Global science institutions have a crucial role in pushing the world to accelerate work on the UN’s sustainable development goals, says Irina Bokova, ISC Patron and Co-Chair of the Council’s Global Commission on Science Missions for Sustainability.
“The sustainable development agenda is at a crossroads,” Bokova says. “There is pushback, and progress is uneven. It’s still working in silos. It’s still not taking the transformational direction that we need, in light of the different crises in the world,” she says, noting UN Secretary General Antonio Gutierrez’s concerns that global progress on the goals is stalling.
“We need actionable knowledge that is oriented towards implementing the different goals, and achieving what is in the SDG agenda: leave no one behind,” she says.
Getting there will require a transdisciplinary approach, merging work from experts on climate change, anthropology, sociology, agriculture and other fields, says Alan Bernstein, a member of the ISC’s Committee for Science Planning and president emeritus of the Canadian Institute for Advanced Research.
To do that, the ISC’s Commission on Science Missions is proposing the creation of a network of regional sustainability hubs, which would coordinate research and connect decision makers and people affected by issues with scientists doing relevant work.
“We need to start working seriously towards developing those sustainable development goals, because of the financial, human and planetary cost of not doing so. The return on investment, if this sort of model works, would be enormous,” Bernstein says.
The ISC also announced the launch of the Centre for Science Futures, a think tank which aims to provide advice on science for policy and the future of the scientific ecosystem. “This initiative reflects the ISC’s commitment to optimizing its services for the benefit of its members, not just for the next few years, but for the decades to come,” says ISC President Peter Gluckman.
Listening to the next generation
Young scientists need to be not just in the room, but in decision-making roles where they can make policy suggestions and lasting changes, says Priscilla Kolibea Mante, a neuropharmacologist and executive committee co-chair of the Ghana Young Academy.
“There is a need for a paradigm shift in international science – one that embraces the unique perspectives and values of the next generation of scientists,” she explains. “We need to put young scientists where their voices are actually making a difference.”
Real, two-way communication between young scientists and institutions, and seeing that feedback influence real, measurable action is crucial, she says.
“(Young scientists) look at things very differently. They are very used to interconnectedness,” she says. “Everything is fast; everything is available, and they are used to having their voices heard. Inclusivity is a major thing for young researchers.”
Threats to science in an “Era of polycrises”
“Freedom and responsibility of research and trust in science are important in times of crisis to sustain democracies, for peace, for conciliation,” says Anne Husebekk, ISC Vice President Freedom and Responsibility in Science.
But ISC research shows that scientists – and scientific progress overall – are increasingly threatened around the world, says Vivi Stavrou, Executive Secretary of the ISC’s Committee on Freedom and Responsibility in Science.
“We’re living in an era of polycrises – crises of different types, happening simultaneously, building on each other,” Stavrou says.
“The science sector is used to working in crises – but what we are used to doing is studying the crises. We are not used to looking at ourselves,” she says. “How do we rebuild when our universities are destroyed? How do we react when our online data is hacked?”
The ISC’s Committee on Freedom and Responsibility in Science is currently tracking 21 cases of broad restrictions on scientific work, and another 10 cases where individual scientists are directly threatened.
The most common cases are threats to the freedom of expression and movement of individual scientists, she says – often those whose work is perceived as a threat to entrenched interests, and primarily those working on health and climate change.
“Scientists are subjected to ongoing legal harassment, toxic abuse via social media, threatened with physical violence and jail, and in some instances, killed,” she says.
The ISC meeting continues this week, with upcoming sessions focusing on future growth for the ISC and its affiliates and future challenges and opportunities for the global science community.
Related Items
Pacific Islands Academy of Sciences and Humanities: A Pivotal Step Towards a Resilient Future
01.03.2024
President of the International Science Council, Sir Peter Gluckman, addresses EU Ministers
15.02.2024
The International Science Council appoints 100 new Fellows to help advance its vision of science as a global public good
19.12.2023
Global Science Leaders ISC and IAP Issue Joint Statement on Protecting the Autonomy of National Academies of Science
15.12.2023
For science-based decision-making on the climate emergency: 10 new insights in climate science
05.12.2023
Podcast with Qiufan Chen: Science Fiction and the Future of Science: Values and Senses in Artificial Intelligence
04.12.2023
Scientific communication: Join the Ethnografilm festival for a filmmaking experience in Paris
22.11.2023
New ISC policy brief: A call for a formal scientific voice in the global fight against plastic pollution
16.11.2023
Converging and interdependent crises are amplifying the impacts of one another with often devastating consequences
16.11.2023
FAO and the International Science Council join forces to strengthen science-policy interfaces for agrifood systems
14.11.2023
Policy Brief: Creating a Strong Interface between Science, Policy and Society to Tackle Global Plastic Pollution
09.11.2023
Cultivating a proactive approach to crises: first meeting of the UNEP/ISC foresight expert panel
26.09.2023
"The making of the Golden Record of our century": daring to pursue mission-oriented science
19.09.2023
To achieve sustainable development, the world needs to mobilize around a big science approach once more
13.09.2023
Proclamation of the International Decade of Sciences for Sustainable Development by the United Nations General Assembly
29.08.2023
Indigenous Environmental Defenders are critical for nature and for science, but face serious risk
09.08.2023
One year of war in Ukraine: exploring the impact on the science sector and supporting initiatives
04.08.2023
Global science needs a new approach to tackle climate change and complex sustainability question
27.07.2023
Call for nominations: The ISC is seeking Members for the Advisory Council of the Regional Focal Point for Asia and the Pacific
24.07.2023
Ambitious global $1 billion per year ‘mission science’ model needed to win on sustainable development in time, warn experts
12.07.2023
Charting a New Course: Science Day to Pioneer Evidence-Based Strategies for SDG Acceleration at the HLPF 2023
11.07.2023
A Model for Implementing Mission Science for Sustainability: proposed by the Technical Advisory Group to the Global Commission on Science Missions for Sustainability
11.07.2023
Attacks on Environmental Scientists: Implications for the Free and Responsible Practice of Science
06.07.2023
Frontiers Planet Prize, second edition: celebrating the world’s most innovative sustainability scientists by 1 November
08.06.2023
Protecting the ocean: 5 essential reads on invasive species, overfishing and other threats to sea life
08.06.2023
Trust in Science: Episode 6 of the ISC Podcast Series on Freedom and Responsibility in Science in the 21st Century
05.06.2023
Emerging Technologies: Episode 5 of the ISC Podcast Series on Freedom and Responsibility in Science in the 21st Century
29.05.2023
The Role of the State: Episode 4 of the ISC Podcast Series on Freedom and Responsibility in Science in the 21st Century
22.05.2023
Nurturing a Sustainable Future: Collaboration, Empowerment, Trust, and Resilience in Science at the ISC Mid-term Members Meeting
16.05.2023
From Antarctica to Space: updates from Affiliated Bodies on Day 3 of ISC Mid-term meeting
15.05.2023
Science Communication: Episode 3 of the ISC Podcast Series on Freedom and Responsibility in Science in the 21st Century
15.05.2023
Scientific autonomy: Episode 2 of the ISC Podcast Series on Freedom and Responsibility in Science in the 21st Century
08.05.2023
ISC's nomination track ensures transdisciplinary and global representation in UNEP's Scientific Advisory Group for GEO-7 Assessment
14.04.2023
Launch of the LIRA 2030 Africa reports highlighting key achievements and lessons learned from advancing transdisciplinary science in Africa
03.04.2023
LIRA 2030 Africa: Learning from Practising Transdisciplinary Research for Sustainable Development in African Cities
03.04.2023
ISC Regional Focal Point for Latin America and the Caribbean gathers its Liaison Committee for the first in-person meeting
01.04.2023
UN International Day of Solidarity with Detained and Missing Staff Members – CFRS and SAR call for release of Niloufar Bayani
25.03.2023
UN 2023 Water Conference carries new engagements towards realizing SDG6 and future avenues for a decade of action
23.03.2023
IPCC report: the world must cut emissions and urgently adapt to the new climate realities
21.03.2023
Delivering actionable and science-based water solutions: new ISC policy brief launched ahead of the 2023 UN Water Conference
15.03.2023
Second conference on the war in Ukraine: exploring the impact on the science sector and supporting initiatives
14.03.2023
ISC-BBC StoryWorks partnership ends on a high note, delivering some of the highest engagement for the BBC
13.03.2023
Achieving gender equality in Science, Technology and Engineering and Mathematics (STEM)– when will we get there?
08.03.2023
One year on: Statements, offers of assistance and resources on the current war in Ukraine
24.02.2023
Distinguished lecture series - From fire to space - Basic sciences lead and shape our paths toward sustainable development
13.02.2023
In wake of ‘natural’ disasters, not reducing biodiversity loss is a big missed opportunity
01.02.2023
Concern for science and research in Afghanistan following authorities' ban on women from higher education
24.01.2023
International Science Council deplores the exclusion of women from university education in Afghanistan and urges the Afghan authorities to reverse their decision
31.12.2022
Concern over ongoing legal proceedings against the Greek economist and statistician Andreas Georgiou
19.12.2022
The ISC and UNEP to cooperate on advancing the use of science in environmental policy and decision-making
16.12.2022
Science in Times of Crisis Episode 3 - The Fallout of Conflict: The Arctic and Outer Space
15.12.2022
New report reveals professional challenges, preferences and plans of Ukrainian researchers abroad
12.12.2022
Science in Times of Crisis Episode 2 - The Current Clash: Science and the National Interest.
08.12.2022
The state of HIV/AIDS research in Africa: An interview with Dr. Joyce Nyoni for World AIDS Day
01.12.2022
There are 8 years left to meet the UN Sustainable Development Goals, but is it enough time?
18.11.2022
A new ISC regional presence in the Asia-Pacific Region to be established at the Australian Academy of Science
31.10.2022
ISC and partners release report on the Ukraine Crisis, highlighting seven key recommendations for the international community to better support science systems affected by conflict
31.08.2022
New cooperation initiatives from the ISC's Latin America and Caribbean Regional Focal Point
19.08.2022
International Youth Day: An invitation for eligible Young Academies and Associations to join the International Science Council
12.08.2022
Funding for resilience: Five key objectives to protect vulnerable groups through Environmental, Social, and Governance (ESG) Investing
04.08.2022
WorldFAIR: Global cooperation on FAIR data policy and practice – Kick-Off Meeting introduces major new initiative to advance implementation of the FAIR data principles
01.07.2022
An invitation for eligible Young Academies and Associations to join the International Science Council as Affiliated Members
17.06.2022
An invitation for eligible Young Academies and Associations to join the International Science Council as Affiliated Members
09.05.2022
New Technical Advisory Group to support the Global Commission on Science Missions for Sustainability
07.04.2022
Joint letter to ISC Members from ISC President, Peter Gluckman, and Acting CEO, Mathieu Denis
06.04.2022
Combating predatory journals and conferences through systemic change in scientific publishing
24.03.2022
Women Leading on Equitable and Inclusive Solutions to address the Climate Emergency: Webinar
08.03.2022
Call for nominations: Members for the Liaison Committee of the ISC Regional Focal Point for the Latin American and Caribbean Region
08.02.2022
A contemporary perspective on the free and responsible practice of science in the 21st century
10.12.2021
The International Year of Basic Sciences for Sustainable Development proclaimed by the United Nations General Assembly for 2022
03.12.2021
World Philosophy Day: Addressing science scepticism requires a stronger understanding of the philosophy of science
18.11.2021
Members of International Science Council commit to work for change in scientific publishing, and endorse eight principles for reform
25.10.2021
Daya Reddy highlights importance of core values of science at close of 2nd ISC General Assembly
15.10.2021
Science in Exile podcast: Alfred Babo shares his story of being an at-risk and refugee social scientist
14.10.2021
Ten outstanding individual scientists and organizations celebrated in first ever ISC Awards
13.10.2021
Strengthening the resilience of our global food system while advancing its transformation
23.09.2021
A new social contract must include genuine participation and partnership of Indigenous peoples in decision-making about research
09.08.2021
Working scientist podcast: Democratizing knowledge and access to tools for sustainable development
11.03.2021
Introducing a new Member of the ISC: Institute for Global Environmental Strategies (IGES)
12.02.2021
Online event series for ISC Members and ISC affiliated bodies: Knowledge Sharing Sessions
16.12.2020
The Intergovernmental Oceanographic Commission launches the Global Ocean Science Report 2020
14.12.2020
International Commission on the Clinical Use of Human Germline Genome Editing releases report
04.12.2020
Kyoto Landslide Commitment launched to increase understanding on how to reduce landslide risk
02.12.2020
Planned execution of disaster medicine scholar Ahmadreza Djalali must be halted immediately
01.12.2020
What are your latest findings and strategies to address the COVID-19 crisis, including for vaccine deployment?
23.11.2020
Global Young Academy promote sustainable solutions to problems within global health and higher education
28.10.2020
Transformation to Sustainability: Integrating Indigenous and Western knowledge systems for water management and governance
20.10.2020
The future of scientific publishing under the spotlight for ISC member organizations in Europe
11.09.2020
Lessons from existing disaster risk and recovery research should inform equitable and sustainable pathways out of the pandemic
13.08.2020
Small Island Developing States (SIDS) Liaison Committee appointed to strengthen links with the SIDS scientific community
15.07.2020
The triumphs and trials of transdisciplinary research: reflections on the un-disciplining of disciplines
28.05.2019
ISC showcases academic freedom and inter- and transdisciplinary research at Sida Science Days
20.05.2019
The United Nations proclaims the International Year of the Periodic Table of Chemical Elements
10.01.2018
Advisory note: Responsibilities for Preventing, Avoiding, and Mitigating Harm to Researchers Undertaking Fieldwork in Risky Settings
28.09.2017
SDG Interactions, gender, science-policy interface: ICSU at the High Level Political Forum
17.07.2017
First UN Oceans conference highlights urgency to address marine pollution, warming and over-fishing
15.06.2017
New report from scientific experts provides a unique guide to translate Sustainable Development Goals into reality
12.05.2017
Call for pre-proposals: Advancing the implementation of Sustainable Development Goal 11 on cities in Africa
27.02.2017
International Council for Science issues an advisory note on the issue of gender-based harassment in the practice of science
25.11.2016
GSDR report launches in France – High level event and workshop co-organized by ICSU, UNDESA, IDDRI and IRD
28.10.2016
Advisory Note: Mobility and Field Research in the Sciences: Gender Equality and Prevention of Harassment
14.04.2016
Global Sustainable Development Goals need clearer, more measurable targets, according to new report from science experts
13.02.2015
CFRS supports scientists whose human rights are under threat as a result of scientific activity
10.12.2014
Call for nominations: ICSU Committee on Freedom and Responsibility in the conduct of Science
14.10.2014
Work Plan for the Committee on Freedom and Responsibility in the conduct of Science (CFRS) 2014-2017
14.10.2014
Nature publishes paper on SDGs by team of authors from ICSU, IGBP and other organisations
21.03.2013
Organisation of international scientific meetings: recommendations from ICSU policy committee
11.01.2013
The International Council for Science pledges support for scientists in the L’Aquila case
11.01.2013
Global scientific community affirms its shared responsibilities for the integrity of science and its role in society
23.10.2008
Statement: Publication practices and indices and the role of peer review in research assessment
14.07.2008