How to become a Member - International Science Council

Join an ever-increasing global membership that helps strengthen international science for the benefit of society, building the capacity to bring together and integrate scientific excellence and science-policy expertise from all fields of science worldwide. By becoming a Member of the ISC, your institution will become part of the global voice for science.

Value of ISC membership

Benefit from voting (as a full Member) and nominating rights as well as access to international opportunities to advance your scientific priorities and interests, including participation in important international scientific conversations and activities organized in the framework of the United Nations and the World Economic Forum among others. Explore opportunities to collaborate with other Members on issues of common interest and obtain access to information on international scientific developments, including funding opportunities and support for the exchange of best practices. Strengthen national and international awareness of the disciplinary or national scientific communities relevant to your organization and amplify your messages through the ISC channels.

More information on the value and benefits of ISC membership.

Membership categories

Members adhere to the ISC as institutions in the following categories:

Category 1: International scientific organizations devoted to the practice and promotion of scientific disciplines or areas of science, being institutions that draw membership from several countries within a region or from countries across at least two regions, and whose members are held together by a formal agreement, constitution or similar instrument.

Category 2: Academies of sciences, research councils or analogous not-for-profit scientific bodies representing a broad spectrum of scientific fields or disciplines in a country, region or territory.

Category 3: Other national, regional or global organizations which are primarily composed of active scientists. This shall include young scientist organizations that have the characteristics of Category 1 or 2 Members.

Category 4: Other bodies active in fields related to those of the Council which may be granted observer status. These are primarily public or international organizations associated with the promotion of science, science communication, science education, science diplomacy or the science–policy interface, with which the Governing Board considers it in the interests of the Council to be able to engage directly.

The ISC does not offer individual membership. Universities are geberally not eligible to apply for membership. If your institution does not meet the eligibility criteria, please consider engaging in ISC activities through membership with one of our Members.

When adhering to the ISC community, Members commit to supporting ISC values, to complying with the ISC Statutes and Rules of Procedure and to adhering to the ISC’s vision of science as a global public good as well as its mission to provide a powerful and credible global voice for science. Members are invited to participate in events and activities of the community, be represented at the ISC General Assembly, and to engage with the ISC science programmes and affiliated bodies.

Membership dues

Membership to the ISC is subject to an annual membership fee within a scale determined by the General Assembly. Currently, dues for Members in Category 1 are determined by the income from the organization’s own membership fees while dues for Members in Category 2 are based on the national GDP. Dues for Members in Category 3 currently amount to a fixed fee of € 552 p.a. in 2024. Members in Category 4 do not pay fees.

Apply for ISC membership

Is you organization interested in joining the ISC membership and in adding your voice to the global scientific debates? We look forward tor receiving your organization’s application. Please get in touch should you have any questions regarding ISC membership.