The World Academy of Sciences

The World Academy of Sciences
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Name	The World Academy of Sciences
Formation	1983
Type	Intergovernmental Scientific Organization
Headquarters	Trieste, Italy
Location	Trieste, Italy
Leader title	President
Affiliations	United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization, International Council for Science, World Health Organization, Food and Agriculture Organization, International Atomic Energy Agency

The World Academy of Sciences is an international scientific organization founded to advance scientific capacity and excellence for sustainable development in the Global South, with headquarters in Trieste, Italy. It was established through a collaboration involving UNESCO and prominent scientists to address disparities in scientific infrastructure across regions such as Africa, Asia, Latin America, and the Caribbean. The Academy supports research, training, and policy advice while collaborating with institutions like the International Atomic Energy Agency, World Health Organization, and major universities and research centers worldwide.

History

The Academy emerged from discussions among figures linked to UNESCO initiatives, the International Council for Science, and leaders from institutions including the International Centre for Theoretical Physics, CERN, and the Royal Society during the late 20th century. Its formal foundation in 1983 followed consultations with national academies such as the United States National Academy of Sciences, the Royal Society of London, the Pontifical Academy of Sciences, and the Accademia Nazionale dei Lincei. Early involvement included collaborations with scientists associated with Stephen Hawking, members of the Soviet Academy of Sciences and representatives from India and Brazil who had ties to institutions like the Indian National Science Academy and the Academia Brasileira de Ciências. Over ensuing decades the Academy expanded links to organizations including the African Academy of Sciences, Academy of Sciences of Malaysia, Chinese Academy of Sciences, and the Mexican Academy of Sciences, adapting programs influenced by events such as the Rio Earth Summit, the Millennium Summit, and the adoption of the Sustainable Development Goals.

Mission and Objectives

The Academy's mission aligns with international agendas championed by entities like United Nations bodies and regional organizations including the African Union and the Association of Southeast Asian Nations. Objectives emphasize capacity building comparable to initiatives by the Wellcome Trust, the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation, and the European Research Council, while advocating research priorities resonant with commissions such as the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change and the International Panel on Biodiversity and Ecosystem Services. It aims to foster networks akin to those of the Global Young Academy, promote ethics dialogues similar to the Nuffield Council on Bioethics, and support policy-relevant science in areas highlighted by the World Health Organization, the Food and Agriculture Organization, and the World Meteorological Organization.

Membership and Structure

Membership comprises elected fellows drawn from national academies like the Royal Society of Canada, the National Academy of Sciences (United States), the Indian National Science Academy, the Academia Mexicana de la Ciencias, and the Korean Academy of Science and Technology. Governance structures mirror models used by the International Science Council and include a governing council, regional representatives, and thematic committees with ties to research institutes such as Max Planck Society, CNRS, CSIC, and CSIRO. The Academy collaborates with universities including University of Cambridge, Harvard University, University of Tokyo, University of Cape Town, and São Paulo University through visiting fellowships, triangulating expertise from laureates of awards like the Nobel Prize in Physics, the Fields Medal, the Lasker Award, and the Breakthrough Prize.

Programs and Activities

Programs include research fellowships, postgraduate training modeled on programs at Imperial College London and ETH Zurich, and science diplomacy efforts linked with United Nations missions and forums such as the World Science Forum. Activities span workshops and conferences held with partners like the European Commission, the African Union Commission, and the Inter-American Development Bank, and practical projects in collaboration with agencies including the World Health Organization, UNICEF, and the International Fund for Agricultural Development. The Academy runs grants and prizes inspired by philanthropic models from the MacArthur Foundation and the Carnegie Corporation, supports networks including the Global Research Council and the Science Advice for Policy by European Academies platform, and conducts capacity-building in fields related to initiatives from the Global Fund, GAVI, and the Green Climate Fund.

Funding and Partnerships

Funding derives from multilateral partners such as UNESCO, philanthropic donors like the Rockefeller Foundation and the Gordon and Betty Moore Foundation, bilateral agencies including United States Agency for International Development and UK Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office, and regional institutions like the African Development Bank and the Asian Development Bank. Strategic partnerships extend to research councils such as the National Natural Science Foundation of China, the Deutsche Forschungsgemeinschaft, and the Japan Society for the Promotion of Science, as well as collaborations with commercial entities, universities, and non-governmental organizations including Science for Society, the International Union for Conservation of Nature, and the Conservation International model.

Impact and Recognition

The Academy's influence is visible in policy reports cited by United Nations Environment Programme, World Health Organization guidelines, and national science strategies adopted in countries including Kenya, Brazil, India, and Indonesia. Its fellows have contributed to landmark studies alongside researchers from Harvard Medical School, Pasteur Institute, Salk Institute, and Karolinska Institutet, earning recognition in forums such as the World Economic Forum, prize lists related to the Nobel Prize, and citations in outlets like the InterAcademy Partnership. Case studies show its programs improving research capacity at institutions like the Makerere University, University of Nairobi, Universidad Nacional Autónoma de México, and the University of the West Indies, while collaborative initiatives influenced policy decisions at the European Union and national ministries in South Africa and Chile.

Category:International scientific organizations