The first of two reports recounting the ICSU Foresight Analysis, this publication describes the analysis carried out under Phases 1 and 2 of a process that has engaged the ICSU community in a long-term planning exercise—exploring the future of international science in 20 years’ time.
Of course, the future cannot be predicted, and this is not the aim of the foresight exercise. However, ICSU and international science can make a significant contribution to shaping the future; exploring where we would like to be two decades from now can help in selecting the best pathways to achieve this vision.