The new regional focal points will build on the valuable experiences and support networks of the three former regional offices in Africa, Asia and the Pacific, and Latin America and the Caribbean.
The first three years of the Council’s operation have been a period of transition for the former Regional Offices. Following a decision of the government of El Salvador, the regional office for Latin America and the Caribbean closed in December 2019. The hosting arrangements provided by the South African Department of Science and Innovation and the Academy of Science of South Africa for the regional office in Africa, and by the Academy of Sciences Malaysia for the regional office in the Asia-Pacific region, were concluded in 2021. The ISC Governing Board and headquarters, as well as the entire ISC community, are extremely grateful for the support provided by the respective members and organizations to maintain the regional offices over the years, and thank the regional office staff for their valuable work and crucial commitment to advancing science as a global public good in the respective regions.
Planning is now in place for the transition to new regional focal points following an open call for expressions of interest to host a regional presence in each of the three regions. In December 2021 the ISC signed an agreement with the Colombian Academy of Exact, Physical and Natural Sciences to host a Regional Focal Point for Latin America and the Caribbean during the 2022–2024 term. The arrangements for an ISC regional presence in Asia-Pacific and Africa are under development.
The ISC Regional Focal Point for Latin America and the Caribbean is now hosted at the Colombian Academy of Exact, Physical and Natural Sciences in Bogotá, Colombia. Image by Social Impact/Unsplash.