In a world faced with complex global challenges, from climate change to pandemic response, the demand – and the potential – for science to provide actionable, solutions orientated knowledge that can inform transformative political and societal responses has never been greater.
Advancing human development within sustainable planetary boundaries is the most important challenge for humanity and for science. To deliver on the 2030 Agenda and its 17 Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), and the African Union’s Agenda 2063 goals, we must urgently intensify fair and equitable transformations to sustainability across all sectors – from science, policy, business, and civil society.
These are ambitious goals that require collaboration between governments, scientists, research funders, the private sector and civil society. In this decisive decade, science must be empowered to work towards a dignified future for humanity and the planet, in partnership with society.
This calls for courage, and it calls for commitment. This is why the International Science Council, through the voices of its Members, is embarking on an ambitious schedule of Global Knowledge Dialogues, starting with Africa in 2022 at the World Science Forum, and Latin America, Asia-Pacific, and Europe in 2023.
The time for courage and commitment is urgent and it is now. The Council aims to convene dialogues for its Members to future proof and strengthen the global voice of and for science.
Africa
Key Milestones
✅ Held on the margins of the World Science Forum, Cape Town, South Africa, the first in the series of Global Knowledge Dialogues attracted more than 100 participants.
✅ Eight themes were identified by participants that will form the Council’s priority areas for the region: Governance and Representative Bodies; Capacity Strengthening; Funding African knowledge systems; African identity; Education; Social Systems; and Gender equality in science systems.
✅An agreement has been signed between the ISC and Future Africa to s to co-design the ISC’s presence in Africa.
Next Steps
🟡 Future Africa and the ISC are developing an outreach and engagement plan to share with African ISC Members in the first quarter of 2023.
Latin America and the Caribbean
Next Steps
🟡 The Global Knowledge Dialogue for Latin America and the Caribbean will be held on the margins of the Sustainability Research & Innovation (SRI) Congress, the world’s largest transdisciplinary gathering for the global sustainability community.
🟡 The event will take place on Wednesday 28 June 2023 and will be organized in collaboration with the Colombian Academy of Exact, Physical and Natural Sciences as the Regional Focal Point for Latin America and the Caribbean.
Asia and the Pacific
Next Steps
🟡 The Academy of Sciences, Malaysia, will co-host the Global Knowledge Dialogue in collaboration with the Australian Academy of Science as the focal point for the region around 4-6 October 2023.
The Global Knowledge Dialogue series also includes a full mid-term meeting of all ISC members in Paris, France from 10-12 May 2023.
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