ISC Awards Programme

Celebrating excellence for the advancement of science as a global public good.

ISC Awards Programme

The next ISC Awards Programme will be celebrated in 2026. The nomination process will be announced in 2025 on this page.


On 13 October 2021, the ISC conferred the first edition of the ISC Awards during the 2nd ISC General Assembly. Watch the recording of the ceremony below and learn more about the inaugural ISC awardees.

> Read the press release

> Learn more about the 2021 awardees


About the ISC Awards

The International Science Council Awards Programme was established in 2020 by the ISC Governing Board to recognize individuals, groups, and initiatives launched by the ISC and its members that serve to advance science as a global public good, by, for example promoting international, interdisciplinary scientific research cooperation, striving to bring scientific knowledge into the public domain, innovating in science education and outreach, or promoting the free and responsible practice of science.

The ISC Awards are conferred every three years during the ISC General Assembly in the following categories:

1. Science for Sustainability Award for outstanding scientific contribution to the achievement of the Sustainable Development Goals using an interdisciplinary approach (one award)

2. Science-for-Policy Award for outstanding contribution to, stimulation of, support for or communication of the findings of international scientific research and scholarship relevant to international policy challenges (one award)

3. Policy-for-Science Award for outstanding contribution to developments in the science system that enable science to contribute more effectively to major debates in the international domain (one award)

4. Scientific Freedom and Responsibility Award for outstanding contribution to defending and promoting the free and responsible practice of science (one award)

5. Early Career Scientist Award for exceptional contribution to science and international scientific collaboration by early career researchers (six awards: one award to a scientist from each of (i) Africa, (ii) Asia, (iii) Australia and Oceania, (iv) Europe, (v) North America, and (vi) South America and the Caribbean)


I am delighted that the ISC Governing Board decided to develop an Awards Programme to recognize exceptional achievements of individuals whose excellence, leadership and support have significantly advanced science development for the benefit of humanity.

Alik Ismail-Zadeh, ISC Secretary

Awards Selection Committee

The selection committee is appointed by the ISC President for each edition of the awards, with the approval of the ISC Governing Board. Geographic, gender, and age distribution are important considerations for selection of nominees.


Nominations

Nominations for the ISC Awards Programme 2021 are now closed. To learn more about the process, eligibility criteria and other details, see the Nominations page.


2021 ISC Awards

Get to know the 2021 awardees on the 2021 ISC Awards page.


Photo by Sinhyu on iStock


> Learn more about the nominations process

> Learn more about the 2021 ISC Awardees and the ceremony


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