On its mission to support early- and mid-career researchers, the International Science Council continues to welcome young academies across the world. Meet a recently joined Member - the UK Young Academy.

What does it mean to have a good life? Can this life be achieved within planetary boundaries, for everyone, and without undermining the prospects of future generations? These are not abstract philosophical questions. They sit at the heart of contemporary social development debates, unfolding amid rapid demographic change, technological transformation, and escalating ecological pressures.

2026 is a challenging year for science action given the complicated geopolitical context and the declining support and funding for science. Much will depend on how the scientific community rises to the challenge of continuing and reframing their crucial work in driving climate action.

A better approach is needed to assess potential implementation, impact, and feasibility of proposals.

In this issue, we feature an editorial from the Research Data Alliance’s Sharing Rewards and Credit Interest Group on the recognition of open science practices in research assessment.

What does it take to build a meaningful scientific career in a rapidly changing world? As the research landscape evolves, scientists are rethinking how they work, connect, and sustain their careers. A new podcast series from the International Science Council, produced with its Member the China Association for Science and Technology (CAST) and Nature, explores these themes through conversations between researchers at different stages of their careers.

A special webinar from the ISC, IAP and SGCES on World Science Day for Women and Girls in Science – 11 February 2026, from 2 - 4 pm UTC.

The International Science Council works closely with ISC Members and partners to help strengthen science-policy interfacing and evidence-informed decision-making at a global scale. Here is what to watch for at the UN in 2026 and how to get involved.

In this end-of-year message, the ISC President and CEO reflect on the Council’s key milestones in 2025, from the strategic directions set at the General Assembly in Muscat to sustained engagement in global policy fora, and outline the priorities that will guide the ISC’s work in the years ahead.

In this final commentary on the Trust in Science for Policy Nexus report, Xuan Liu outlines key factors affecting trust and presents practical ways to strengthen science’s role as a public good.

In an era characterized by accelerating innovation and increasing uncertainty, science faces a paradox. Its influence on daily life has never been greater, yet public confidence in scientific institutions and technologies is increasingly fragile. Javier García-Martínez, a renowned chemist and former IUPAC President, unpacks why this tension is felt acutely in chemistry and shows a possible way forward.

In this commentary, Heather Douglas highlights how openness about scientific practices, values, and debate can strengthen public trust in science for policy.

As the world marks International Human Rights Day, the International Science Council (ISC) underscores that scientific freedom and the right to participate in and benefit from science are core human rights.

On 14 November 2025, representatives from several organisations across the publishing reform and research assessment reform communities gathered in Pisa,

In this blog series, members of the ISC’s Committee for Freedom and Responsibility in Science share their reflections on the questions surrounding trust in science, particularly in the context of policy-making. The first piece features Karly Kehoe, who examines the ethical responsibilities of scientists and institutions.

The Royal Society Te Apārangi has endorsed the International Science Council’s interpretation of 'The Right to Participate in and Benefit from Science', recognising science as a human right.

Geneva, 13 November 2025 - The United Nations Office for Disaster Risk Reduction (UNDRR) and the International Science Council (ISC) have renewed their long-standing partnership through an updated Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) signed in Geneva by UNDRR Director Paola Albrito and ISC President Sir Peter Gluckman. The agreement extends the collaboration between the two organizations through 2035, reinforcing a shared commitment to harness science for a safer and more resilient world.

From CERN to ITER, international research infrastructures have long symbolized what global cooperation in science can achieve, even in times of deep political tension. In this guest op-ed, Jan Marco Müller examines how these “lighthouses of science diplomacy” are now navigating growing geopolitical pressures, and what they can do to preserve collaboration and trust across borders.

From Argentina to Tanzania, and from Slovakia to India, over 70 events led by ISC Members and partners celebrated World Science Day for Peace and Development 2025 across the world.