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University of Auckland Distinguished Professor Sir Peter Gluckman has been appointed to head a new international body of influential science institutions.
Sir Peter was elected President-Elect of the International Science Council at its inaugural General Assembly in Paris on July 4, 2018.
The ISC is a new global body that combines two well-established and highly respected scientific organisations: the International Council for Science (ICSU) and the International Social Science Council (ISSC).
Strong and Unique
The merger – which has a combined membership of more than 180 organisations – gives the ISC a strong and unique voice on increasingly complex issues that require an approach that cuts across different scientific fields.
Sir Peter will hold the role of President-elect of the Council until 2021 and then will succeed to three years as President until 2024.
South African mathematician Daya Reddy is the first President and will serve from 2018-2021.
Global challenges
Sir Peter outlined his vision to the General Assembly.
“Our world is becoming more fractured at the very time we need concerted efforts to address global and domestic issues,” he said.
“Technological and social changes create both challenges and opportunities for enhancing the environment, society and the economy. All knowledge disciplines and sciences ranging from basic/fundamental to stakeholder-engaged have critical roles to play: undertaking excellent research, building capacity and global collaboration, and communicating results and their implications to both society and policymakers.”
Science Diplomacy
Sir Peter ended his tenure as Prime Minister’s Chief Science Advisor on June 30, 2018 and will now focus on science diplomacy.
Based at the University of Auckland, Sir Peter also chairs the International Network for Government Science Advice as well as leading the secretariat of the Small Advanced Economies Initiative.
He is currently co-developing the Centre for Science in Policy, Diplomacy and Society (SciPoDS) as part of the University’s Public Policy Institute.
He was the Founding Director of the University’s Liggins Institute, with which he will also be continuing to work.
Photo Caption:
Sir Peter Gluckman (RNZ)
