Prospective ISC Fellows will be established social and natural scientists, engineers, communicators and thought-leaders who have made impactful contributions to science for society and/or evidence-informed policymaking at global and/or regional level. They will come from different countries and regions, disciplines, sectors and career stages; having been nominated by ISC Fellows, Members, Affiliated Bodies, Governing Board members, sister networks and key stakeholders.  

Nominations will need to satisfy three broad criteria: (i) relevant expertise, (ii) a track record of contributing to science policy/science for society, and (iii) global or regional or societal influence. They should have the capacity to add value to the ISC’s mission and, in accepting any offer of a Fellowship, confirm their commitment to assist the ISC, when practicable.  

Membership of the Fellowship should be inclusive, with no less than 40% representation of either gender or of the Global North or South. 

ISC Fellows serve as experts and advisers for the ISC’s governance, scientific initiatives and partnerships, and as ambassadors and advocates for science for the global good. They can help amplify the global voice of science in multiple ways, for example by: 

• participating in ISC projects, sitting on advisory committees and working groups;  
• promoting ISC’s profile, activities and reports in the media and policy sphere;  
• developing key relationships and gaining access to strategically important individuals and organizations in multiple sectors;  

• supporting ISC regional focal points and national members in their work;  
• assisting the ISC in gaining access to resources (intellectual and financial);  
• facilitating the engagement of early career and next generation scientists; 
• contributing to foresight and futures thinking; 
• advising on the recruitment of new ISC Members. 

Nominations may be made by two categories of individual: 

Group A 

• Existing ISC Fellows (excluding members of the Fellowship Foundation Council)
• Heads of ISC Members (including presidents and executive directors or their equivalents)
• Heads of ISC Affiliated Bodies (including presidents and executive directors or their equivalents)

Nominations from Group A must be supported by two signatories (the primary nominator plus a supporter). The signatories must come from different ISC Members or Affiliated Bodies or be Fellows who are not members of the same ISC Member or Affiliated Body.  

Group B 

• Individual members of the Governing Board of the ISC  
• President of the World Federation of Engineering Organizations (WFEO) 
• President/Co-Chairs of the InterAcademy Partnership (IAP) 
• Co-Chairs of the Global Young Academy (GYA)
• President of the International Council of Philosophy and Human Sciences 
• President of The World Academy of Science (TWAS) 
• President of Organization for Women in Science for the Developing World (OWSD) 
• Assistant Director-General for Social and Human Sciences of UNESCO 
• Assistant Director-General for Natural Sciences of UNESCO

Nominations from Group B need only one nominator and shall be considered if the nomination is supported by three vice-presidents of the ISC Governing Board. 

Nominations will remain valid for three years, so nominations made in 2022 do not need to be resubmitted. 

Nominations are encouraged for those who are providing exemplary service to science for the global good, with the following categories of individual being especially welcome: 

• 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.

Nominators are encouraged to look within and beyond their respective membership, perhaps inspired by other quality-assured sources, such as: 

• ISC award holders and alumni 
• The World Economic Forum’s Forum of Young Global Leaders alumni and Young Scientists community 
• The Queen Elizabeth Prize for Engineering alumni (other examples here) 
• The World Conference of Science Journalists, AAAS-Kavli Foundation science journalism award-holders 
• The International Network of Government Science Advice (INGSA) and its Knowledge Associates and alumni.  

Nominations must be submitted on a nomination form below, with the following elements: 

• The name and relevant details of the nominator(s) and the nominee. 
• For nominators in Group A, affirmation by the individual submitting the nomination that the other named nominator supports the nomination.  
• A succinct overview statement by the nominator summarizing the basis for the nomination and how they can contribute to the ISC mission (up to 100 words) [please write in an impersonal manner, as this text may be used on the ISC website].  
• A longer justification, in up to 400 words, for the nomination, that provides examples to support the 100-word statement; highlighting the nominee’s achievements and wider contributions to science through leadership, organization, scholarship or communication. 
• The nominee’s Curriculum Vitae:
• Up to two pages, focusing on the contributions of the candidate which form the basis of the nomination 
• Up to one additional page for appropriate supplementary evidence substantiating the nomination (weblinks can be given).
• Declaration of Understanding signed by the nominee, confirming the nominee’s intention to accept the fellowship if offered and their understanding that the ISC will hold the information submitted for the duration of their candidature and if successful, the fellowship (see also ‘Data protection’ below).