Translation: Inka Rantakallio
Young Academy Finland expanded its international networks considerably this summer by becoming a member of the International Science Council. The ISC is a significant international organization that brings together more than 250 members across the globe ranging from scientific councils and academies to science unions and associations. The ISC seeks to advance the role of science and act as the global voice for science. In addition to Young Academy Finland, the membership includes around twenty young scientist organizations. The only Finnish member thus far has been the Council of Finnish Academies.
“This membership provides us with new contacts as well as opportunities for science outreach and collaboration”, says Riikka Hiltunen, the Science Secretary at the Young Academy Finland, noting also that “Members include some of our sister academies, such as the young academies in Belgium and Denmark, but also young academies we have not had contact with previously, including young academies in Colombia, Ghana, and India, for example.”
In addition to science academies, the ISC membership includes organizations representing specific scientific fields and disciplines, for example. The council’s sources of income consist of membership dues, a grant from the Government of France, and various project-specific grants from external foundations and organizations. Several of the ISC’s priorities and projects align with Young Academy Finland’s central goals. The ISC’s strategic plan for 2025–2028 consists of five priorities that include freedom, responsibility and inclusivity in science, international science agenda-setting for tackling global challenges, the evolution of science systems, supporting evidence-based policy making, and science diplomacy.
“My hope is that through this membership we will stay better informed about international discussions related to science and be able to incorporate the point of view of early-career scholars into those discussions. One of Young Academy Finland’s focus areas for the upcoming year will be the strengthening of our status as an organization and of our expertise in a way that also supports policy making – we are keeping an eye on projects related to this”, Riikka Hiltunen states.
Young Academy Finland was also elected as a member of ALLEA this spring, hence this year has been significant in terms of growing our international networks.