International Science Council

International Science Council
AbbreviationISC
FormationJuly 4, 2018; 6 years ago (2018-07-04)
Merger of
TypeInternational
HeadquartersParis, France
Key people
Websitecouncil.science Edit this at Wikidata

The International Science Council (ISC) is an international non-governmental organization that unites scientific bodies at various levels across the social and natural sciences.[1] The ISC was formed with its inaugural general assembly on 4 July 2018 by the merger of the former International Council for Science (ICSU) and the International Social Science Council (ISSC), making it one of the largest organisations of this type.[2][3][4][5]

Daya Reddy, mathematician, served (2018–2021) as the ISC's inaugural President.[6] Sir Peter Gluckman, pediatrician, biomedical scientist, and science-policy expert, was elected President in October 2021.[7] Other ISC's inaugural Officers elected for the term of 2018–2021 were Elisa Reis (Vice President),[8] Jinghai Li (Vice President),[9] Renée van Kessel (Treasurer),[10] and Alik Ismail-Zadeh (Secretary).[11] Until February 2022, Heide Hackmann served as the Council's CEO.[12] In 2023, Salvatore Aricò was elected Chief Executive Officer.[13]

Activities

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The Council convenes and mobilizes the international scientific community on issues of major scientific and public importance. Activities focus on three areas of work:

  • Stimulating and supporting international scientific research and scholarship, and communicating science that is relevant to international policy issues;
  • Promoting the ability of science to contribute to major issues;
  • Defending the free and responsible practice of science.

The Council is involved in co-sponsorship of a number of international research programmes, networks and committees.

The Council awards the Stein Rokkan Prize for Comparative Social Science Research.[14]

The Council's present activities are guided by the Action Plan 2022-2024: Science and Society in Transition.[15] At the heart of the Action Plan is a selection of projects and programmes that are relevant to all scientific fields and all parts of the world.

Structure

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The Council is governed by its Governing Board[16] and is advised by a number of advisory bodies in thematic areas such as space, polar, climatic, and data research.[17] It is headquartered in Paris with a regional office in Colombia. The Officers of the Governing Board are currently Peter Gluckman (President), Motoko Kotani (President-elect), Anne Husebekk (Vice-President for Freedom and Responsibility in Science), Salim Abdool Karim (Vice-President for Outreach and Engagement), and Sawako Shirahase (Vice-President for Finance of the Council).

The ISC's next assembly is scheduled to be held in Muscat in 2025. [18]

Members

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As of 2025, the International Science Council has 131 member organizations, 43 member unions and associations, and 23 affiliated members.[19]

Member unions and associations

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Acronym Name Scientific field
4S Society for Social Studies of Science Social studies of science and technology (STS)
CIE International Commission on Illumination Illumination
IALS International Association of Legal Science Legal science
IASSA International Arctic Social Sciences Association Social science relevant to the Arctic
IAU International Astronomical Union Astronomy
ICA International Cartographic Association Cartography
ICIAM International Council for Industrial and Applied Mathematics Mathematics
ICO International Commission for Optics Optics
IFSM International Federation of Societies for Microscopy Microscopy
IGU International Geographical Union Geography
IMU International Mathematical Union Mathematics
INQUA International Union for Quaternary Research Quaternary Period
IPRA International Peace Research Association Peace Research
IPSA International Political Science Association Political Science
ISA International Sociological Association Sociology
ISPRS International Society for Photogrammetry and Remote Sensing Photogrammetry and Remote Sensing
IUBMB International Union of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology Biochemistry and Molecular Biology
IUBS International Union of Biological Sciences Biology
IUCr International Union of Crystallography Crystallography
IUFoST International Union of Food Science and Technology Food science and Food Technology
IUFRO International Union of Forest Research Organizations Forestry
IUGG International Union of Geodesy and Geophysics Geodesy and Geophysics
IUGS International Union of Geological Sciences Geology
IUHPST International Union of History and Philosophy of Science History of Science and Philosophy of Science
IUIS International Union of Immunological Societies Immunology
IUMRS International Union of Materials Research Societies Materials science
IUMS International Union of Microbiological Societies Microbiology
IUNS International Union of Nutritional Sciences Nutrition
IUPAB International Union for Pure and Applied Biophysics Biophysics
IUPAC International Union of Pure and Applied Chemistry Chemistry
IUPAP International Union of Pure and Applied Physics Physics
IUPESM International Union for Physical and Engineering Sciences in Medicine Medical physics
IUPHAR International Union of Basic and Clinical Pharmacology Pharmacology
IUPS International Union of Physiological Sciences Physiology
IUPsyS International Union of Psychological Science Psychology
IUSS International Union of Soil Sciences Soil science
IUSSP International Union for the Scientific Study of Population Demography
IUTAM International Union of Theoretical and Applied Mechanics Mechanics
IUTOX International Union of Toxicology Toxicology
UIS International Union of Speleology Speleology
URSI International Union of Radio Science Radio science
WAPOR World Association for Public Opinion Research Public opinion research
WAU World Anthropological Union Anthropology

National members

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Country Member organization
Albania Academy of Sciences (ASA)
Angola Foundation of Science and Development
Argentina National Scientific and Technical Research Council (CONICET)
Armenia Armenian National Academy of Sciences (NAS RA)
Australia Australian Academy of Science
Austria Austrian Academy of Sciences
Azerbaijan Azerbaijan National Academy of Sciences (ANAS)
Bangladesh Bangladesh Academy of Sciences (BAS)
Belarus National Academy of Sciences of Belarus (NASB)
Belgium Royal Academies for Science and the Arts of Belgium (RASAB)
Benin National Academy of Sciences, Arts and Letters (ANSALB)
Bolivia Academia Nacional de Ciencias de Bolivia (ANCB)
Bosnia & Herzegovina Academy of Sciences and Arts of Bosnia and Herzegovina (ANUBiH)
Bosnia & Herzegovina Academy of Sciences and Arts of the Republika Srpska (ANURS)
Botswana Ministry of Infrastructure Science and Technology
Brazil Brazilian Academy of Sciences (ABC)
Brazil Association Nacional de Pos-Graduacao e Pesquisa em Ciencias Sociais (ANPOCS)
Bulgaria Bulgarian Academy of Sciences (BAS)
Burkina Faso Centre National de la Recherche Scientifique et Technologique (CNRST)
Cameroon Cameroon Academy of Sciences (CAS)
Canada National Research Council (Canada) (NRC)
Chile Academia Chilena de Ciencias
China China Association for Science and Technology (CAST)
China Chinese Academy of Social Sciences (CASS)
Colombia Academia Colombiana de Ciencias Exactas, Fisicas y Naturales
Costa Rica Academia Nacional de Ciencias (Costa Rica)
Côte d'Ivoire Académie des sciences, des arts, des cultures d'Afrique et des diasporas africaines (ASCAD)
Cuba Cuban Academy of Sciences
Denmark Royal Danish Academy of Sciences and Letters
Dominican Republic Academy of Sciences of the Dominican Republic
Egypt Academy of Scientific Research and Technology (ASRT)
El Salvador Viceministerio de Ciencia y Tecnología de El Salvador
Estonia Estonian Academy of Sciences
Eswatini National Research Council (Eswatini)
Ethiopia Ethiopian Science and Technology Agency
Finland Council of Finnish Academies
France French Academy of Sciences
Georgia Georgian National Academy of Sciences
Germany German Research Foundation (DFG)
Ghana Ghana Academy of Arts and Sciences
Greece Academy of Athens
Guatemala Academia de Ciencias Médicas Fisicas y Naturales de Guatemala
Honduras National Academy of Sciences of Honduras
Hungary Hungarian Academy of Sciences
India Indian Council of Social Science Research (ICSSR)
India Indian National Science Academy (INSA)
Indonesia National Research and Innovation Agency (BRIN)
Iran University of Tehran
Iraq Ministry of Science and Technology
Ireland Royal Irish Academy
Israel Israel Academy of Sciences and Humanities
Italy National Research Council
Jamaica Scientific Research Council
Japan Science Council of Japan
Jordan Royal Scientific Society
Kazakhstan Kazakhstan Academy of Sciences
Kenya Kenya National Academy of Sciences
Laos Lao National Science Council
Latvia Latvian Academy of Sciences
Lebanon National Council for Scientific Research
Lesotho Department of Science and Technology
Lithuania Lithuanian Academy of Sciences
Luxembourg Luxembourg National Research Fund
Madagascar Ministère de l'Enseignement Supérieur et de la Recherche Scientifique
Malawi National Commission for Science and Technology
Malaysia Academy of Sciences Malaysia
Mauritius Mauritius Academy of Science (MAST)
Mexico Mexican Academy of Sciences
Mexico Consejo Mexicano de Ciencias Sociales (COMECSO)
Moldova Academy of Sciences of Moldova
Monaco Centre Scientifique de Monaco
Mongolia Mongolian Academy of Sciences
Montenegro Montenegrin Academy of Sciences and Arts
Morocco Hassan II Academy for Science and Technology
Mozambique Scientific Research Association of Mozambique (AICIMO)
Namibia National Commission on Research, Science and Technology (NCRST)
  Nepal Nepal Academy of Science and Technology (NAST)
Netherlands Royal Netherlands Academy of Arts and Sciences
New Zealand Royal Society Te Apārangi
Nigeria Nigerian Academy of Science
North Korea Academy of Sciences of the Democratic People's Republic of Korea
North Macedonia Macedonian Academy of Sciences and Arts
Norway Norwegian Academy of Science and Letters
Norway University of Bergen
Oman Research Council of Oman
Pakistan Pakistan Association for the Advancement of Science
Panama University of Panama
Peru Academia Nacional de Ciencias
Philippines National Research Council
Philippines Philippine Social Science Council (PSSC)
Poland Polish Academy of Sciences
Portugal Lisbon Academy of Sciences
Romania Romanian Academy
Russia Russian Academy of Sciences (RAS)
Rwanda College of Science and Technology (Rwanda) (KIST)
Saudi Arabia King Abdulaziz City for Science and Technology (KACST)
Senegal Senegal Academy of Science and Technology (ANSTS)
Serbia Serbian Academy of Sciences and Arts
Seychelles Seychelles National Parks Authority
Singapore Singapore National Academy of Science
Slovak Republic Slovak Academy of Sciences (SAS)
Slovenia Slovenian Academy of Sciences and Arts
South Africa Human Sciences Research Council of South Africa (HSRC)
South Africa National Research Foundation (NRF)
South Korea Korean Social Science Research Council (KOSSREC)
South Korea National Academy of Sciences of the Republic of Korea
South Korea Korean Academy of Science and Technology (KAST)
Spain Ministry for Science and Innovation (MCIN)
Sri Lanka National Science Foundation of Sri Lanka (NSF)
Sudan National Centre for Research (NCR)
Sweden Royal Swedish Academy of Sciences
 Switzerland Swiss Academy of Humanities and Social Sciences (SAHS)
 Switzerland Swiss Academies of Arts and Sciences
Taiwan Academia Sinica
Tajikistan Tajik Academy of Sciences
Tanzania Tanzania Commission for Science and Technology
Thailand National Research Council of Thailand
Togo Chancellerie des Universités du Togo
Tunisia Tunis El Manar University
Turkey The Science Academy Society of Turkey
Turkey Turkish Academy of Sciences (TÜBA)
Uganda Uganda National Council for Science and Technology (UNCST)
Ukraine National Academy of Sciences of Ukraine (NAS)
United Kingdom British Academy
United Kingdom Royal Society
United States National Academy of Sciences (NAS)
Uruguay Comisión Consejo Nacional de Innovacion Ciencia y Tecnologia (CONICYT)
Uzbekistan Uzbekistan Academy of Sciences (UzAS)
Vatican City Pontifical Academy of Sciences
Venezuela Fondo Nacional de Ciencia, Tecnología e Innovación (CONICIT)
Vietnam Vietnam Union of Science and Technology Associations (VUSTA)
Zambia Zambia Academy of Sciences
Zimbabwe Research Council of Zimbabwe (RCZ)

Transnational members

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Affiliated members

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GeoUnions

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A subset of ISC dealing with Earth and space sciences forms the GeoUnions network:[20]

The ISC GeoUnions partially overlap with the UN-GGIM Geospatial Societies.

Former members

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Since 2024, there are members that have departed from the Council:[21]

Member unions and associations

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National members

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Affiliated members

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References

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  1. ^ Staff writer (2024). "International Science Council (ISC)". UIA Global Civil Society Database. uia.org. Brussels, Belgium: Union of International Associations. Yearbook of International Organizations Online. Retrieved 24 December 2024.
  2. ^ "Two main Science Councils merge to address complex global challenges". UNESCO. 5 July 2018. Retrieved 2018-10-21.
  3. ^ "About us". International Science Council. Retrieved 2018-10-20.
  4. ^ McBean, Gordon; Martinelli, Alberto (2017-11-24). "Blurring disciplinary boundaries". Science. 358 (6366): 975. Bibcode:2017Sci...358..975M. doi:10.1126/science.aar4320. ISSN 0036-8075. PMID 29170207.
  5. ^ "International Science Council established | 06.07.2018 | News | Sciences Switzerland". naturalsciences.ch. 6 July 2018. Retrieved 2019-08-10.
  6. ^ "Paris launches the International Science Council with aims to rebuild trust in science". The Ecologist. Retrieved 2018-10-21.
  7. ^ "Sir Peter Gluckman, pediatrician, biomedical scientist and science-policy expert becomes President of the International Science Council". 14 October 2021.
  8. ^ "Vice-President of the ISC Governing Board 2018–2021".
  9. ^ "Vice-President of the ISC Governing Board 2018–2021".
  10. ^ "Treasurer of the ISC Governing Board 2018–2021".
  11. ^ "Secretary of the ISC Governing Board 2018–2021".
  12. ^ "About us". International Science Council. Retrieved 2018-10-21.
  13. ^ "Fireside Chat featuring GSDR scientists | High-Level Political Forum 2023". hlpf.un.org. Retrieved 2023-10-18.
  14. ^ "Call for nominations: Stein Rokkan Prize for Comparative Social Science Research". International Science Council. 16 October 2018. Retrieved 2019-08-16.
  15. ^ "Action Plan 2022-2024".
  16. ^ "Governing Board of the ISC".
  17. ^ "Affiliated Bodies". 15 February 2024.
  18. ^ "General Assembly – International Science Council".
  19. ^ "Membership Online Directory". International Science Council. Retrieved 2021-01-03.
  20. ^ "About ICSU GeoUnions". ICSU GeoUnions. Retrieved 2021-01-13.
  21. ^ "Draft three years activity report" (PDF). International Science Council. Retrieved 2024-11-24.
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