Young Academy of Europe

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Young Academy of Europe

The Young Academy of Europe is a transnational scholarly organization formed by early-career researchers and professionals from across Europe. It engages with policymakers in Brussels, interacts with pan-European institutions such as the European Union and the European Commission, and networks with national academies like the Royal Society, the Academia Europaea, and the French Academy of Sciences. Founded amid discussions at forums involving institutions such as the Max Planck Society, the European Research Council, and the Helsinki Institute of Physics, the academy connects members active in fields represented at universities including University of Oxford, University of Cambridge, Sorbonne University, Leiden University, and KU Leuven.

History

The organization emerged from initiatives led by scholars who had participated in events hosted by the European Research Council, the Royal Netherlands Academy of Arts and Sciences, and the German National Academy of Sciences Leopoldina. Early meetings included participants from research hubs such as the Karolinska Institute, the ETH Zurich, the University of Copenhagen, and the University of Barcelona. Influential figures from networks linked to the European Science Foundation and the Wellcome Trust supported its inception, while policy dialogues referenced documents from the Lisbon Strategy era and consultations with representatives from the European Parliament. Its formation paralleled the establishment of youth-oriented academies like the Junge Akademie and echoed collaborative models seen at the National Academy of Sciences in the United States and the Royal Society of Canada.

The academy's mission aligns with recommendations from bodies such as the European Research Area policy frameworks, aiming to advise entities like the European Commission and engage with advisory boards including those of the Horizon 2020 and Horizon Europe programs. Objectives emphasize advocacy for early-career scholars in contexts involving the Marie Skłodowska-Curie Actions, fostering interdisciplinary exchange among researchers at institutions such as Imperial College London, the University of Milan, University of Göttingen, and promoting open science practices championed by organizations like the OpenAIRE initiative and the Scholarly Publishing and Academic Resources Coalition.

Membership comprises selected scholars with appointments at universities and research institutes including University College London, Heidelberg University, Trinity College Dublin, University of Warsaw, and the University of Vienna. Governance structures draw from models used by the Academia Europaea and the Royal Society, featuring elected boards and committees responsible for policy statements, outreach, and finance. Selection processes reference standards akin to panels convened by the European Research Council and peer bodies such as the National Academy of Sciences (United States), while leadership interacts with advisory stakeholders including representatives from the European Science Advisors Network for Health and the Young European Research Universities Network.

Programs include policy briefs and position statements presented to institutions like the European Commission, workshops co-organized with the European University Association, and conferences held alongside partners such as the Gordon Research Conferences model or symposia at venues such as the Max Planck Institute. The academy runs mentoring schemes similar to initiatives by the Wellcome Trust and the Royal Society and organizes thematic working groups on topics resonant with research councils including the National Science Foundation and the Deutsche Forschungsgemeinschaft. It publishes reports and opinion pieces in venues frequented by contributors to journals like Nature, Science, and The Lancet and engages in science communication through collaborations with entities like the European Molecular Biology Organization and the European Science Communication Network.

Collaborative partners include pan-European and national institutions such as the European Commission, the European Parliament, the Academia Europaea, and national academies like the Polish Academy of Sciences and the Royal Netherlands Academy of Arts and Sciences. The academy partners with funders and programs including the European Research Council, the Marie Skłodowska-Curie Actions, and philanthropic organizations such as the Wellcome Trust and the Gates Foundation where overlap in objectives occurs. It also networks with disciplinary societies including the European Society of Cardiology, the European Geosciences Union, and the Society for Neuroscience, and co-sponsors events with university consortia such as the League of European Research Universities and the European University Association.

Its policy contributions have been cited in consultations by the European Commission and referenced in discussions at the European Parliament and meetings of the Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development. Members have received awards and fellowships from agencies including the European Research Council, the Marie Skłodowska-Curie Actions, the Alexander von Humboldt Foundation, and national prizes like the CNRS Silver Medal and the Royal Society University Research Fellowship. The academy's reports and statements have influenced debates related to initiatives such as Horizon Europe and attracted coverage in outlets like Nature, Science, The Guardian, and The New York Times.

Category:Scientific organizations based in Belgium Category:Learned societies