In June 2022, the International Science Council announced the creation of the ISC Fellowship and the appointment of 66 Foundation Fellows. Later the same year, it appointed a further 57 Fellows and three Honorary Fellows, bringing the present number to 126 in total. Subsequent annual calls will build the Fellowship to an anticipated 600 active Fellows.
The Fellows include eminent scientists, engineers and thought-leaders from the science-policy sphere who have made remarkable contributions to furthering understanding of and engagement with science. As scientific experts and as knowledge brokers, they uphold the ISC’s vision of science as a global public good, of knowledge that is shared openly and freely to all who wish to scrutinize it and to use it to further understanding.
In launching the ISC Fellowship, Peter Gluckman, ISC President said:
“We want to clearly recognize those scientists who have and continue to contribute to the global voice for science. In that way we expand our footprint and our voice. Science needs champions, not just those who receive high profile scientific prizes but champions who can give voice to the global voice for science”.
Peter Gluckman, President of the International Science Council.
The ISC Fellowship represents the highest honour that can be conferred on an individual by the Council. Under the leadership of the Fellowship Council, the Fellowship now seeks a new intake of individuals that will help plug important skills gaps by acting as experts or advisers for ISC projects, programmes and collaborations, and as ambassadors and advocates for the ISC’s work, connecting the Council with influential actors.
“The ISC Fellowship recognizes individuals who are contributing significantly to the global voice of science and to the vital importance of evidence-informed policymaking. Science needs stellar individuals who bring science to society, at any stage of their career, in any discipline, and from all parts of the world”.
Terrence Forrester, Chair, Fellowship Foundation Council
One such recent activity included preparing a joint statement on behalf of the United Nations Scientific and Technological Major Group, co-led by the ISC, for the 2023 High Level Political Forum on Sustainable Development. Chair of the Fellows’ Writing Group, Nebojsa Nakicenovic (“Naki”) who spoke on behalf of the Fellows during the HLPF said:
“Recognized for our commitment to bringing science to society, the ISC Fellows have rallied together to chart actionable and impactful paths for revitalizing the 2030 Agenda. We emphasize the urgent need to integrate SDGs and global frameworks, foster inclusivity and capacity-building, and strengthen the science-policy-society interface across all levels”.
Nebojsa Nakicenovic (“Naki”), ISC Fellow
Acting as an ambassador and expert for the ISC, Maria Ivanova, a member of the Fellowship Council and co-Chair of the ISC’s Technical Advisory Group for the Global Commission on Science Missions for Sustainability, recently advocated for the Global Commission’s report, Flipping the Science Model: a Roadmap to Science Missions for Sustainability, at the United Nations as part of an ISC delegation, laying out a challenge for academia and the way science is practiced:
“The call fundamentally changes the way we view science. The culture change comes both from the top and from the bottom. And so if you were to address the presidents of universities and the students of universities, what would you tell them so that we can get to the culture change that we need”?
Maria Ivanova, ISC Fellow
Like Nebojsa “Naki” Nakicenovic and Maria Ivanova, this year’s call continues to seek individuals who have an excellent track record in at least two of the following domains:
- Promoting science for the global good internationally
- Providing broad scientific leadership (in the international or regional arena)
- Promoting the global voice of science
- Developing and leading major scientific initiatives and structures
- Scientific accomplishment
Nominations are particularly sought from under-represented groups such as:
- early and mid-career researchers, especially those working in the Global South
- displaced and at-risk scholars
- researchers in engineering and other underrepresented disciplines in ISC
- scientists working in business and international development sectors
- non-scientists who have influence in the science-policy sphere e.g., science journalists, entrepreneurs in education and innovation, science media personalities.
The Council encourages Members, Affiliated Bodies and other eligible individuals and organizations to nominate their candidates for the 2023 intake by reading the brochure and completing the online form.
Nominate candidates for 2023
Nominations can be submitted by completing the online form by 15 October 2023.
Image: ISC Fellows at the Global Knowledge Dialogue in Cape Town, South Africa, 2022