Call for case studies of science in action for sustainable development | deadline: 20 April

The ISC leads, together with the World Federation of Engineering Organizations (WFEO), the UN Scientific and Technological Community Major Group (STC MG) for the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), with a mission to promote science and to strengthen the scientific basis of decision-making and governance for sustainable development.

As part of our mandate, the STC MG compiles and presents every year a position paper to the High-level Political Forum on Sustainable Development (HLPF), the UN’s central platform for follow-up and review of the SDGs. The position paper is included in the official documentation of the HLPF and is primarily directed toward UN Member States and their Permanent Missions.

To see what our input to the HLPF looks like, check out our position paper for the 2024 HLPF.

The 2025 HLPF, themed “Advancing sustainable, inclusive, science- and evidence-based solutions for the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development and its Sustainable Development Goals for leaving no one behind,” will take place from Monday, 14 July, to Wednesday, 23 July 2025. It will conduct in-depth reviews of SDG 3 (health and well-being), SDG 5 (gender equality), SDG 8 (economic growth and decent work), SDG 14 (ocean conservation and sustainable use), and SDG 17 (partnerships for sustainable development).

Aligned with the focus of the 2025 HLPF, the position paper will provide policy-relevant, evidence-based insights to accelerate SDG progress. It will include concise and impactful science-based key messages on SDG implementation, highlighting transformation pathways and science-driven strategies.

To achieve this, we are seeking case studies that showcase science in action – demonstrating how science has shaped decision-making and informed tangible solutions for sustainable development. We are particularly looking for case studies that align with our key themes for the Forum by illustrating:

1. The importance of international scientific cooperation in addressing global challenges, highlighting collaborations that have advanced shared solutions and strengthened global networks.
2. Science as a tool for cooperation and peace-building, demonstrating how scientific initiatives have informed governance of global commons like the ocean, bridged gaps between nations, and fostered long-term collaboration.
3. Harnessing emerging technologies for sustainable development, showcasing how science has guided their responsible and effective use, fostered innovation, and supported global efforts to address sustainability challenges.
4. Science as a driver of SDG implementation, providing examples of how scientific research and evidence have strengthened national STI systems, shaped policy commitments, and accelerated progress on the SDGs.
5. Multistakeholder and transdisciplinary collaboration to advance integrated SDG implementation, demonstrating how diverse expertise and partnerships have contributed to context-specific sustainability solutions.
6. Building capacity and fostering diverse leadership in science, including initiatives that support gender equality, train the next generation of scientists, and improve science education, ultimately strengthening the quality and impact of science.
7. Public engagement and science literacy as foundations for trust in science, featuring successful citizen science initiatives, public outreach campaigns, and science communication efforts that have enhanced societal engagement with science.

For more background information and details, the full set of key messages can be found here.

Your contributions will be essential in ensuring the position paper reflects the collective voice of the scientific and technological community at the 2025 HLPF. All selected contributors will receive due acknowledgment.

Please submit your contributions using the following form as soon as possible but no later than 20 April 2025.

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1. Please select at least one of the following key themes that is most relevant to your case study. If your case study is relevant to multiple themes, please select several: *

• 1. The importance of international scientific cooperation in addressing global challenges
• 2. Science as a tool for cooperation and peacebuilding
• 3. Harnessing emerging technologies for sustainable development
• 4. Science as a driver of SDG implementation
• 5. Multistakeholder and transdisciplinary collaboration to advance integrated SDG implementation
• 6. Building capacity and fostering diverse leadership in science
• 7. Public engagement and science literacy as foundations for trust in science

2. Please provide one ‘science in action’ case study

Case studies should showcase the successful applications of science in shaping decision-making and informing action to support SDG implementation within specific contexts. Provide a title and a short overview of the case study, including the context and issue, key outcomes, science-based actions, as well as relevance to SDG implementation.

Title of the case study (20 words max) *

Geographical scope of the case study: *

Challenge and the role of science: Describe the context and the issue addressed, including SDGs addressed and the role of science in addressing the issue (300 words) *

Actions and impacts: Briefly describe the science-based actions implemented and key outcomes (300 words) *

Briefly summarize the main points of your case study and provide any additional details as well as supporting evidence. (300 words) *

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Contact

If you have any questions, please contact:

James Waddell

James Waddell

Science Officer, Political Affairs Liaison

International Science Council

James Waddell

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