The founding General Assembly of the new Council took place in Paris, France, from July 3 to July 5, 2018.
The strategy of the new organization emphasizes that the importance of scientific understanding to society has never been greater, as humanity grapples with the problems of living sustainably and equitably on planet Earth. It stakes out a space for the Council to defend the inherent value and values of all science at a time when it has become harder for the scientific voice to be heard. It will strengthen international, interdisciplinary collaboration and support scientists to contribute solutions to complex and pressing matters of global public concern. It will advise decision makers and practitioners on the use of science in achieving ambitious agendas such as the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) adopted by world leaders in 2015. And it will encourage open public engagement with science.
The vision of the new Council, as stated in the High-Level Strategy, 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.
According to its mission statement, the new Council will act as the global voice of science. That voice will:
- Speak for the value of all science and the need for evidence, informed understanding and decision-making;
- Stimulate and support international scientific research and scholarship on major issues of global concern;
- Articulate scientific knowledge on such issues in the public domain;
- Promote the continued and equal advancement of scientific rigour, creativity and relevance in all parts of the world; and
- Defend the free and responsible practice of science.
For detailed background information on the merger process, see this Gitbook that was updated on a regular basis during the merger.
Timeline
| 2015 | Exchange of letters between the ISSC and ICSU Presidents on the future relationship between the two Councils |
| November 2015 | Agreement reached on Terms of Reference for an ICSU-ISSC Working Group to explore closer institutional alignment, and possible amalgamation, between the two Councils. |
| January 2016 | First meeting of the joint ICSU-ISSC Working Group |
| April 2016 | Executive bodies of ISSC and ICSU follow the Working Group’s recommendation for the two Councils to merge, and recommend this course to the Council’s members |
| June 2016 | Joint meeting of the ISSC and ICSU Executives |
| October 2016 | Joint ICSU/ISSC General Assembly decides in-principle to pursue a merger |
| November 2016 | Call for nominations for the Strategy Working Group and the Transition Task Force |
| December 2016 | Strategy Working Group and Transition Task Force appointed by the Executives of ICSU and ISSC |
| February 2017 | Strategy Working Group and Transition Task Force meet |
| end February 2017 | Draft strategy submitted to Executives |
| end March 2017 | Draft strategy submitted to ISSC and ICSU members |
| by 15 May 2017 | Members submit feedback on draft strategy |
| 30-31 May 2017 | Strategy Working Group meeting |
| June 2017 | Final strategy submitted to Executives of ISSC and ICSU |
| 28-29 June 2017 | Joint meeting of the ICSU and ISSC Executives |
| July 2017 | Final strategy and final outputs of the Transition Task Force submitted to members |
| 23-26 October 2017 | 32nd ICSU General Assembly and extraordinary ISSC General Assembly approve strategy and transition plans |
| 3-5 July 2018 | First General Assembly of the International Science Council (ISC) |