Please note that this portal is now archived. View the summary overview of the International Science Council’s COVID-19 response actions.
The portal shares scientific commentary and analysis and provides access to information on various initiatives, highlighting the scale and scope of response and encouraging ISC members and partners to collaborate and share best practices during this global emergency.
Please note that the World Health Organization is providing rolling updates on the pandemic Click here.
“This portal highlights how quickly the international scientific community has sprung into action, offering multi-disciplinary reflection that must contribute solutions to policy-makers in this time of crisis. It also shows the scope of knowledge being shared by the community, which includes think-pieces from social scientists on the broad impacts of the pandemic”
Heide Hackmann, CEO.
Disclaimer: The views, thoughts, opinions and external content in the texts expressed on the ISC’s COVID-19 portal and are not necessarily those of the ISC.
Institutional responses
This section lists the various institutional responses to the COVID-19 crisis. The ISC encourages its Members and the policy-making community to collaborate and share best practices, using the full resources available to the international science community through its scientific unions, academies, research councils, networks and initiatives. View the full list of ISC Members.
Please note that the World Health Organization is providing rolling updates on the crisis.
Initiatives are listed by types of Members (Category 1, 2 and 3) and initiatives from UN, intergovernmental and international science and research bodies.
Full Members (Category 2) and Affiliated Members (Category 3)
- African Academy of Sciences has set up a resource centre for COVID-19 responses on the continent. They are conducting a survey to document the ongoing and planned research to report on current efforts on the African continent toward COVID-19.
- Arab Social Science Council (ACSS) published a report on the Academic Challenges in the Time of COVID-19 in the Arab Region: Social Scientists and Humanists in Focus
- Argentina, National Scientific and Technological Research Council has launched an Ideas Project for the formulation and financing of research, development and innovation projects aimed at improving the national capacity to respond to the pandemic in Argentina (in Spanish).
- Australia, Australian Academy of Science has created a dedicated COVID-19 News and Resources Hub, which features scientifically-informed information, advice and other resources on COVID-19 that are produced and curated by the Academy, with expert input. The Academy leads the Rapid Research Information Forum (RRIF), which is a forum convened by the Chief Scientist of Australia for rapid information sharing and collaboration within the Australian research and innovation sector. RRIF enables timely responses to be provided to governments based on the best available evidence and informs the Chief Scientist’s interactions and collaboration with other national chief scientific advisers. The Academy created and curates the COVID-19 Expert Database to provide a mechanism for governments, the business sector, the research sector, and other decision-makers to easily access the expertise they need to inform their decision making. To highlight how science benefits all Australians and how it can be used to inform policy that makes science thrive in Australia, including during the COVID-19 pandemic, the Academy also created the Science for Australians article series.
- Austria, Austrian Academy of Science put together a selection of readings on the virus and how we can better deal with it. IIASA has also published a report on Austria’s economy in response to the crisis.
- Azerbaijan, Azerbaijan National Academy of Sciences is holding an online conference organized jointly by the Department of Biological and Medical Sciences of ANAS, as well as the Institute of Molecular Biology and Biotechnology on COVID-19.
- Brazil, Acedmia Brasileira de Ciências has launched a news portal of its response to the pandemic in Portuguese.
- Canada, National Research Council of Canada is working with partners as part of the collective effort to help find solutions to the COVID-19 outbreak: click here.
- Canada, Social Science and Humanities Research Council of Canada has set up an information page on COVID-19: Impacts on SSHRC‘s policies and programs.
- China, Taipei, Academy of Sciences located in Taipei has collated its statements and initiatives.
- CLACSO, Latin American Council of Social Sciences has launched a social science observatory for the pandemic (in Spanish).
- Colombia, Academia Colombiana de Ciencias Exactas, Fisicas y Naturales expresses concern for the difficulties encountered in Colombia as virtual education is implemented, calling attention on the inequities in the access to internet by the most disadvantaged sectors of he population: click here (in Spanish).
- Costa Rica, Academia Nacional de Ciencias expressed full support to the health authorities and prescribed measures in a statement (in Spanish).
- Cuba, Cuban Academy of Sciences issued a statement on the work being carried out in Cuba to stop the spread of SARS-CoV-2, the role of the Academy and its cooperation with others.
- Czech Republic, Czech Academy of Sciences has provided up to date information on the production of breathing masks and respirators and has made a general statement on the COVID-19 pandemic.
- Egypt, Academy of Scientific Research and Technology reacted with a Rapid Response Research, Development and Innovation Plan to combat the virus.
- Estonia, Estonian Academy of Sciences has developed a COVID-19 Data Analysis Tool in cooperation with scientists in the University of Tartu. The Academy also published a statement on the Recovery from the COVID-19 crisis and on Responsibility, Vaccination, Ventilation: From Virus Prevention to Eradication.
- Finland, Council of Finnish Academies has published Bending, but not breaking – From the coronavirus pandemic to strengthening Finland’s crisis resilience, a statement by a group of independent experts convened by the Finnish Academy of Science and Letters
- France, Académie des Sciences has created a portal with verified information on the COVID-19 pandemic (in French). Honorary Secretary of the Academy, Catherine Bréchignac, argues that democratic debate must be preserved at all costs, without the experts’ opinion being diluted in the midst of opinions not founded on reason, and discusses the crucial role of the media and social media in this interview.
- Germany, Deutsche Forschungsgemeinschaft (DFG) has launched a call for Multidisciplinary Research into Epidemics and Pandemics and has made a statement with the National Natural Science Foundation of China.
- Global Young Academy (GYA) has established a COVID-19 resource page gathering initiatives of the GYA, young academies and partners; GYA has also published a statement “Beyond Boundaries: A global message from young scientists on COVID-19” highlighting specific recommendations for governments, the public, and young researchers.
- Hungary, Hungarian Academy of Sciences continuously updates a collection of related articles on its website (in Hungarian).
- India, Indian Council of Social Science Research has launched Special Call for Studies Focusing on Social Science Dimensions of COVID-19 Pandemic
- India, Indian National Science Academy (INSA) published a white paper “Host Immunity and Vaccines – COVID-19”
- Indonesia, Indonesian Institute of Sciences (LIPI) conducted a survey in collaboration with the National Disaster Mitigation Agency (BNPB) and other institutions, to find out the public perception of information transparency in regard to the COVID-19 outbreak.
- International Arctic Science Committee: Regarding the spread of the COVID-19, the organizers of ASSW2020 are having close consultations with the government authorities in Iceland, i.e. respective ministries, the Directorate of Health and the Department of Civil Protection and Emergency Management: click here.
- International Association for Hydro Environmental Engineering and Research (IAHR) regularly reviews and provides updates through their dedicated web section.
- International Commission on Illumination (CIE) published a position statement on Ultraviolet (UV) Radiation to manage the risk of COVID-19 transmission, and elaborates on the statement in this video.
- International Council for Industrial and Applied Mathematics (ICIAM) have compiled an information hub for applied mathematics activities related to COVID-19.
- International Foundation for Science (IFS) is highlighting previous research projects on important trans-boundary viruses in various animal species in different countries, and the socio-economic and public health consequences that these infections may have on local communities.
- International Network for Advancing Science and Policy (INASP) published a blog, reflecting on the ambitions of their strategy and what they have learnt over recent months, confronting the challenges and opportunities of new ways of working during the COVID-19 pandemic; and another blog about key aspects learnt regarding running online courses and other online approaches. In addition, a paper about the impact of COVID-19 on widening inequities was published.
- International Institute for Applied Systems Analysis (IIASA) has a dedicated page for all projects and materials related to the COVID-19 pandemic.
- International Statistical Institute has collated resources for statisticians interested in the COVID-19 pandemic and has published a weekly blog called Statisticians React to the News.
- International Water Association: The COVID-19 pandemic is prompting questions for the water supply and sanitation sector globally. IWA has released an article entitled “COVID-19 – A Water Professional’s Perspective.”
- Ireland, Royal Irish Academy has had a national conversation around COVID-19: The contributions of Academy stakeholders published the first release of the RDA. Further, the Academy has a COVID-19 Research Response portal highlighting latest news articles and upcoming events.
- Israel, Israel Academy of Sciences and Humanities has established an advisory committee for its activities regarding the COVID-19 pandemic, and it has also set up the “Corona Pandemic: Background and News” webpage, providing access to selected external resources on scientific issues relating to the Corona (COVID-19) pandemic (in English, Hebrew and Arabic).
- Italy, Consiglio Nazionale delle Ricerche has collated all updates from researchers and research institutions in response to the pandemic (in Italian).
- Japan, Science Council of Japan (SCJ) has collected documents, including statements and proposals, related to important infectious diseases, such as COVID-19, on a dedicated page.
- Jamaica, Science Research Council of Jamaica is encouraging students to innovate in response to COVID-19.
- Jordan, Royal Scientific Society of Jordan has released a statement calling on a unified national response and global collaboration.
- Lithuania, Lithuanian Academy of Sciences has mustered the forces of experts in various fields. On 19 March 2020, a board of the Lithuanian Academy of Sciences for qualified evaluation of the COVID-19 infection and dissemination of the latest science-based information about the virus was established.
- Luxembourg, Luxembourg National Research Fund is mobilizing its knowledge and its human and material resources to help address the challenge of COVID-19: click here.
- Malaysia, Academy of Sciences Malaysia has created a COVID-19 research findings fact sheet.
- Mauritius, Mauritius Academy of Science (MAST) has issued a policy brief on COVID-19 and a report on their forum debate “The Challenge of Keeping Mauritius COVID-Safe”. The President of the Academy has published a blog about Reaching Planetary Immunity to COVID-19.
- Mexico, Academia Mexicana de Ciencias has created a video explainer of questions and answers for COVID-19 (in Spanish).
- Mexico, Consejo Mexicano de Ciencias Sociales is calling for contributions of essays and position papers from all member of society – academics and the public alike (in Spanish).
- Netherlands, Koninklijke Nederlandse Akademie van Wetenschappen has published a statement regarding COVID-19.
- New Zealand, Royal Society Te Aparangi regularly shares the latest research funding updates.
- Nigeria, Nigerian Academy of Science has published a statement calling for a national lockdown, and the report of a workshop “Understanding the context of health coverage in Nigeria and progress towards universal health coverage” held in September 2020.
- Norway, University of Bergen has set up a resource page for students and employees.
- Philippines, Philippine Social Science Council (PSSC): the Council’s August 2020 newsletter features learnings and stories from Filipino social scientists during life in lockdown
- Poland, Polish Academy of Sciences published a study presenting the current state of knowledge about the SARS-CoV-2 virus, COVID-19 disease and its medical, psychological, economic and social impacts. The Academy’s researchers are performing an advisory role for the Ministry of Science and Higher Education during the pandemic. Their COVID-19 Advisory Team has issued a publication and a number of statements which are successively translated into English language.
- Romania, Academia Româna maintains a constantly updated collection of scientific studies related to COVID-19, undertaken by researchers of the Romanian Academy.
- Senegal, Senegal Academy of Science and Technology (ANSTS) published a communiqué regarding the pandemic
- Social Science Research Council: In response to the coronavirus crisis, the SSRC has launched a Virtual Research Center on COVID-19, a hub for new research, writing, and initiatives relating to the current pandemic. Explore resources including rapid research grants and fellowships, a COVID-19 essay forum, a digital time capsule for future researchers of the virus, and more.
- South Africa, National Research Foundation will administer a rapid research fund in partnership with the United Kingdom Research and Innovation (UKRI), the International Development Research Centre (IDRC), and the Department of Science and Innovation (DSI).
- Spain, Ministry for Science and Innovation has launched a Science and Innovation portal and resource centre on COVID-19 (in Spanish).
- Sweden, The Royal Swedish Academy of Science has appointed an expert group to take stock of the state of knowledge about the Sars-CoV-2 virus, COVID-19 disease and its spread in society. The task is to shed light on the lessons that can be learned from the pandemic that has swept across the country and the world, and if possible provide advice for future pandemics.
- Switzerland, Swiss Academies of Arts and Sciences is contributing to the work of the Swiss National COVID-19 Science Task Force in advising national authorities. Read more.
- Transnational Institute has developed a series of webinars, and a COVID-19 portal with an emphasis on the Global South: click here.
- Thailand, National Research Council of Thailand is conducting modelling exercises with the Healthy Ministry to forecast possible scenarios and outcomes as the outbreak evolves in Thailand.
- Turkey, Bilim Akademisi have issued statements regarding COVID-19 and the the vital importance of accurate information and scientific research in the fight against the pandemic.
- Turkey, Turkish Academy of Sciences (TÜBA) has published an assessment report on the COVID-19 Global Outbreak and a book on reflections of the pandemic in the future of the World
- Ukraine, National Academy of Sciences launched an interactive web-based dashboard to track and forecast COVID-19 cases in Ukraine.
- United Kingdom, Economic and Social Research Council (ESRC/UKRI) has created a Coronoavirus Hub featuring the latest updates on the vital COVID-19 work of the UK Research and Innovation (UKRI)
- United Kingdom, The Royal Society has made all research findings and data relevant to the COVID-19 pandemic open access and has set up a resource centre. Fellows of the Royal Society and people they fund are contributing to the UK and global effort to tackle COVID-19. The report SARS-CoV-2 vaccine development & implementation; scenarios, options, key decisions highlights the challenges involved in developing a vaccine for COVID-19. Read more about why the UK response to the pandemic was hampered by poor data practices. Watch Prof David Spiegelhalter in his Michael Faraday 2020 Prize Lecture “Communicating statistics in the time of COVID-19“. Read the report “Vaccine hesitancy threatens to undermine pandemic response” by the British Academy and the Royal Society for the Science in Emergencies Tasking: COVID-19.
- United Kingdom, The British Academy has published a briefing on the COVID-19 Crisis: Lessons for Recovery and has established the Shape the Future programme to explore how to create a positive post-pandemic future for people, the economy and the environment. Together with the Royal Society, the Academy has published a rapid review on face mask wearing and a report on COVID-19 vaccine deployment. In 2021, the Academy also published The COVID Decade: understanding the long-term societal impacts of COVID-19 and Shaping the COVID Decade: addressing the long-term societal impacts of COVID-19.
- United States, National Academy of Sciences has set up a resource page related to COVID-19 that includes consensus studies and workshop proceedings on the subject of pandemic infectious disease. They have made all COVID-19 and coronavirus-related news, commentary, research and data freely available to the public. Together with the National Science Foundation they formed a Societal Experts Action Network (SEAN) to connect social and behavioral science researchers with decision-makers who are leading the response to COVID-19, and released COVID-19 Data Guide for Decision-Makers. Also, NAS and NAM Presidents, alarmed by political interference in science amid pandemic, issued a statement. The NASEM compiled resources to explore the human rights dimensions of the pandemic. The National Academy of Engineering has developed an initiative to crowdsource engineering solutions for coronavirus. The NAS published the report “Impact of COVID-19 on the Careers of Women in Academic Sciences, Engineering, and Medicine” in 2021.
Full Members (Category 1)
- International Arctic Social Sciences Association (IASSA) expresses its support to researchers, students and Arctic community members, and recommends pandemic response principles. IASSA is also leading on these COVID-19 projects.
- International Astronomical Union (IAU): IAU Officers have adopted a strategic plan in light of the circumstances with specific recommendations to those in the astronomical community. IAU has also created a platform gathering resources to “keeping busy at home”. All IAU initiatives related to COVID-19 can be found here.
- International Sociological Association (ISA) gathers critical analyses and perspectives from different standpoints to foster dialogue among the community of sociologists and to point to their contributions in dealing with the challenges raised by the COVID-19 pandemic and the way it paves the way for alternative futures that may come out of it.
- International Union of Crystallography (IUCr) is curating news about how crystallographers worldwide are contributing to efforts to tackle COVID-19. Find out more on their homepage (“Crystallographers unite to tackle coronavirus”). Their Newsletter No. 2, volume 28 features a lot of COVID-19 related content.
- International Union of Basic and Clinical Pharmacology (IUPHAR): The IUPHAR/BPS Guide to Pharmacology provides condensed information about pharmacological targets of SARS-CoV-2 and as well as information on useful publications and other resources on COVID-19 pandemic.
- International Union of Biological Sciences (IUBS)has released a statement reiterating its commitment to facilitate collaborations between biologists from across the world, free access to scientific information and democratisation of knowledge; it also set up an interdisciplinary working group on zoonotic diseases.
- International Union for Immunological Studies (IUIS) is launching a webinar series “Coronavirus Update IUIS – Frontiers in Immunology” in response to the urgent need for information in this area.
- International Union for Physical and Engineering Sciences in Medicine (IUPESM) has set up a resource centre for its members.
- International Union for the Scientific Study of Population (IUSSP) has announced the Wittgenstein Centre Conference to be held from 30th November – 1st December 2020 on the Demographic Aspects of the COVID-19 Pandemic and its Consequences.
- International Union of Soil Sciences (IUSS) has published its quarterly viewpoint by Past President, Rattan Lal, reminding the international community about the “One Health” concept: the health of soil, plants, animals, people and environment. There is also an article on “Soil Science Beyond COVID-19“, published in the Journal of Soil Science and Water Conservation.
- International Union of Food Science and Technology (IUFoST) has published a Scientific Round-table Information Release on COVID-19 Crisis: Implications for Food Systems in Developing Economies and the Interim Report 2020.
- International Union of Psychological Science (IUPsyS) has issued its monthly bulletin, covering the IUPsyS’ updates and the latest news from international bodies in relation to the global pandemic.
- International Union for History and Philosophy of Science and Technology (IUHPST): “En Temps de Covid-19” (“In Times of Covid-19) is an initiative of the Societat Catalana d’Història de la Ciència i de la Tècnica, a member of IUHPST. It gathers 50 interviews ( in Catalan, Spanish, French, English and Portuguese) in which historians, anthropologists and sociologists reflect on the pandemic and the events associated with it. If you want to collaborate, you can write to us and present your proposal to: schct.entempsdecovid19@gmail.com.
- World Association for Public Opinion Research (WAPOR) compiled a list of COVID-19 public opinion reports from around the world
ISC Affiliated Bodies
CODATA and World Data System
CODATA, World Data System, the Research Data Alliance and Global Open FAIR have joined forces to optimize the research data ecosystem, launching a COVID-19 appeal as their first joint action. Read the full statement here.
The Data Together organizations will also jointly work on the following activities and invite all to contribute:
- Data Together–GO FAIR Virus Outbreak Data Network (VODAN)
- The Data Together–RDA COVID-19 Working Group
- CODATA ‘Making Data Work for Cross-Domain Grand Challenges’ for launch in 2021
COSPAR – Committee on Space Research
Conversations in Confinement – During the pandemic, COSPAR will be inviting COSPAR Associates and the broader constituency to comment and provide their thoughts on how COSPAR can best fulfill its mission after the crisis is over, and how the space research community should use lessons learned from the crisis to help society meet future challenges such as climate change. Please send your comments to: cosparcom@cosparhq.cnes.fr
Future Earth
- Future Earth and the Grantham Institute for Climate Change and Environment, with the support of an international team of advisors have launched a rapid foresight survey to take the pulse of the global population at this unique moment, to help inform what will soon emerge as a global conversation on where we go from here?’ and to help shape recovery strategies when we begin to rebuild.
- Future Earth continues to continue to advance work under our three strategic pillars: (i) Facilitating Research and Innovation, (ii) Building the Field of transdisciplinary sustainability science, and (iii) Shaping the Narrative around global sustainability and is accepting contributions from the community for their Global Research Projects (GRP) and Knowledge-Action Networks (KAN). Click here.
GRIP – Global Research Programme on Inequality
- GRIP has started a mini-series of essays on “COVID-19 and global dimensions of inequality”. Click here.
INGSA – International Network for Government Science Advice
- INGSA has launched a website that includes articles and blogs on the role of evidence in the COVID response. It will also promote webinars and online meetings, and act as a resource database to further readings.
- INGSA has also launched a policy tracker and a respective preliminary report on, and will mobilize its network to help keep track of how policy interventions are being made by various national and sub-national governments across the world
- The INGSA Global Week of Dialogue will be held as an online conference from 14 – 18 September 2020 with the theme “Science Advice & COVID-19: What are we learning?”. INGSA is running the Global Week of Dialogue across time zones around the world to shed light on real-time lessons from the global pandemic that jurisdictions and the multi-lateral system can draw on to improve their potential for better outcomes in the immediate, medium and long term. The keynote by Dr Soumya Swaminathan will take place on 9 September 2020.
Initiatives from UN, intergovernmental and international science and research bodies
- United Nations. The UN Secretary General has launched a COVID-19 plan that could ‘defeat the virus and build a better world’.
- United Nations. The UN has a full resource centre for all its various organs.
- ASEAN states have made a statement regarding the region’s response.
- Global Research Council.The GRC is calling on its participating organisations and the global research community to collaborate in the fight against the virus and encourages openness in sharing research findings and data which will help ensure diagnostics, vaccines and prevention measures are developed rapidly for the benefit of every nation.
- International Development Institute Responding to Covid-19 – the social dynamics – a list of critical essays around the topic of development.
- InterAcademy Partnership The IAP Communiqué on the COVID-19 pandemic calls for collective action on the global scale to improve and accelerate the use of research and its outputs for the global public good. The IAP has also released a statement condemning the US decision to withhold funding to the WHO.
- TWAS, the World Academy of Sciences, has released a statement saying international collaboration in combating the pandemic is key, and mitigating the disease’s impacts depends on joint efforts inclusive of developing countries.
- The Islamic Development Bank (IsDB) and TWAS have joined efforts to sponsor a new grant designed to specifically address the COVID-19 pandemic. Click here.
- UNDESA United Nations Department for Economic and Social Affairs has released its May newsletter focusing on COVID-19
- UNDRR: The ISC has an MOU with the UNDRR. The UN agency for disaster risk reduction has a number of COVID-19 articles and lessons learned for rapid response. Click here.
- UNESCO has mobilized 122 countries to respond to the pandemic. Click here.
- UNESCO has set up a full COVID-19 response centre, that includes information on education during times of lockdown, fake news and misinformation and the importance of cultural activities during times of crisis. Click here.
- UN Habitat. The ISC has an MOU with UN Habitat. The UN agency works for a better urban future for all and has set up a COVID-19 key messages portal. Click here.
- The Global MediXchange has been established to facilitate online communication and collaboration across borders, as well as provide frontline medical teams around the world with the necessary communication channels to share practical experience about fighting the pandemic. They have produced a handbook and resource centre in many languages.
- UK Collaborative on Development Research (UKCDR) and GloPID-R have developed a live database of funded research projects on COVID-19 that will help funders and researchers identify gaps and opportunities and inform future research investments or coordination needs. Click here.
- Research Council of Norway has launched an emergency call for proposals: Collaborative and Knowledge-building Projects for the Fight Against Coronavirus Disease (COVID-19). Click here.
- Science Foundation Ireland (SFI) has developed a Five Point Plan which represents SFI’s contribution to the Irish Government’s National Action Plan in response to Covid-19. The plan outlines key activities where SFI believe we and the research community can make a positive impact. Click here.
- UK Collaborative on Development Research (UKCDR) seeks inputs on COVID-19 research needs to make funder research priorities relevant & applicable globally. Complete the survey by 18 May.
- The Organization for Women in Science for the Developing World (OWSD) has developed a resourse page “OWSD and COVID-19”.
- U.S. National Science Foundation (NSF) has created a dedicated website on COVID-19
- The French National Committee on Global Change [Comité National Français des Changements Globaux] has published a briefing note on global change research in the face of COVID-19 [La recherche sur les changements globaux à l’épreuve de la Covid-19]