The InterAcademy Partnership (IAP) is delighted to share its latest e-bulletin with you.
July 2023 - December 2023
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PROJECT
IAP released its Strategic Plan 2024-2026
IAP's Strategic Plan sets out the strategic priorities with an emphasis on interdisciplinary approaches to help solve today’s complex challenges, with ethical conduct, equity, diversity and inclusion embedded in proposed solutions. The Strategic Plan is in alignment with the United Nation’s Sustainable Development Goal (SDG) 17 that calls for strengthening the means of implementation and revitalization of global partnerships. Read it here.
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PROJECT
Climate and Health: IAP at the COP28
The United Nations Climate Change Conference (COP28) took place in Dubai, United Arab Emirates, from 30 November to 12 December 2023. IAP coordinated two side-event sessions: the first, 'Climate and Health: How can policy address health impacts of climate change and air pollution?' on 2 December focused on the continuation of the 'Climate Change and Health' project with Save the Children and drew upon the September workshop held in Trieste (see below). You can watch the session in live streaming on YouTube here. On this occasion, IAP and Save the Children presented the science policy brief "Climate Change Adaptation for Health: Systems-based approaches to formulating solutions and guiding policy", read and download it here.
The second event, 'The Role of Academies in Climate Policy Advice', a collaboration with the New Voices program of the National Academy of Sciences (US), took place on 9 December. This session explored how national academies in different parts of the world, cohort-based leadership programmes that promote collaboration among outstanding early- and mid-career scientists and other entities provide advice to governments on issues related to climate change.
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PROJECT
IAP and ISC issue a Joint Statement on Protecting the Autonomy of National Academies of Science
IAP and the International Science Council (ISC) are concerned about the autonomy of academies and their members, jeopardizing their capacity to provide valid, ethically sound advice on critical issues affecting humanity and the planet. On 15 December 2023, the two prominent global science organizations issued a joint statement expressing deep concern over the increasing trend of state interference in the autonomy of national academies of science. Read the joint statement here.
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PROJECT
IAP and Save the Children: Climate Change & Health case studies
IAP in collaboration with Save the Children is developing a book of case studies that illustrate systems solutions for climate change and health policies, to build governments’ awareness of multi-sectoral, systems-based studies and policies. The authors of the selected case studies took part in a workshop at the IAP headquarters in Trieste from 5 to 7 September 2023, where an expert committee reviewed the submissions. Read the news article here. The case studies are now being edited and peer-reviewed for publication. Some were presented at the COP28 in Dubai, where IAP hosted the side-event “Policy lessons from cross-sectoral global case studies tackling climate change effects on health", on 2 December 2023 (see above). The project builds on the IAP 'Climate Change and Health' project, as well as the Save the Children's new strategic initiative 'Climate and Health: Accelerating action on climate with health benefits'.
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PROJECT
IAP collaborating to advance biosecurity
IAP has joined forces with the International Centre for Genetic Engineering and Biotechnology (ICGEB), The World Academy of Sciences (TWAS) and the Biological Weapons Convention (BWC) to host a course on 'Science Diplomacy'. The course will take place in March 2024 at the TWAS headquarters in Trieste, Italy and aims at building awareness of a cohort of young bioscientists to the intersection of science and diplomacy. Read more here.
On 14 November 2023, IAP in collaboration with the US National Academies of Sciences, Engineering and Medicine (NASEM), organized two online meetings to test-drive a proposed mechanism for the input of scientific advice into the Biological and Toxin Weapons Convention (BWC). The meeting served as the open-ended body of a hybrid mechanism that BWC States Parties are currently discussing, and aimed to test the concept of a scientific advisory body by discussing the topic ‘Possible Benefits and Risks of Artificial Intelligence for Global Biosecurity in the BWC Context’. Read more here.
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PROGRAMME
IAP launched its new Webinar Series
The IAP Webinar Series is an initiative designed to provide a platform for member academies and networks to come together, share insights and build partnerships. These webinars, to be conducted quarterly, will offer a unique opportunity for academia, researchers and policymakers to discuss critical topics of common interest and contribute to the advancement of knowledge and global progress. The inaugural webinar took place on 23 October and was centered around 'Promoting Ethics and Integrity in Scientific Research and Practice'. In an age where scientific research and practice play a decisive role in shaping our world, ensuring ethical conduct and integrity is fundamental. Read more here.
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PROGRAMME
IAP Young Physician Leaders (YPL)
Since 2011, the InterAcademy Partnership's Young Physician Leaders (YPL) programme has provided more than 250 outstanding young health professionals with skills to promote health and strengthen health systems around the world. The 18 participants of the 2023 edition came from 15 countries and four continents. During the programme, they engaged in a series of workshops and discussions designed to enhance their leadership capabilities. The YPL programme also prepares participants for the World Health Summit (WHS), where they held a session titled 'Effective Leaders for Effective Health Systems'. Watch the YPL session from the WHS 2023 here.
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PUBLICATION
Water and Health in the Americas: IANAS Water Programme
The Water Programme of the Inter-American Network of Academies of Sciences (IANAS) was created to present water science to society in different forms. Recent journal publications under this programme include the preliminary report "Water Scarcity on two continents" and the report "Water and Health in the Americas". This publication compiles the presentations of various experts in the water and health phenomenon who addressed the successes, achievements, failures and new challenges of the control, elimination and eradication of water related maladies in the Americas. Read it here.
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PUBLICATION
IANAS issues the Manaus Letter
IANAS launched in August the "Science by and for the Amazon" initiative and presented the IANAS Manaus Letter at the National Institute for Amazonian Research (INPA) in Brazil. The document advocates for an end to deforestation by 2030 and a shift toward sustainable economic models in the region. Read more here.
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PUBLICATION
Institutionalizing Science Advice to Governments
The National Academy of Sciences of Sri Lanka (NASSL), with support from the InterAcademy Partnership and the Association of Academies and Societies of Sciences in Asia (AASSA), organized the workshop on 'Institutionalizing Science Advice to Governments' in July 2023 in Colombo, Sri Lanka. In this occasion, NASSL and its collaborators have issued the 'Colombo Declaration', an important step towards institutionalizing science advice to governments. Read more here.
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PUBLICATION
Deep-Sea Mining: Assessing evidence on future needs and environmental impacts
The European Academies' Science Advisory Council (EASAC) released on 8 June a statement addressing the critical issue of deep-sea mining, which holds significant relevance in the current global context. An international negotiation involving countries from around the world took place at the end of June 2023. At the heart of this international negotiation lies the International Seabed Authority (ISA), which has attracted considerable attention due to its anticipated approval of full-scale mining operations at the seabed. The EASAC statement highlights concerns regarding the ISA's ability to adequately assess and control the environmental impact of such activities. Read it here.
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PUBLICATION
EASAC - The Future of Gas
Natural gas is not cleaner than other fossil fuels and using it instead of coal or oil risks achieving little or no reduction in greenhouse gas effects. EASAC’s report “Future of Gas” highlights the extremely high global warming potential of largely unrecorded methane leakages along the whole natural gas supply chain. To mitigate climate change, it is crucial to stop using fossil fuels, to ban new natural gas boilers, and to massively ramp up renewable electricity production. Read all the recommendations in the report here. The report was originally published on the EASAC website here.
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Call for Applications of TÜBİTAK-TWAS Fellowships 2023
The Scientific and Technological Research Council of Türkiye (TÜBİTAK) and TWAS have established a fellowship programme for foreign scholars from developing countries in the South, for PhD and Postdoctoral research tenable in Türkiye. Deadline has been extended to 26 February 2024. Read and apply here.
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The IAP Board and Advisory Committee convened in Rome
Shaping a Vision for the Future, the IAP Board and Advisory Committee convened in Rome at the Accademia Nazionale dei Lincei, for a two-day meeting. Participants included representatives from the IAP Regional Networks (AASSA, EASAC, IANAS, NASAC), various members from national member academies and representatives of the Italian Government, an important funder of the IAP. Read the news article here.
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IAP Co-President Dr. Peggy Hamburg at the Kyoto STS Forum
IAP Co-President Dr. Peggy A. Hamburg participated in the STS forum held in Kyoto, Japan, from 1 to 3 October 2023. Hamburg moderated the Koji Omi Memorial Lecture, presented by Dr. Svante Pääbo, Nobel Prize Laureate and Director of the Max Planck Institute for Evolutionary Anthropology. The session provided insights into the advancements in human genomics and the understanding of ancient DNA. Read more here.
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SNAS appeals for solidarity with the Sudanese people
Sudan is, at present, experiencing a serious conflict between two factions of the army, resulting in tremendous damage to human life, property and infrastructure; hospitals and academic institutions are not functioning, and other vital services to the community are practically non-existent in many towns, particularly the capital Khartoum. Read here the entire message from the Sudanese National Academy of Sciences to national academies of science, United Nations institutions, and academic and research institutions of the African Union.
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News from IAP member academies and networks
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The African Academy of Sciences (AAS)
The African Academy of Sciences (AAS) welcomed in August a new Governing Council led by prominent scientist Professor Lise Korsten, who is the first woman President to lead the Academy. Read more here.
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The Royal Netherlands Academy of Arts and Sciences (KNAW)
In its report "Planetary Health: An emerging field to be developed" published in June, the Royal Netherlands Academy of Arts and Sciences (KNAW) examines the connection between environmental changes and human health. KNAW reviews existing scientific knowledge and gaps in this area, identifies where progress can be made and offers a list of questions for researchers to address. Read the report here.
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The Inter-American Network of Academies of Sciences (IANAS)
The Women for Science (WfS) programme of the InterAmerican Network of Academies of Sciences (IANAS) proudly annnounced the winners of its prestigious award for 2023. IANAS recognizes the Achievements of Dr. Mónica Mazariegos and Dr. Alicia Rojas. Read more here.
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The World Academy of Sciences (TWAS)
After serving as UNESCO-TWAS Executive Director for more than a decade, Romain Murenzi retired on 30 November 2023. The Director-General of UNESCO has appointed Atish Dabholkar, Director of the Abdus Salam International Centre for Theoretical Physics (ICTP), as the interim Executive Director for TWAS. Read more here.
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