DIPLOMATHON GLOBAL

International Science Council - Committee Brief

Introduction

The International Science Council (ISC) is an international non-governmental organization

that unites scientific bodies at various levels across the social and natural sciences. The ISC
was formed with its inaugural general assembly on 4 July 2018 by the merger of the
International Council for Science (ICSU) and the International Social Science Council
(ISSC), making it one of the largest organisations of this type.

Daya Reddy from the University of Cape Town was elected as the inaugural President of the
Board. Heide Hackmann serves as the CEO.

The mission of the International Science Council is to act as the global voice for science.

The vision of the Council is to advance science as a global public good. Scientific
knowledge, data and expertise must be universally accessible and its benefits universally
shared. The practice of science must be inclusive and equitable, also in opportunities for
scientific education and capacity development.

Main Activities

The Council convenes and mobilizes the international scientific community on issues of
major scientific and public importance. Activities focus on three areas of work:
- Stimulating and supporting international scientific research and scholarship, and
communicating science that is relevant to international policy issues;
- Promoting the ability of science to contribute to major issues;
- Defending the free and responsible practice of science.
- The Council is involved in co-sponsorship of a number of international research
programmes, networks and committees.

The Council awards the prestigious Stein Rokkan Prize for Comparative Social Science
Research.

The Council’s present activities are guided by the Action Plan 2019-2021: Advancing
Science as a Global Public Good. At the heart of the Action Plan is a selection of projects
and programmes that are relevant to all scientific fields and all parts of the world.

Members

In 2019, the International Science Council has 135 Member Organizations, 40 Member
Unions and Associations, and 30 Affiliated Members.

The Council’s membership provides the foundation for its work. Through its activities, the
Council aims to create opportunities for Members to participate in important scientific
conversations and activities, to showcase their scientific contributions at the international
level, and to connect to each other and to influential networks worldwide.