The International Science Council at the World Science Forum

The 2022 World Science Forum explores the theme ‘Science for Social Justice’ and will consider how principles of social justice should be upheld by science and scientists. The International Science Council has taken part in the preparations for the event as a partner organization and ISC President Peter Gluckman served as a Member of the conference Steering Committee, and is delighted to have an ISC Delegation, including Board and staff Members, present in Cape Town for the event.

Meet the ISC Delegation (6-9 December) and incoming ISC CEO (6-7 December)

Salvatore Aricò

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In October 2022, the Governing Board of the International Science Council announced its decision to appoint Dr Salvatore Aricò as Chief Executive Officer of the ISC. Dr Aricò, who succeeds Dr Heide Hackmann as CEO, will take up his appointment in January 2023.

With 30 years of international scientific experience, including as Head of Ocean Science at the Intergovernmental Oceanographic Commission (IOC-UNESCO), Executive Secretary of the United Nations Secretary-General’s Scientific Advisory Board, Senior Visiting Research Fellow at the United Nations University and Chief of Programme at the Convention on Biological Diversity, Salvatore brings a unique set of science, policy and diplomacy skills, perspectives, and relationships that will lead the ISC into the future.

The International Science Council encourages World Science Forum participants to meet the Council’s new ISC CEO, Salvatore Aricò, in Cape Town, 6-7 December. Other colleagues from the ISC Delegation include the ISC President Peter Gluckman, Governing Board Members and staff.

How the ISC has been preparing for the event

Prior to the World Science Forum the Council is organizing its first event of the Global Knowledge Dialogue on Monday 5 December 2022. The Dialogue is planned as a series of events starting in Africa at the World Science Forum (WSF) and then being held in other regions throughout 2023. The ISC is proud to support its partnership with the World Science Forum with 35 bursaries awarded to African scientists and researchers to attend the WSF and ISC activities, including the Global Knowledge Dialogue.

For this first event of the Global Knowledge Dialogue, the ISC will explore three broad angles. Firstly, the Council in the context of its Members, consisting of a discussion between the ISC leadership, ISC Fellows, and ISC Members on the strategic and organizational objectives of the ISC for the next five years. Secondly, science in the global context, which will aim to promote diversity in science and science systems. Thirdly, the ISC in a regional context, consisting of a dialogue to co-design the global voice for science in Africa, specifically looking at key priority areas for strengthening science systems in Africa and the role of an ISC regional focal point.

Join our sessions at the World Science Forum

Wednesday 7 December

• 09:00 – 13:00: Side Event Opening session of the UNESCO Open Science Day, with Mathieu Denis, Acting CEO and Science Director, and Vivi Stavrou, Senior Science Officer.

Thursday 8 December

• 11:30 – 13:00: Thematic session III/f – Getting Women into Academies and Scientific Leadership: Mentoring Works with OWSD and ISC, with Alison Meston, Communications Director. Find out more here.

• 14:30 – 15:00: Keynote lecture IV and thematic session Science for diplomacy – How can science reboot multilateralism and global solidarity? With Peter Gluckman, and panel session with Governing Board member Motoko Kotani, and former CEO, Heide Hackmann. Find out more here.

• 17:00 – 18:30 Thematic session IV/c Intersections between social justice and the free and responsible conduct of science, with Governing Board member Françoise Baylis, former president, Daya Reddy, Saths Cooper, Quarraisha Abdool Karim, George Essegbey and Diye Dia. Find out more here.

Visit us any time at stand 321 in the Exhibition Hall

The ISC will be at Expo Stand 321 at the Cape Town International Convention Centre (CTICC). Come by and enter the competition to win a year’s subscription to a journal of your choice and pick up an ISC button. You’ll have a chance to meet with ISC President Peter Gluckman and new ISC CEO, Salvatore Aricò (6-7 December only).

You can also visit the ISC-Organization for Women in Science for the Developing World (OWSD) film festival at stand 203. Take a break and watch the Women in Science Film Festival and the ISC’s Unlocking Science series from our BBC StoryWorks partnership and Transformations to Sustainability films. The OWSD-ISC partnership has also supported exceptional scientists and researchers from Africa who lead OWSD country chapters to take part in the ISC’s Global Knowledge Dialogue, happening on 5 December (see above).

Image by Tobias Reich on Unsplash