International Council for Science
The International Council for Science 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 July 2018, the ICSU merged with the International Social Science Council to form the International Science Council.
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.
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."
History
In July 2018, the ICSU became the International Science Council.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 and the International Research Council. 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.
Universality of science
The ICSU Principle of Universality of Science states: "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, recognising its benefits and possible harms.In advocating the free and responsible practice of science, ICSU 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.''"
Adherence to this Principle is a condition of ICSU membership. The Committee on Freedom and Responsibility in the conduct of Science "serves as the guardian of the Principle and undertakes a variety of actions to defend scientific freedoms and promote integrity and responsibility."
Structure
The ICSU Secretariat 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, Committee on Freedom and Responsibility in the conduct of Science 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 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 Scientific Unions
Member Scientific Associates
| 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 | Academia de Ciencias de América Latina |
| CIE | Commission Internationale de l'Eclairage |
| FIG | Fédération internationale des géomètres |
| IAHR | International Association for Hydro-Environment Engineering and Research |
| IASC | International Arctic Science Committee |
| ICA | 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 |
| TWAS | The World Academy of Sciences |
| UIS | Union Internationale de Spéléologie |