In 2024 the International Science Council celebrated the anniversaries of the Bulgarian Academy of Sciences, the International Political Science Association, the Australian Academy of Science, the Transnational Institute, the Marie Curie Alumni Association, and the International Council for Philosophy and Human Science.
We look forward to many future decades of international scientific collaboration, as we continue to expand shared knowledge and practice on the challenges facing society moving into a new decade.
The Bulgarian Academy of Sciences (BAS), founded in 1869, is the oldest institution in modern Bulgaria, embodying the nation’s aspirations for enlightenment and progress, and playing a pivotal role in its cultural and scientific development.
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The Bulgarian Academy of Sciences is the oldest institution in modern Bulgaria, established nine years before the restoration of Bulgarian statehood. It was founded on 29 September (11 October) 1869 in the Romanian town of Braila and began its activity as a Bulgarian Learned Society on 30 September (12 October) 1869, embodying the aspirations of many Bulgarian patriots to align their people with the developed European nations. This is one of the peak events during the Bulgarian Revival. The mission of the Bulgarian Learned Society, enshrined in its first statute of 1869, was to disseminate enlightenment among Bulgarians, to improve the Bulgarian language and to study Bulgarian history and life, to be a scientific center and to establish contacts with similar scientific centers abroad. The first Chairman of the Society was the university scientist historian Marin Drinov, and one of its founders, Vassil D. Stoyanov, was the records keeper. After the Liberation of Bulgaria (1878), the Bulgarian Learned Society moved its activities to Sofia and established itself as an authoritative scientific center with a rich social, cultural and political activity. The list of the founders and donors includes scholars, educators, writers, public and political figures, traders.
The Academicians and Corresponding Members of the Bulgarian Academy of Sciences form the Assembly of Academicians and Corresponding Members (AACM). Its Chairman is the President of BAS. The Assembly consists of up to 80 Academicians and 120 Corresponding Members distributed over seven divisions. Presently, the Assembly has 147 members: 56 Academicians and 89 Corresponding Members.
The Bulgarian Academy of Sciences is the biggest research organisation in Bulgaria and includes 44 research institutes and several specialized units, including four museums. The Academy has regional academic centres all over the country and also supports all regional museums in Bulgaria. At present, about 2500 scientists work at the Bulgarian Academy of Sciences, representing about 15% of the academic staff in Bulgaria. The Academy produces more than 35% of the scientific output of the country.
The Bulgarian Academy of Sciences is the leading scientific and expert center of Bulgaria.
The mission of the Bulgarian Academy of Sciences is to conduct scientific research in accordance with universal values, national traditions and interests, to participate in the development of world science, to study and to multiply the material and intangible cultural and historical heritage of the nation.
BAS conducts fundamental and applied research, training and also activities of national and international importance. It provides expertise to governmental and local authorities, non-governmental organisations, business, etc.
The Academy has a consistent policy for the development of science and innovation as a condition for the economic development in the country. It is an active participant in the European Research Area.
The academy organized a series of events – all scientific conferences organized by BAS units this year are dedicated to the Anniversary.
LUNAR Festival of Lights
The main building of the Bulgarian Academy of Sciences was included in the programme of the LUNAR Festival of Lights – 2024. The light installations conveyed different messages about topics such as the preservation of the planet, the power of personal choice, freedom of self-expression, and technological development. LUNAR is an example of creativity and innovation that BAS supports.
Fish Primer exhibition
In May, the exhibition “200 years since the publication of the Fish Primer” was opened. Known as the Fish Primer because of the illustrations of a whale and a dolphin on its last page, it is one of the most significant books of the Bulgarian Renaissance and the first Bulgarian textbook. The Primer was published in 1824 in the city of Brasov.
The publication was a children encyclopedia that provided basic knowledge of the Bulgarian language, physics and arithmetic, and included prayers, moral lessons, good advice, fables and 12 illustrations of animals.
In September a delegation from BAS will visit Romania. A round table dedicated to the long-standing research cooperation between BAS and the Romanian Academy will be organized at the Romanian Academy in Bucharest. The delegation will also visit Braila and have meetings with the local authorities and the Bulgarian diaspora. Flowers will be laid at the BAS plaque where stood the building in which the Bulgarian Learned Society was founded in 1869.
On 12 October 2024, the (newly established) Grand Prize for Science of the BAS was awarded for the first time. The BAS Grand Prize for Science is awarded to a scientist from a Bulgarian scientific organization or a Bulgarian higher education institution for outstanding achievements in the field of science that have received high international recognition. The BAS award will be presented each year in one of the following three fields: Natural, Mathematical and Engineering Sciences; Life Sciences; Social Sciences and Humanities.
The key elements of the vision for the sustainable development of BAS as a national scientific and expert center with international recognition are:
Learn more – For more information related to the celebration visit the BAS website.
The International Political Science Association (IPSA), founded in 1949, promotes the global advancement of political science through scholarly collaboration and knowledge exchange, fostering dialogue across cultures and contributing to a deeper understanding of political processes worldwide.
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To mark its 75th anniversary, IPSA organized two international academic conferences in 2024: The Challenges and New Directions in Multi-Level Governance conference (25-26 April 2024, Montreal) and, the Democratization and Autocratization conference (11-13 September, Lisbon).
As part of the 75th anniversary celebrations, IPSA created a digital timeline providing a comprehensive overview of its rich history and lasting impact on the field of political science.
Visit the 75th-anniversary timeline to explore IPSA’s rich history and follow its journey through the decades. The timeline tells the story of IPSA since its founding in 1949 and offers a wealth of information, including its significant achievements, the relationship between IPSA and national political science associations worldwide, and IPSA World Congress events, presidents, publications, educational programs, research activities, and conferences.
As IPSA celebrates its 75th anniversary, this digital timeline commemorates its history and inspires its future. Join us on our continued journey to shape the future of political science worldwide!
Since its inception in 1954, the Academy has played a powerful convening role in the national science landscape through groundbreaking conservation efforts, transformative science education initiatives, and global achievements, all while advancing the nation’s commitment to scientific knowledge and innovation.
Learn more about the Australian Academy
The Australian Academy for Science is an independent organization of individuals elected for their outstanding contributions to science and research. It was founded on 16 February 1954 by Australian Fellows of the Royal Society of London with the distinguished physicist Sir Mark Oliphant as founding President. It was granted a Royal Charter establishing the Academy as an independent body with government endorsement.
The Academy’s Constitution was modelled on that of the Royal Society of London.
Who we are – The Australian Academy of Science is an independent organization of distinguished Australian scientists, championing science for the benefit of all.
Mission – To advance Australia as a nation that embraces scientific knowledge and whose people enjoy the benefits of science.
Key challenge – Delivering sought after science advice that influences Australians’ actions and contributes to global science.
Fellows of the Australian Academy of Science are among Australia’s most distinguished scientists, elected by their peers for ground-breaking research and contributions that have had clear impact. The Academy is a leading voice on diversity in science. We welcome and support diversity in our Fellowship and provide guidance to empower the science sector to become more diverse and inclusive.
Each year the Academy elects up to 24 new Fellows by Ordinary Election’ and up to four additional Fellows by Special Election. Each year the Academy’s Council may invite up to two distinguished overseas scientists to join the Academy as Corresponding Members.
From 1954 to 2023, there have been 915 Fellows elected to the Academy. There are currently 596 living Fellows.
Convening Australian science
Since its inception, the Academy has played a powerful convening role in the national science landscape. Founded in a moment of great optimism following World War II, the Academy works across institutional, disciplinary, and national borders to provide a forum for discussion, broker knowledge and represent Australian research internationally. The Academy and its Fellows have contributed to how science functions as an ecosystem. Key milestones of impact include:
National parks
Before 1950, most Australian national parks were selected based on scenic grandeur instead of scientific or conservation significance. There was no national coordination, and there had not been a country-wide survey of what ecosystems were represented in protected parks and reservations. From day one, the Australian Academy of Science prioritized conservation. The Committee for National Parks was established in 1958 to investigate how existing parks were managed, what other areas of Australia should be extended conservation protection, and what measures should be taken to ensure these areas were scientifically managed.
Over the subsequent years, the Academy produced impressive documentation of Australia’s national parks, ecosystems, and biological diversity, culminating in a final report that assessed the effectiveness of Australia’s conservation areas and defined three regions requiring urgent attention: the eastern coastline, the arid zone, and the Great Barrier Reef. The report also outlined legislative features of a national park system that should be incorporated into Federal Parliamentary Acts, defining the aims of conservation areas, establishing a body dedicated to their care and ensuring that any alienation of national park land would require an Act of Parliament. The majority of the Academy’s recommendations have been implemented over time. The Academy continues to advise on proposals for UNESCO World Heritage Listing, the extension of the national park system, and the case for scientific research in protected areas.
Education
In 1965, the Academy turned its attention to education. There was a feeling that Australia was falling behind the United States and the Soviet Union, particularly in biological sciences. The goal was to interest students in the living world, to instill a way of thinking about biological sciences and to provide information that might be useful to them as humans and as members of societies. The Academy planned not only to write a new textbook but to design a new teaching method, prepare practice manuals and train teachers to use the material as intended.
The outcome was a textbook and study materials for Year 11 and 12 students entitled Biological Sciences: the Web of Life, which was expanded and republished three times over subsequent decades. The Web of Life was the most successful curriculum development project of the time in the world. It revolutionized the teaching of biology and had a widespread and profound influence on science education in general.
Professor Frank Fenner AC CMG MDE FAA FRS
Academy Fellow Professor Frank Fenner contributed extensively to scientific research, literature and communication over a career spanning more than eight decades. He is best known for his work to control the rabbit plague in Australia and his role in the global eradication of smallpox – an ancient disease estimated to have killed more than 300 million people in the twentieth century alone. Professor Fenner’s legacy is one of international cooperation with a web of correspondents, coauthors and collaborators spanning the globe. His experience with infectious disease in the laboratory, the field, and the clinic, combined with leadership experience in the International Science Council (ISC) Committee on Taxonomy of Viruses, made him precisely the right person to lead the Global Commission for the Certification of Smallpox Eradication that confirmed when and where the disease had been defeated.
Events:
Initiatives:
“Our country has a deep reservoir of talent within the sciences, including some of the world’s most eminent researchers and professionals,”
“In our 70th year, the Academy will deliver a rich program of events, profiling our most distinguished and emerging scientists, champions, and organizations who contribute to science every day.”
Academy President Professor Chennupati Jagadish.
As we enter our 8th decade, we remain true to our mission to advance Australia as a nation that embraces scientific knowledge and whose people enjoy the benefits of science. We will continue to strengthen mechanisms to inform decisions with evidence, wherever decisions are made, acknowledging that science and our work is embedded in a societal context, whose trust we cannot take for granted.
Another key priority for the Australian Academy of Science is to enhance scientific capacity across the Asia Pacific region. As the host of the ISC Regional Focal Point for Asia and the Pacific, until 2028 we will work to ensure that regional needs and priorities are adequately represented in the ISC’s global agenda, that regional voices are actively engaged in the governance and management of the ISC’s work, and that the region benefits from the results of that work.
Sign up to the Academy’s newsletter or follow our social media accounts for more updates. Members can also contact the Academy’s international office at [email protected]
The Transnational Institute (TNI) was founded in 1974 as the international programme of the Washington DC-based Institute for Policy Studies. For 50 years, TNI’s history has been entwined with the history of global social movements and their struggle for economic, social and environmental justice.
The Transnational Institute (TNI) is a global research and advocacy organization that connects social movements, scholars, and policymakers to promote progressive, democratic policy changes. Known for its rigorous research and activism, TNI has been a key player in movements ranging from economic justice to feminist organizing and corporate accountability.
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TNI currently works with 35 associates, though this number continues to grow as our latest cohort is confirmed. The Associates are internationalist intellectuals with a track record of progressive activist-scholarship and a passionate commitment to social change. They bring TNI vision and new ideas, expertise relevant to current programme and connect TNI to relevant networks. A full overview is available here https://www.tni.org/en/associates
TNI’s mission is to strengthen international social movements with rigorous research, reliable information, sound analysis and constructive proposals that advance progressive, democratic policy change and common solutions to global problems. In so doing, TNI acts as a unique nexus between social movements, engaged scholars and policy makers.
In its early days, TNI was instrumental in advancing the New International Economic Order, a set of proposals advocated by developing countries to end economic colonialism and dependency through a new interdependent economy.
In 1975, TNI set up its Feminist project, which integrated gender into much of TNI’s work. The project brought together women leaders from the Global North and South around a wide range of issues such as nuclear power, women in the military, and in the textile industry. The group included Wendy Chapkis, Sheila Rowbotham, Eileen Utrecht and Cynthia Enloe.
For over a decade, TNI has been key in raising awareness of so-called Investor-State Dispute Settlement clauses in international trade arrangements, which are regularly used by private investors to sue governments for introducing environmental or social policies that they feel can hurt their profits.
In the 1990s, TNI brought together activists and scholars from Western and Eastern Europe to advance progressive international movement after the fall of the Berlin wall.
The institute’s staff frequently provide expert consultation to governments and international institutions, such as Canada, Ecuador, Uruguay, Colombia, the European Parliament, the UN office on drugs and crime, and the Food and Agriculture Organization.
Fiona Dove, TNI’s Executive Director
“50 years ago, the Transnational Institute emerged as an unconventional player on the international stage. Distinct from the rarefied atmosphere of academia, TNI quickly became a bustling hub for international encounters among scholars and activists, who were deeply engaged with the emancipatory movements of the times. Every day, TNI staff communicate with allies globally, co-creating plans and sharing analysis, connections, and international policy access for social movements to challenge entrenched power and pursue meaningful alternatives. Throughout 2024, TNI will celebrate its half century milestone by honouring those who went before us, showcasing and reflecting on our history such that we can learn the lessons for the challenges now before us.”
TNI will focus mainly on analyzing and responding to widespread concern about the climate crisis, the bankruptcy of neoliberalism exposed during the pandemic, and the extent of institutionalized corporate power whereby profit is protected over social and environmental well-being. We saw a window of opportunity to encourage popular discontent towards inspiring visions of what could be a better system, and concrete proposals for getting there. We also see the urgency of doing so as a counter-force to what is on offer from rightwing populists and authoritarians. This will see us investing more in the development and popularization of bold and feasible propositions that can serve as the markers of a pathway to systemic transformation, even as we continue to expose what is wrong with the current system. Thematically, we will focus our work on corporate power, just transitions and collective security, with a feminist and intersectional lens applied wherever possible.
Participating in events, sharing our work or making a donation, however small, can be great ways of getting involved. Following our work through our website, regular newsletter or social media can help people to familiarize themselves with what we do.
The Marie Curie Alumni Association (MCAA) connects researchers worldwide who have benefitted from the Marie Skłodowska-Curie Actions, fostering collaboration, career development, and knowledge exchange across disciplines to advance research and innovation globally.
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The Marie Curie Alumni Association (MCAA) was established in 2013 as a global network of researchers who have benefited from the Marie Skłodowska-Curie Actions (MSCA). These actions are part of the European Commission’s research funding program, designed to support researchers across various stages of their careers and facilitate international and intersectoral mobility. Since its foundation, the MCAA has grown to encompass over 21,000 members from all over the world, making it a key player in fostering collaboration and knowledge exchange across different scientific disciplines.
The MCAA’s primary mission is to support its members by offering professional development opportunities, networking, and collaboration platforms, as well as advocating for research policies. It plays a significant role in connecting former and current MSCA fellows, ensuring that they continue to benefit from their involvement in the MSCA long after their initial research projects are complete.
The Marie Curie Alumni Association (MCAA) celebrated its 10th anniversary in 2024 with a focus on its continued efforts to “democratize science” through community engagement. Marking the milestone during their annual conference in Milan, the MCAA held workshops and discussions on citizen science, emphasizing public engagement and participatory research. This event was a collaboration with the European Citizen Science project and partners like Paris Cité University, spotlighting the transformative power of involving citizens in scientific research.
The CIPSH is a non-governmental organization within UNESCO, which federates hundreds of different learned societies in the field of philosophy, human sciences and related subjects.
Learn more about CIPSH
The CIPSH coordinates the international works and researches carried out by a huge constellation of centers and networks of scholars. It favors the exchange of knowledge among faraway scholars and fosters the international circulation of scholars, in order to improve the communication among specialists from different disciplines, enforce a better knowledge of cultures and of the different social, individual and collective behaviors and bring to the fore the richness of each culture and their fruitful diversity.
The International Council for Philosophy and Humanistic Studies was founded on the 18th of January, 1949, in Brussels, at the request of UNESCO and under its auspices, following a meeting organized by the Union Académique Internationale to bring together representatives of nongovernmental organizations. From January 1, 2011, it adopted the designation “International Council for Philosophy and Human Sciences”.
The 75th Anniversary of the International Council for Philosophy and Human Sciences (CIPSH) marked a significant milestone deserving a moment of reflection on past accomplishments while charting a course for the future. With the esteemed endorsement of CIPSH, the University of Chinese Academy of Sciences (UCAS) had an International Conference Celebrating the 75th Anniversary of the CIPSH, in Beijing, China, from September 21st to 24th, 2024.
The central theme of the conference was “New Humanities: Fostering Interactions between Science and Humanities,” with a Special Focus on “Time: Conceptions, Experiences, and Expressions.” Time, as a fundamental aspect of human existence, permeates our experiences in profound ways. It serves as a cornerstone of human knowledge, experience, and modes of expression, thereby meriting dedicated exploration. For more information, see CIPSH’s website.
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