries such as Jordan, Pakistan, Malaysia, Egypt, and advisory input from figures associated with the Royal Society, the Academia dei Lincei, and the Third World Academy of Sciences (TWAS). Early meetings included delegates who had worked with institutions like the United Nations Development Programme, the Islamic Development Bank, the European Organization for Nuclear Research, and influential scientists linked to Imperial College London, University of Oxford, Harvard University, Massachusetts Institute of Technology, and Stanford University. Over time the academy held convocations in cities including Istanbul, Rabat, Doha, and Kuala Lumpur and collaborated on initiatives involving the Global Young Academy, the African Academy of Sciences, and national bodies such as the Academy of Sciences of Pakistan.
The academy's stated aims include advancing links among academies such as the Royal Society of Canada, promoting research networks spanning institutions like King Saud University, Cairo University, University of Tehran, National University of Singapore, and advising policy bodies such as the Islamic Development Bank and the United Nations Commission on Science and Technology for Development. Its mission emphasizes capacity-building with partners including the World Health Organization, the Food and Agriculture Organization, the International Centre for Theoretical Physics, and regional organizations like the Arab League and the Gulf Cooperation Council to address issues related to public health, agriculture, energy, and water management.
Membership comprises elected fellows drawn from nations represented in the Organisation of Islamic Cooperation and includes scientists affiliated with universities such as Al-Azhar University, University of Karachi, University of Malaya, Tehran University of Medical Sciences, and research institutes like the International Center for Chemical and Biological Sciences and the Korean Advanced Institute of Science and Technology. Governance features an executive council and committees that coordinate with national academies including the Academy of Sciences for the Developing World, the Academy of Sciences Malaysia, the Royal Scientific Society (Jordan), and advisory links to figures who have served in bodies like the World Economic Forum, the European Commission, and the African Union.
The academy runs fellowship programs, capacity-building workshops, and science diplomacy efforts in partnership with organizations such as the United Nations Development Programme, the International Atomic Energy Agency, the International Union for Conservation of Nature, and regional research centers like the International Center for Agricultural Research in the Dry Areas. Activities include thematic working groups on infectious diseases engaging experts from Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, climate change initiatives aligned with the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change, and technology transfer projects linking universities such as King Abdullah University of Science and Technology and Ecole Polytechnique Fédérale de Lausanne.
The academy issues policy reports, position papers, and conference proceedings co-published or presented at meetings involving publishers and forums associated with the Royal Society, Springer, Elsevier, and academic events like the International Conference on Science and Technology. Conferences have convened delegates from the World Health Organization, the Food and Agriculture Organization, national research councils such as the National Natural Science Foundation of China, and scholarly societies including the American Association for the Advancement of Science and the Indian National Science Academy.
Funding sources include contributions from member states, support from multilateral financial institutions such as the Islamic Development Bank, grants from foundations like the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation and partnerships with agencies including the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization, the World Bank, and national research funding bodies such as the National Institutes of Health and the Engineering and Physical Sciences Research Council. Collaborative programs have been undertaken with universities including University College London, University of Cambridge, McGill University, and regional organizations like the Arab Academy of Sciences.
The academy has been credited with fostering networks between institutions such as the African Academy of Sciences, the Global Young Academy, and national academies in Bangladesh, Turkey, Morocco, and Indonesia while contributing policy advice to bodies like the United Nations Environment Programme and the World Health Organization. Criticism has focused on issues raised by commentators linked to think tanks such as the Brookings Institution and the Carnegie Endowment for International Peace regarding effectiveness, transparency, and resource allocation compared with established academies like the National Academy of Sciences (United States) and the Royal Society. Debates have involved stakeholders from ministries of science in Saudi Arabia, Iran, Egypt, and international funders assessing measurable outcomes in research capacity and technology commercialization.
Category:Scientific organizations