The International Council for Science (ICSU, after its former name, International Council of Scientific Unions) was an international non-governmental organization devoted to international cooperation in the advancement of science. Its members were national scientific bodies and international scientific unions.
In 2017, the ICSU comprised 122 multi-disciplinary National Scientific Members, Associates and Observers representing 142 countries and 31 international, disciplinary Scientific Unions. ICSU also had 22 Scientific Associates.ICSU's Our Members web page, updated on 6 October 2017 In July 2018, ICSU merged with the International Social Science Council (ISSC) to form the International Science Council (ISC) at a constituent general assembly in Paris.
Mission and principles The ICSU's mission was to strengthen international science for the benefit of society. To do this, the ICSU mobilized the knowledge and resources of the international scientific community to:
Identify and address major issues of importance to science and society. Facilitate interaction amongst scientists across all disciplines and from all countries. Promote the participation of all scientists – regardless of race, citizenship, language, political stance, or gender – in the international scientific endeavour. Provide independent, authoritative advice to stimulate constructive dialogue between the scientific community and governments, civil society, and the private sector."ISC's About Us web page, updated on 14 December 2011
Activities focused on three areas: International Research Collaboration, Science for Policy, and Universality of Science.
History In July 2018, the ICSU became the International Science Council (ISC).
The ICSU itself was one of the oldest non-governmental organizations in the world, representing the evolution and expansion of two earlier bodies known as the International Association of Academies (IAA; 1899–1914) and the International Research Council (IRC; 1919–1931). In 1998, Members agreed that the Council's current composition and activities would be better reflected by modifying the name from the International Council of Scientific Unions to the International Council for Science, while its rich history and strong identity would be well served by retaining the existing acronym, ICSU.ISC's A Brief History web page, updated on 6 October 2017
Universality of science
The Principle of Freedom and Responsibility in Science: the free and responsible practice of science is fundamental to scientific advancement and human and environmental well-being. Such practice, in all its aspects, requires freedom of movement, association, expression and communication for scientists, as well as equitable access to data, information, and other resources for research. It requires responsibility at all levels to carry out and communicate scientific work with integrity, respect, fairness, trustworthiness, and transparency, recognizing its benefits and possible harms. In advocating the free and responsible practice of science, the council promotes equitable opportunities for access to science and its benefits, and opposes discrimination based on such factors as ethnic origin, religion, citizenship, language, political or other opinion, sex, gender identity, sexual orientation, disability, or age.
The International Science Council's Committee on Freedom and Responsibility in Science (CFRS) "oversees this commitment and is the guardian of this work."
Structure The ICSU Secretariat (20 staff in 2012) in Paris ensured the day-to-day planning and operations under the guidance of an elected executive board. Three Policy Committees − Committee on Scientific Planning and Review (CSPR), Committee on Freedom and Responsibility in the conduct of Science (CFRS) and Committee on Finance − assisted the executive board in its work and a General Assembly of all Members was convened every three years. ICSU has three Regional Offices − Africa, Asia and the Pacific as well as Latin America and the Caribbean.
Finances The principal source of ICSU's finances was the contributions it receives from its members. Other sources of income are the framework contracts from UNESCO (United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization) and grants and contracts from United Nations bodies, foundations and agencies, which are used to support the scientific activities of the ICSU Unions and interdisciplinary bodies.
Member organizations Abbreviation Union Member Since Field IAU International Astronomical Union 1922 Astronomy IBRO International Brain Research Organization 1993 Neuroscience ICA International Cartographic Association 1990 Cartography IGU International Geographical Union 1923 Geography IMU International Mathematical Union 1922 Mathematics INQUA International Union for Quaternary Research 2005 Quaternary Period ISA International Sociological Association 2011 Sociology and Social Sciences ISPRS International Society for Photogrammetry and Remote Sensing 2002 Photogrammetry and Remote Sensing IUAES International Union of Anthropological and Ethnological Sciences 1993 Anthropology and Ethnology IUBMB International Union of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology 1955 Biochemistry and Molecular Biology IUBS International Union of Biological Sciences 1925 Biology IUCr International Union of Crystallography 1947 Crystallography IUFRO International Union of Forest Research Organizations 2005 Forestry IUFoST International Union of Food Science and Technology 1996 Food science and Food technology IUGG International Union of Geodesy and Geophysics 1919 Geodesy and Geophysics IUGS International Union of Geological Sciences 1922 Geology IUHPS International Union of History and Philosophy of Science 1922 History of science and Philosophy of science IUIS International Union of Immunological Societies 1976 Immunology IUMRS International Union of Materials Research Societies 2005 Materials science IUMS International Union of Microbiological Societies 1982 Microbiology IUNS International Union of Nutritional Sciences 1968 Nutrition IUPAB International Union for Pure and Applied Biophysics 1966 Biophysics IUPAC International Union of Pure and Applied Chemistry 1922 Chemistry IUPAP International Union of Pure and Applied Physics 1922 Physics IUPESM International Union for Physical and Engineering Sciences in Medicine 1999 Medical physics IUPHAR International Union of Basic and Clinical Pharmacology 1972 Pharmacology IUPS International Union of Physiological Sciences 1955 Physiology IUPsyS International Union of Psychological Science 1982 Psychology IUSS International Union of Soil Sciences 1993 Soil science IUTAM International Union of Theoretical and Applied Mechanics 1947 Mechanics IUTOX International Union of Toxicology 1996 Toxicology URSI International Union of Radio Science 1922 Radio science
Associate member organizations
Abbr. Associate 4S Society for Social Studies of Science AAS African Academy of Sciences AASSA Association of Academies and Societies of Sciences in Asia ACAL CIE Commission Internationale de l'Eclairage FIG IAHR International Association for Hydro-Environment Engineering and Research IASC International Arctic Science Committee ICA (acoustics) International Commission for Acoustics ICIAM International Council for Industrial and Applied Mathematics ICLAS International Council for Laboratory Animal Science ICO International Commission for Optics ICSTI International Council for Scientific and Technical Information IFIP International Federation for Information Processing IFLA International Federation of Library Associations and Institutions IFS International Foundation for Science IFSM International Federation of Societies for Microscopy IIASA International Institute for Applied Systems Analysis IUVSTA International Union for Vacuum Science, Technique and Applications IWA International Water Association PSA Pacific Science Association SCOPE Scientific Committee on Problems of the Environment TWAS The World Academy of Sciences UIS Union Internationale de Spéléologie
See also Diversitas project, closed Dec 2014 transferred Jan 2015 to ICS as Future Earth InterAcademy Partnership
Abbr. OrganisationCIAAW Commission on Isotopic Abundances and Atomic WeightsCODATA Committee on Data for Science and TechnologyCOSPAR Committee on Space ResearchGCOS Global Climate Observing SystemIGBP International Geosphere-Biosphere ProgrammeIHDP International Human Dimensions ProgrammeSCAR Scientific Committee on Antarctic ResearchSCOPE Scientific Committee on Problems of the EnvironmentSCOR Scientific Committee on Oceanic ResearchINASP International Network for Advancing Science and PolicyWCRP World Climate Research ProgrammeWDS World Data System
References
Bibliography Greenaway, Frank (2006) Science International: A History of the International Council of Scientific Unions Cambridge University Press Frängsmyr, Tore (1990) Solomon's house revisited: the organization and institutionalization of science. Science History Publications, U.S.A. Crawford, Elisabeth (2002) Nationalism and Internationalism in Science, 1880-1939. Cambridge University Press
External links
ICSU at University of Waterloo Scholarly Societies directory ICSU () at the United Nations