Science Missions for Sustainability: Pilots launch to transform science and deliver real-world solutions

The International Science Council (ISC) is proud to announce the launch of groundbreaking pilot projects as part of its Science Missions for Sustainability initiative. These pilots aim to redefine how science is conducted and applied to address humanity’s most pressing challenges, from the climate crisis to rising social inequalities. 

This initiative comes at a crucial time. Recognizing the need to shift towards an era of inclusive    and effective science-based collaboration and progress, the United Nations General Assembly proclaimed the 2024–2033 period as the International  Decade  of  Sciences  for  Sustainable  Development. 

As part of this global effort, the ISC’s Science Missions directly contribute to the Decade by advancing its vision and objectives to harness the full potential of science to ensure a safe and prosperous future for all. 

Flipping the science model 

Traditional research models — fragmented, competitive, and disconnected from societal needs — are failing to keep pace with the urgency of today’s complex and interconnected challenges. Recognizing this gap, the ISC has developed a new mission-led science model that rethinks how research is conceived, conducted, and applied. By co-designing research questions with policy-makers, industries, and communities, this model ensures that science is better aligned with societal needs, generating actionable knowledge and delivering real-world impact. 

These pilots will act as proof-of-concept projects, demonstrating that science, shaped by collaboration and inclusivity, can deliver actionable knowledge and scalable solutions able to address challenges at the nexus of multiple sustainability priorities.

The pilots

Selected from over 250 global submissions through a rigorous review process by leading transdisciplinary and sustainability scientists, 12 pilots are set to launch in various locations worldwide while others are global in scope and will be implemented across scales. Each project will bring together diverse expertise, resources, and perspectives to co-design and co-deliver solutions to complex sustainability challenges. This approach emphasizes flexibility, innovation, and learning by doing — essential elements for addressing the interconnected issues of our time affecting sustainability.  

Today, two of the pilots have received initial funding for the co-design phase and have been launched at a special event at the ISC’s Global Knowledge Dialogue in Muscat, Oman, in the presence of ISC members and partners.

Asia Science Mission: Meta-Network Hub for Sustainability in Asia – This innovative approach brings together partners from across Asia with diverse expertise and experiences to implement transdisciplinary research projects, gain fresh perspectives, and learn from one another. By integrating efforts across borders, this initiative ensures the broad adoption of regionally tailored solutions that accelerate progress toward a sustainable and resilient Asia. 

We need a different way of doing science.  As an agile, action-oriented network-of-networks to drive the SDGs in Asia. Our Asia Science mission will generate shared knowledge, disruptive thinking, and bold experimentation based on demand from societal actors–those impacted and able to act.

Anik Bhaduri

Transformative Science for Biodiversity Conservation and Sustainable Livelihoods in Amazonia – Based in Brazil, this mission tackles threats to food security and local wellbeing caused by deforestation, biodiversity loss, and socioeconomic inequalities. Its goal is to empower over 100 local communities and 30,000 people by integrating scientific evidence, local knowledge, capacity building, and bioeconomy-based value chains. By documenting successful strategies, the mission aims to spotlight a river-basin conservation model that can be replicated across other regions, promote transdisciplinary approaches, encourage local leadership and elevate indigenous knowledge beyond the Amazon.  

This pilot is based on the study ”Sustainable-use protected areas catalyze enhanced livelihoods in rural Amazonia.” published in Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences, 2021, which was awarded the Frontiers Planet Prize in 2023. 

This is a unique opportunity to integrate science, local knowledge, and the arts into a unified approach that drives profound social transformation in the Amazon. For us, conservation is not just a goal—it’s a way of life, where protecting biodiversity and improving local well-being are deeply interconnected. We have assembled a dedicated team committed to envisioning a brighter future for the Amazon, empowering local leadership, and recognizing the people of the region as the most vital part of the solution.

João Campos-Silva

The call to action 

The ISC invites forward-thinking funders and partners — including national agencies, foundations, philanthropies, and development banks — to join this ambitious initiative. Your support will directly contribute to the implementation of 12 pilot projects, rigorously selected to deliver tangible solutions across regions and scales. By partnering with us, you will help accelerate the development of practical, science-driven solutions and play a pivotal role in reshaping science to meet the sustainability challenges of today and tomorrow.

March meeting of funders

Science Funders will gather in Paris on 5 and 6 March to discuss their role in enabling transformative science for sustainable development and discuss opportunities linked to the UN International Decade on Science for Sustainability and the ISC Science Missions for Sustainability This meeting  “Enabling Transformative Science for Sustainable Development: A call to science funders’’, co-organised by ISC and co-hosted with UNESCO will offer funders a unique opportunity to directly engage with others like-minded organizations, build strategic partnerships and explore initiatives tied to the UN International Decade of Science for Sustainability and the ISC Science Missions for Sustainability.  

Contact:

For more information, contact:  

Megha Sud 
Senior Science Officer, 
International Science Council 
[email protected]