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Season’s greetings from the ISC

As 2024 draws to a close, we reflect on a year of progress for the global scientific community. Together, we have advanced critical priorities for the future of science. As we look ahead to 2025 with excitement and purpose, we extend our warmest wishes for a joyful and a prosperous new year.

Dear Members, Colleagues and Friends,

As 2024 comes to a close, we reflect on a very productive year filled with collaboration and progress for the global scientific community.

The year has seen the entire constituency of the International Science Council – its Members, Governing Board, and Secretariat – working together to consolidate the redesign of its strategic priorities in the years to come.

The Third ISC General Assembly in January 2025 will consider this new strategic plan that addresses critical priorities for the future of science. These include safeguarding and promoting the conditions for free and independent scientific practice, renewing the ISC’s role in setting and coordinating global science agendas, and providing a platform for dialogue among scientists, funders, and other key stakeholders in the science arena.

The plan reaffirms the ISC’s commitment to continue shaping the future of science systems in a direction that upholds integrity, properly captures and amplifies scientific production from the Global South, and establishes guidelines for sustainable funding, research evaluation, and scientific publishing.

It will also strengthen the ISC’s role in providing science advice to the United Nations – both in New York and to individual UN organizations – which has already demonstrated significant added value. These strategic directions for the Council in the years to come all allow space for a renewed focus on science diplomacy.

Highlights of 2024

Among the ISC’s many achievements this year, we are particularly proud to have:

Supported freedom and responsibility in science, including investigating specific cases, assisting refugee scientists, building science’s resilience in times of crises and defining the “right to participate in and benefit from science“.

Advanced expert discussions on trust in science and collaborated with UNESCO on exploring the ethical aspects of science and technology.

Contributed to a foresight exercise to inform the priorities of the UN Environment Assembly and supported the work of the UN Secretary-General’s Scientific Advisory Board.

Developed methodologies to assess the impact of AI on science and contributed to establishing AI data standards.

Advanced the next phase of the intergovernmental research agenda on disaster risk reduction.

Mobilized ISC membership expertise and expert advice in the practice of science-policy brokerage for key intergovernmental negotiations on, inter alia, climate change, biodiversity, oceans, plastics, and biological weapons.

Expanded our membership base, launched mentoring programs for new and prospective members, and supported the development of early- and mid-career researchers.

Strengthened the ISC’s regional presence by consolidating existing focal points in two regions and planning two new regional antennas for 2025.

Launched the first generation of science missions for sustainability.

Looking forward to the Muscat Global Knowledge Dialogue and beyond

As we enter 2025, we are prepared to embark on the next cycle of the ISC’s work with a consolidated strategic vision and renewed governance.

The Muscat Global Knowledge Dialogue and Third ISC General Assembly will mark an exciting new chapter for the Council, with the conviction that science can not only continue to unite scientists worldwide but also serve as a common language to build bridges and achieve shared goals among the nations of the world.

On behalf of the ISC Governing Board and Secretariat, we wish you the best for the season and look forward to seeing you all in Muscat.