International Science Council https://council.science/ Fri, 17 Oct 2025 05:49:54 +0000 en-US hourly 1 https://council.science/wp-content/uploads/2024/06/cropped-ISC_Logo_RGB_Symbol_dark-blue-32x32.png International Science Council https://council.science/ 32 32 Science without borders: International collaboration for the next generation of researchers https://council.science/podcasts/international-collaboration-for-the-next-generation-of-researchers/?utm_source=rss&utm_medium=rss&utm_campaign=international-collaboration-for-the-next-generation-of-researchers https://council.science/podcasts/international-collaboration-for-the-next-generation-of-researchers/#respond Thu, 16 Oct 2025 10:13:38 +0000 https://council.science/?p=108498 How can early- and mid-career researchers shape meaningful careers in a changing world?

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]]> The International Science Council and its Member, the China Association for Science and Technology (CAST), in partnership with Nature, have launched a six-part podcast series exploring the evolving landscape of research careers. Across the series, early- and mid-career researchers converse with senior scientists, sharing experiences of growth, collaboration, and resilience in the face of rapid change.

In the final episode, science journalist Izzie Clarke speaks with Professor Yongguan Zhu (Chinese Academy of Sciences, Vice-President for Membership of the ISC) and Dr Charah Watson (Scientific Research Council, Jamaica) about how scientists can collaborate across disciplines, sectors, and borders.

The conversation explores what “science without boundaries” truly means – from citizen science and Indigenous knowledge to the role of mentorship, communication, and persistence in building global scientific communities. Both guests share personal insights on how to create opportunities, overcome obstacles, and foster inclusive and interdisciplinary research for a sustainable future.

Transcript

Izzie Clarke: 00:01

Hello and welcome to this final podcast, presented in partnership with the International Science Council, with the support of the China Association for Science and Technology. I’m science journalist Izzie Clarke.

Across this series, we’ve explored how young scientists can navigate career development in an ever-changing scientific ecosystem. And, in this final episode, we’ll discuss the future of scientific collaboration.

Joining me are Professor Yongguan Zhu from the Chinese Academy of Sciences. He’s the Director General for the Research Center for Eco-Environmental Sciences, and also the Vice-President for Membership of the International Science Council.

Yongguan Zhu: 00:43

Hi. Hello.

Izzie Clarke: 00:45

And Dr Charah Watson, Executive Director at the Scientific Research Council in Kingston, Jamaica.

Charah Watson: 00:51

Hi, how are you?

Izzie Clarke: 00:52

Very well, thank you.

Science today is more global and interconnected than ever. So, when you hear the phrase ‘science across boundaries’, what does that mean to each of you and why does that matter?

Charah, would you like to start on that one?

Charah Watson: 01:07

Sure. So, science without boundary means science without limitations or restrictions of geographic location, of culture — of anything. Because science is about facts. Science is about discovering the facts of it all and presenting it so that it can be utilized to advance whatever it is we’re trying to advance.

It becomes extremely important that the scientific principles and scientific methods are upheld so that whatever we present can be trusted. And without barriers, it helps to improve the trust factor of the science that we are putting out.

Izzie Clarke: 01:44

Absolutely. And Yongguan, what does ‘science across boundaries’ mean to you?

Yongguan Zhu: 01:48

I think in this globalized world, science is the common language. Probably it’s the only common language that can unite the people across borders, languages and also cultural barriers. So, really something that we share together and to advance the human prosperity together in this global village.

Izzie Clarke: 02:15

And how would you say scientific research has evolved beyond academic labs and institutions and anything else similar to that more recently, Yongguan?

Yongguan Zhu: 02:28

I think that society actually needs more transformative science that can help the transition towards a more green and a healthy future. So, science is not just stay within the community of scientists. But we should translate our discoveries into solutions for real-world problems, and also to educate to the general public to improve the society as a whole, particularly in the area of sustainability science, which really involves every member of the society, regardless of your location, your wealth and health, etc.

Izzie Clarke: 03:09

Yes, we had an earlier episode where one of our guests talked about this one world, we have one home. Charah, what do you think about that?

Charah Watson: 03:18

What we have seen is with this thrust of entrepreneurship, it’s being encouraged, it’s right throughout society, what it means is that discovery and development of technologies, solutions, most of which will employ scientific principles that are not happening within laboratories, that are not happening within academic institution. And that is because we are all experiencing the world together, we are all experiencing the challenges, so therefore some of us will start thinking about solutions. And once you start thinking that way, most likely you will find science happening within community.

And here in Jamaica, in particular, we have what we call a National Innovation Awards. And most of the applications for these awards are from persons who are not connected with any kind of institution, which is demonstrating to us that persons are utilizing basic scientific principles to find answers to issues that are being faced.

Izzie Clarke: 04:19

And I suppose on the theme of that, what role do you think citizen science has to play in the future of science, as well?

Charah Watson: 04:29

A fundamental one. The average citizens cannot be excluded because one of the first basis for us is always reviewing what is happening on the ground, getting your observations. And where you’re going to get most of those from? The citizens. And I’m happy to see that when you’re talking about traditional societies, folklore practices and advancements made from those that we are seeing, it’s very important now to ensure that you include Indigenous knowledge holders, so they cannot be excluded at all.

Izzie Clarke: 05:01

Yongguan?

Yongguan Zhu: 05:03

I think by engaging the citizens will help disseminate the science. That’s the first importance. The second is, actually, by engaging the citizens also, we encourage the young people to become interested in science so we can forge our future generations of scientists. We need a continuous supply of talents. So, I think the citizen science can also play a role in that regard.

Izzie Clarke: 05:30

Yeah, absolutely.

And Charah, are there any misconceptions or challenges about cross-sector or international research that you’d actually like to challenge?

Charah Watson: 05:41

Well, most research science, any kind of exploration, will require cross-sectional approach. There’s nothing that is happening in isolation. And one of the misconceptions is that it is difficult or almost impossible to do, which it’s not. And I will dare to say that it’s what we have always been doing. But now being more intentional and more strategic, and connecting the dots from very early instead of figuring it out down the road, you’re looking at all the cross connectivity.

Communication is always a challenge, especially science communication is something that you practice and you get better at. Because even when I attend scientific conferences, a lot of it goes over my head because we speak in certain jargons and we are missing that opportunity to communicate with the whole. We need a collaborative approach in addressing the issues or challenges and see the alignment with the various sectors that might be involved.

Izzie Clarke: 06:46

Yeah, and I think it takes courage, doesn’t it, to say, actually, can you explain that? But I think when you’re collaborating with people that communication is so important.

And Yongguan, what are some of the opportunities and potential challenges, as well, that early- and mid-career researchers should be mindful of when it comes to working across academia, industry, public sectors or with other communities?

Yongguan Zhu: 07:14

I think for early-career scientists, they should be prepared to encounter difficulties. There is always difficulties but we should not be afraid of difficulty because anything we want to achieve is always try to overcome obstacles. So, don’t be afraid of difficulties, be persistent.

And another point is we should be always mindful about opportunities. Even serendipities in my own career, many serendipities actually lead to successful collaboration. So, we just have to be looking for opportunities and seize opportunities to make networks. This is very important.

Izzie Clarke: 08:01

Yeah, that’s great advice.

So, Charah, from your own experiences, what was a standout initiative that you were part of that crossed boundaries — whether that’s across sectors, disciplines or different countries? And what would you say were some of your biggest learnings from that experience?

Charah Watson: 08:19

So, at the Scientific Research Council, a lot of our work is geared to our supporting Jamaica’s agricultural industry. We have to interface with different government agencies, international partners, other international research institutions, because what you find in smaller countries like Jamaica, while we have a lot of research prospects, we don’t have the wherewithal to execute all of the different activities within our research projects.

It comes back again to ensuring that you have a very clear strategy in place in how to handle communication and interaction. And I believe we’re at a point now where we can clearly indicate and communicate with our partners. We have access to international funding. And you find that a lot of countries that are developing has that concern. While there might be access to funding, there’s a misalignment of agenda. And that comes a lot through miscommunication, not being confident enough to express what your needs are and how you might fit in, instead of just taking on and say yes.

Izzie Clarke: 09:32

Is there anything that you found, in particular, that helps you navigate those sorts of situations?

Charah Watson: 09:39

Yes. It comes to building relationships. You’re understanding where each person, each country’s coming from so that what you’re developing together, what you’re designing together, it’s more aligned and the outcomes are more in line with our overall objectives.

Izzie Clarke: 09:59

And Yongguan, for researchers that are just starting out, how can they begin to find or create those new sort of collaborative opportunities?

Yongguan Zhu: 10:10

My advice would be don’t be shy, be open-minded. And, also, we often say that opportunities are for prepared minds, but that’s not enough. Actually, we should be more outgoing to create opportunities for your career development. Look for opportunities and create opportunities for collaboration.

Charah Watson: 10:34

I totally agree with Yongguan. Opportunity favours the prepared mind and creating your own opportunities, creating your own doors, and even opening it yourself and showing others that you can walk through — and walk through with me — is important.

For me, I benefitted a lot from great mentors. And they chose me. And there must have been something about me being open, demonstrating that I don’t know most things and I want to learn more things. And the right mentors, the right individuals that can support you, will come on board.

Izzie Clarke: 11:13

And I suppose that goes back to almost what Yongguan was saying earlier, as well — just look out for those opportunities and seize them when they make themselves known.

So, looking to the future, what excites you most about where science and scientific careers are heading?

Charah Watson: 11:29

So, what excites me goes back to your very first question, which is science between disciplines, sectors and science without gender. Now, you are having more participation from all the genders and that is amazing, especially being a woman and knowing that science is more measured on its weight than on who is doing it and where it’s being done.

Izzie Clarke: 11:57

And if you could give one piece of advice to early- and mid-career researchers hoping to shape the future of science, what would it be? Charah?

Charah Watson: 12:07

Build relationships before you need them. Those are the most genuine and the most long-lasting. You need a team. So, it’s very important that you are aware of who you are, it’s essential. Then go out and build those relationships without any expectations in return, and that will support you in any career, whether it’s science, business, whatever you’re doing. Know who you are, know your why and build relationships before you need them.

Izzie Clarke: 12:36

And Yongguan?

Yongguan Zhu: 12:37

Yeah. My advice would be try to go beyond the conventional boundaries of science disciplines nowadays, because we are becoming increasingly more interdisciplinary and we should broaden our vision as much as possible. It’s a bit like climbing the mountain — the higher you get, the more comprehensive picture you will see. By seeing the big picture, you will find the more opportunities, more problems that you can address in your future works. That’s a small advice I would give. Thank you.

Izzie Clarke: 13:16

No, thank you. And thank you both for joining me today.

If you’re an early- or mid-career researcher and you want to build professional relationships across boundaries, then join the International Science Council forum for emerging scientists.

Visit the website council.science/forum to learn more. I’m Izzie Clarke, thanks for listening.

Disclaimer
The information, opinions and recommendations presented in our guest blogs are those of the individual contributors, and do not necessarily reflect the values and beliefs of the International Science Council

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]]> https://council.science/podcasts/international-collaboration-for-the-next-generation-of-researchers/feed/ 0 Steering Group appointed to guide the ISC Social Science Matters Programme https://council.science/news/steering-group-social-science-matters/?utm_source=rss&utm_medium=rss&utm_campaign=steering-group-social-science-matters https://council.science/news/steering-group-social-science-matters/#respond Wed, 15 Oct 2025 11:53:45 +0000 https://council.science/?p=108442 The International Science Council (ISC) has appointed a new Steering Group to guide the work of the ISC Social Science Matters Programme.  The Programme will...

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]]> The International Science Council (ISC) has appointed a new Steering Group to guide the work of the ISC Social Science Matters Programme. 

The Programme will explore how the role and visibility of the social sciences and humanities can be enhanced in the current sustainability policy landscape at national and multilateral levels and how ISC Members and partners can collaborate, exchange ideas, lessons and capacities more effectively in this area.

The Steering Group will provide strategic advice on the overall direction, scope, and priorities of the project, support the promotion and dissemination of project findings and recommendations, advise on stakeholder engagement and fundraising and identify gaps in participation, substantive themes and outputs.

The Steering Group will play a central role in advancing the Programme’s objectives, including: 

  • Understanding the challenges and good practices in developing social science contributions to sustainable development policy and demonstrate the value of social science contributions to policy making and implementation.
  • Developing evidence-based policy recommendations for sustainability
  • Building capacity for social science research and collaboration for social transformations for sustainable development.
  • Providing a platform for collaboration and for responding to common issues.

Members of the Steering Group

The Steering Group is co-chaired by Karina Batthyány, Full Professor and researcher at the Faculty of Social Sciences, University of the Republic (Uruguay), and Craig Calhoun,
University Professor of Social Sciences at Arizona State University and Centennial Professor at the London School of Economics.

The ISC warmly welcomes the Steering Group members and looks forward to working closely with them and the wider expert network in working to enhance the role and visibility of the social sciences and humanities.

Karina Batthyány

ISC Governing Board Member

Karina Batthyány

Prof. Craig Calhoun

University Professor of Social Sciences at Arizona State University and Centennial Professor at the London School of Economics

Prof. Craig Calhoun

Maria Paradiso

ISC Governing Board Member, Professor at University of Naples Federico II

Maria Paradiso

Sawako Shirahase

ISC Vice-President for Finance, Compliance and Risk, Professor at University of Tokyo

Sawako Shirahase
Joyce Arriola

Dr. Joyce Arriola

Professor and Chair, Department of Communication

University of Santo Tomas, Manila

Dr. Joyce Arriola

Prof. Anna Davies

Professor of Geography, Environment and Society

Trinity College

Prof. Anna Davies

Prof. Dr. Joyeeta Gupta

Distinguished Professor of Climate Justice, Sustainability and Global Justice

University of Amsterdam

Prof. Dr. Joyeeta Gupta

Elizabeth Jelin

Senior Researcher

CONICET and IDES

Elizabeth Jelin
Awanish Kumar

Dr. Awanish Kumar

Associate Professor, School of Development

Azim Premji University

Dr. Awanish Kumar
Ricardo López Santillán

Dr. Ricardo López Santillán

Full Professor

Centro Peninsular en Humanidades y Ciencias Sociales (National University of Mexico)

Dr. Ricardo López Santillán

Saui’a Louise Mataia Milo

Dean of the Faculty of Arts

National University of Samoa

Saui’a Louise Mataia Milo
Rongping MU

Prof. Rongping MU

Professor

University of Science and Technology of China

Prof. Rongping MU

Ioana Roxana Podina

Ioana Roxana Podina
NORMA ROMM

Prof. Norma Romm

Professor Extraordinarius in the Department of Adult, Community and Continuing Education

University of South Africa

Prof. Norma Romm
Seteney Shami

Seteney Shami

Founding Director-General

Arab Council for the Social Sciences

Seteney Shami

Yvonne Underhill-Sem

Pacific feminist decolonial development geographer

University of Auckland

Yvonne Underhill-Sem
Kithaka wa Mberia

Prof. Kithaka wa Mberia

Member

Kenya National Academy of Sciences

Prof. Kithaka wa Mberia

Dr. Laura Zimmermann

Associate Professor

University of Georgia

Dr. Laura Zimmermann

Join the Expert Network

If you are a social sciences expert and would like to contribute to this Programme, please consider applying for membership of the Expert Network by completing the online form below. Membership of the Network entails having the opportunity to contribute expertise and perspectives to discussions and activities related to the project, and to connect and share ideas with a diverse community interested in developing the contribution and visibility of social science in sustainability policy.

Contact Information

Title
Name

Personal information

Gender
Are you affiliated with an ISC Member organization?

Primary place of work

Type of institution

ISC Expert Database

Would you like to be added to the ISC expert database to be able to receive future opportunities?
How did you hear about this call?
Which ISC newsletter(s) would you like to subscribe to?
Data protection: Applicants should be aware that ISC will hold the information submitted for the duration of their participation in the initiative.

Foto von mid bee auf Unsplash

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]]> https://council.science/news/steering-group-social-science-matters/feed/ 0 Get involved in the 5th International Polar Year https://council.science/news/get-involved-in-the-5th-international-polar-year/?utm_source=rss&utm_medium=rss&utm_campaign=get-involved-in-the-5th-international-polar-year https://council.science/news/get-involved-in-the-5th-international-polar-year/#respond Wed, 15 Oct 2025 11:32:36 +0000 https://council.science/?p=108422 Preparations are underway for the 5th International Polar Year (IPY-5), a major international initiative advancing polar research and cooperation to address global challenges. As a co-convener and member of the IPY-5 Executive Committee, the International Science Council (ISC) is pleased to share three new opportunities to engage in this global effort, coordinated by the IPY-5 Executive Committee and Interim Secretariat.

The post Get involved in the 5th International Polar Year appeared first on International Science Council.

]]> Ahead of the 2025 Arctic Circle Assembly, taking place from 16 to 18 October, the IPY-5 global leadership has opened three key opportunities for engagement to help shape the planning, coordination, and participation in the 5th International Polar Year (2032–33):

  • A call for bids to host the International Coordination Office (from early 2027 to at least 2035).
  • A call for National Committees for countries wishing to contribute to IPY-5, launching in October 2025.
  • A call for IPY-5 projects, starting in 2026, inviting institutions, researchers, and communities to seek IPY-5 endorsement for their initiatives.

The Fifth International Polar Year (IPY-5) is already in motion, unfolding in three stages: a planning phase (2021-2026) involving consultations to define priorities and structures; a project phase (2026-2033) marked by major research initiatives, fieldwork, and outreach; and a legacy phase (from 2033 onward) focused on data analysis, knowledge transfer, and evaluation of IPY-5’s impact.

For questions on the calls, please contact the ISC IPY-5 Focal Point Morgan Seag at morgan.seag@council.science or the IPY-5 Interim Secretariat at ipy-secretariat@iasc.info.

Call for Bids to host the IPY-5 International Coordination Office

The Executive Committee of the 5th International Polar Year 2032-33 (IPY-5) is now accepting bids to host and sponsor the International Coordination Office for the planning and implementation of the IPY-5. The operational period of the Coordination Office is expected to be from early 2027 until at least the end of 2035. 

The bidding process will include the following deadlines:  

  • 6 February 2026 at 18:00 GMT: Deadline to submit short Expressions of Interest letters (max. 2 pages) via this form.
  • After a review of the expressions of interest, the IPY-5 Executive Committee will contact the shortlisted bids to invite them to submit full bids by no later than 31 May 2026. Detailed instructions for the full bids will be sent to the shortlisted bids by no later than early March 2026.

Bids are accepted from: 

  • Individual institutions or organisations 
  • Consortia of multiple institutions or organisations in one or more countries

Bids must be from institutions / organisations in countries that have an existing active Arctic and / or Antarctic research programme. Please see the memberships of the International Arctic Science Committee (IASC) and the Scientific Committee on Antarctic Research (SCAR) for examples of countries with active Arctic and / or Antarctic research programmes. Institutions / organisations from countries not members of either IASC or SCAR may also apply if they can show an existing active Arctic and / or Antarctic research program or are providing a joint bid with a country that does. 

More detailed information on the call for bids and requirements for the IPY-5 International Coordination Office is available on the IPY-5 website. 

Call for National Committees

The 5th International Polar Year (2032–33), or IPY-5, will be a large-scale multilateral coordinated action to address urgent global challenges by advancing polar research. Its success will depend on strong national contributions linked together through international cooperation.

Local and national contributions will be coordinated by IPY-5 National Committees that any country interested in contributing to the IPY-5 can set up from October 2025. The committees should be active through the IPY-5 in 2032–33 until at least one year past the conclusion of IPY-5.

By contributing early, countries can shape how IPY-5 delivers knowledge and impact for the world. More information on how to create an IPY-5 National Committee can be found on the IPY-5 website.

Call for IPY-5 Projects from 2026

The 5th International Polar Year (2032–33) will include an ambitious and broad range of research, education, outreach and other projects and activities across the globe focused on the polar regions. A system of project endorsements will highlight and connect initiatives that contribute to IPY-5 from 2026 onwards. Receiving endorsement as an IPY-5 initiative is a way to connect projects to this global polar effort and ensure it contributes to the shared legacy of IPY-5.

There will be:

  • International Endorsement Processes coordinated by the IPY-5 International Coordination Office and Executive Committee for international projects involving multiple countries. Annual calls for endorsements will be published starting 2026.
  • National Endorsement Processes coordinated by the IPY-5 National Committees for national/local-focused projects involving only one country.

Projects can contribute to the:

  • Ramp-up period to IPY-5 (2026–2031), and/or
  • IPY-5 (2032–33), and/or
  • IPY-5 Legacy period (2034 onwards)

Individuals, institutions, organisations, and communities working on topics related to the Arctic , Antarctic, or their global connections will be eligible to apply.

The detailed information on the IPY-5 Project Endorsement Processes will be available starting early 2026 on the IPY-5 website.

A first call for project endorsements for international projects will be released in spring 2026.

Photo by Long Ma on Unsplash

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]]> https://council.science/news/get-involved-in-the-5th-international-polar-year/feed/ 0 New primers examine AI use, environmental impacts and data in science https://council.science/news/ai-primers/?utm_source=rss&utm_medium=rss&utm_campaign=ai-primers https://council.science/news/ai-primers/#respond Mon, 13 Oct 2025 01:01:00 +0000 https://council.science/?p=108199 As artificial intelligence (AI) rapidly reshapes the scientific landscape, the International Science Council (ISC) is releasing a series of three technical primers to support informed engagement across global science systems. These primers explore the practical applications, environmental implications, and data governance challenges of AI in science - helping policy-makers, researchers, and institutions navigate complex and fast-evolving terrain.

The post New primers examine AI use, environmental impacts and data in science appeared first on International Science Council.

]]> Foreword

“Artificial intelligence (AI) is transforming science systems, offering new tools to tackle complex global challenges, and prompting an acceleration of the research process itself. At the same time, this transformative power introduces challenges that the global science community must address responsibly.  

The Members of the International Science Council, and its partners, have been examining the impacts of emerging technologies on science systems and society, through, for example, Navigating New Horizons (2024) – a joint UNEP-ISC foresight report on planetary health and human wellbeing, the Royal Society’s Science in the age of AI (2024), and the ISC’s framework for Evaluating rapidly developing technologies including AI, large language models and beyond (2024). 

Since 2024, the ISC’s Centre for Science Futures has taken a broader view of the impact of emerging technologies on science systems in the Global South through the Science Systems Futures programme, where a key angle has been looking at the AI-readiness of the science systems in various countries:  Preparing National Research Ecosystems for AI (2025).  

The themes of the three technical primers presented here arose from points of ambiguity in many of the country case studies features in the above 2025 report. These primers aim to move beyond buzzwords and hype, providing technical and contextual grounding. They offer an objective, high-level analysis of AI’s role in the scientific process through three lenses: 

Types of AI in science

Considerations on the environmental impact of AI in science

Data for AI in science

By outlining the core issues in these domains, we hope that these primers will help the scientific and science policy communities of the ISC to engage with the subject from a place of knowledge, not assumption. This is crucial for developing policies and practices that maximize AI’s benefits while mitigating its risks in science.”

Sir Peter Gluckman

ISC President, Distinguished Professor Emeritus ONZ KNZM FRSNZ FRS

Sir Peter Gluckman
David-Castle, WDS

David Castle

Chair of the ISC Science Systems Futures project

David Castle

This work was carried out with the aid of a grant from the International Development Research Centre (IDRC), Ottawa, Canada. The views expressed herein do not necessarily represent those of IDRC or its Board of Governors.

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]]> https://council.science/news/ai-primers/feed/ 0 Call for Bids to host the IPY-5 International Coordination Office | deadline: 6 February https://council.science/news/call-for-bids-ipy-5-international-coordination-office/?utm_source=rss&utm_medium=rss&utm_campaign=call-for-bids-ipy-5-international-coordination-office https://council.science/news/call-for-bids-ipy-5-international-coordination-office/#respond Fri, 10 Oct 2025 06:44:00 +0000 https://council.science/?p=108479 The post Call for Bids to host the IPY-5 International Coordination Office | deadline: 6 February appeared first on International Science Council.

]]> The post Call for Bids to host the IPY-5 International Coordination Office | deadline: 6 February appeared first on International Science Council.

]]> https://council.science/news/call-for-bids-ipy-5-international-coordination-office/feed/ 0 Rethinking growth and resilience in the research ecosystem https://council.science/podcasts/rethinking-growth-and-resilience-in-the-research-ecosystem/?utm_source=rss&utm_medium=rss&utm_campaign=rethinking-growth-and-resilience-in-the-research-ecosystem https://council.science/podcasts/rethinking-growth-and-resilience-in-the-research-ecosystem/#respond Thu, 09 Oct 2025 09:02:58 +0000 https://council.science/?p=108239 How can early- and mid-career researchers thrive rather than burn out?

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]]> The International Science Council and its Member, the China Association for Science and Technology (CAST), in partnership with Nature, have launched a new six-part podcast series exploring the evolving landscape of research careers. Across the series, early- and mid-career researchers converse with senior scientists, sharing experiences of growth, collaboration, and resilience in the face of rapid change.

The latest episode of the International Science Council’s podcast explores the mental health and well-being of early- and mid-career researchers. Science journalist Izzie Clarke speaks with Lori Foster, President of the International Association of Applied Psychology (IAAP), and Yensi Flores Bueso, Co-Chair of the Global Young Academy (GYA), about how precarious contracts, competition, and limited resources impact researchers’ resilience and productivity. They underline that caring for scientists’ well-being is not only humane but vital for the future of science.

In the discussion, they call for research environments that value collaboration, inclusion, and psychological safety. They urge institutions to recognize diverse career paths, reward long-term teamwork over short-term output, and provide stronger mentoring and peer networks.

Transcript

Izzie Clarke: 00:01

Hello and welcome to this podcast presented in partnership with the International Science Council, with the support of the China Association for Science and Technology. I’m science journalist Izzie Clarke.

The future of science relies on the well-being of early- to mid-career researchers, that they feel supported in their workplace so that collaboratively their fields can continue to evolve. But with funding and publication demands, to name a few, how is that possible and what else is needed to mentally support researchers?

To help answer these all-important questions, I’m joined by Yensi Flores Bueso, co-chair of the Global Young Academy, and a Marie Curie Career Fellow at the Institute for Protein Design and the Cancer Research centre at University College Cork.

Yensi Flores Bueso: 00:51

Hi, Izzie.

Izzie Clarke: 00:52

And Lori Foster, the President of the International Association of Applied Psychology and Professor of Organizational Psychology at North Carolina State University.

Lori Foster: 01:04

Hi, Izzie. Great to be here.

Izzie Clarke: 01:06

Well, I think today’s conversation is an important one. We’re talking about mental health and well-being. So, let’s start with the question for both of you. Why do we need to rethink resilience in the research ecosystem, especially when it comes to early- and mid-career researchers?

Lori Foster: 01:22

Sure. I think we’re talking about how to prevent things like burnout, how to foster resilience and thriving. And I suppose I have two answers. So, one is it’s simply the humane thing to do. We have to take care of ourselves and we have to take care of each other. And then answer number two, if we need a business case, is it’s the right thing to do from the standpoint of the advancement of our sciences. If we are in an ecosystem and we are burning out some of our resources, then we are not going to be able to sustain growth and productivity in that ecosystem.

Yensi Flores Bueso: 01:56

I agree with Lori. Science would benefit from scientific systems that can help encourage the different abilities and the different characteristics and the strengths that every researcher has. And being burnt out, or this hyper competition, I don’t think that it benefits some of the characteristics of certain researchers because, at the end of the day, science, it’s done by teams. You need this combination of different abilities and strengths to build a strong team in science.

Izzie Clarke: 02:28

Lori, what would you say are some of the pressures that early- and mid-career researchers face?

Lori Foster: 02:35

Yeah, thanks Izzie. And I’m going to be really interested in Yensi’s perspective on this, as well, given that she is at an earlier career stage than I am. But it can be workload, particularly in the context of the other life pressures that may be going on. That could be anything from paying off student loans to raising a family, to building your social network with your friend groups and all of those things… maintaining your physical activity and exercise, getting enough sleep. So, all of those things can be factors, in addition to the climate or the culture of the work environment, right? And we’re going to see some variability there. But for many, early- and mid-career researchers, that’s a real factor that can be a barrier.

Izzie Clarke: 03:22

And Yensi, if you’re happy to talk about this, have you experienced any pressures to secure funding or publishing or anything like that that might have impacted your well-being in this stage of your career?

Yensi Flores Bueso: 03:35

Yeah, especially coming from the Global South, where there’s less resources available, you have to compete harder for getting the few opportunities that are there. People who have less opportunities are at disadvantage. Right now, the current systems, what they evaluate are opportunities rather than ability. So, this has definitely impacted my life.

Even in the Global North, researchers live in certain precarity. The contracts are usually just temporary and the salaries are very low in early stages, and there’s a lot of insecurity of what is going to happen next.

You have to compete for the funding or the positions that will let you advance your career. Then you’re always being hyperproductive and that results in burnouts or, in my personal case, I can say that definitely it takes most of my time. It can affect your health, your sleep, for example, and if a woman, for example, has a family, it will be super difficult.

Izzie Clarke: 04:42

That’s also a lot to take on in addition to academic work and research, which in itself is a tasking job on top of all of those other things to contend with. So, in those moments of stress, was there anything or anyone that helped you regain a sense of balance or peace during those more difficult times?

Yensi Flores Bueso: 05:05

Yes. Well, I would say one, mentors. I have been lucky to be supported by my mentors who, in between grants, for example, gave me a contract for a couple of months to help me not be without a job for two or three months, which is especially dangerous for me because my visa depends on my job.

Then my peers, for example, I am lucky that I joined the Global Young Academy (GYA) because I can interact with different people from around the world and hear their perspectives, as well as they hear me. And another thing, I got involved in something called the Coalition for Advancing Research Assessments. These gave me a lot of hope and purpose. It aims to change the way that we evaluate researchers to kind of make space and room for all kind of contributions, not only publications.

Izzie Clarke: 05:55

And I guess that goes back to what you were saying earlier about having the diversity of different strengths and skills in your team, as well, and sharing that with your peers.

So, Lori, from a psychological science perspective, what are some of the common and potentially overlooked signs of burnout or mental strain in research environments?

Lori Foster: 06:15

Yeah, well, I really appreciated a lot of what Yensi was saying there about joining organizations, joining associations. Because, to your question, Izzie, I think one of those signs might be withdrawal. If you see somebody who’s beginning to isolate a little bit more, withdrawal, perfectionism, cynicism, emotional numbness, drops in curiosity, things like that could be symptomatic and problematic.

And some of us are lucky enough to join a lab that is not only productive but supportive, and some of us aren’t. And so then what? What do you do when you’re not in an environment that feels psychologically safe or has a culture that’s productive and supportive, both?

And what I found, especially looking back similar to what Yensi is saying is that joining organizations, associations, professional associations, did mean a world of good because it fulfilled both needs. It was a way to develop a network, contribute professionally and I was making friends and finding people with common interests. And I found that it also accommodates a variety of different career stages if you join the right organization or pick the right ones. So, I really want to emphasize that important point as well.

Izzie Clarke: 07:32

If a listener sees that a colleague is struggling or they themselves actually feel like things are getting a bit much, what should they do?

Lori Foster: 07:41

Certainly if somebody is at risk or harming themselves or others, it’s important to seek help immediately. If it is something other than that where you start to feel that cynicism creeping in, you start to feel that exhaustion, the lack of personal accomplishment like I don’t feel like I’m very good at my job, I don’t feel like I’m accomplishing anything worthwhile…

If you see those early signs of burnout creeping in, might be stepping in and one, just normalizing it when we’re talking about it with other people like, hey, it looks like you might be struggling? Do you want to talk a little bit about what might be going on? That level of social support for ourselves, building in some of the strategies that we’ve been discussing, can go a long way.

Yensi, I’m curious as to what you think from your personal experience.

Yensi Flores Bueso: 08:29

Yeah, peer support is always very important. As a member of the lab, simple things like, let’s go for a coffee and chat. Just to interact and just trying to distract from what it is because that person has been so hyperfocused on the work, it might just help the brain to kind of restart or something like that. I find also that for me, exercising and being in contact with nature has helped me a lot.

Lori Foster: 08:59

Yeah, the exercise, the nature, the sleep, the nutrition… we cannot overestimate how important those are. We know about the psychological benefits of gratitude, really taking a pause, taking a step back and saying, what am I grateful for? Who am I grateful for? And even journaling that, even if you never show it to anyone, we know that this can have positive impacts for ourselves, individually. And of course, if you share that, then it has positive impacts to the person that you’re grateful for.

Izzie Clarke: 09:27

Yeah. With that in mind, what can research institutions do differently to support healthier and more sustainable career paths, especially for early- and mid-career researchers? Yensi, do you want to start on this?

Yensi Flores Bueso: 09:39

Yes. Well, I think that if institutions start recognizing that there is no one size fits all, it will be helpful towards careers that universities not only consider different evaluation for the positions, but also recognize that nowadays science is done by different profiles. There’s not one rigid path in academia. There’s other roles that can be incorporated.

For example, it’s becoming more important to have data managers, project managers and science communicators, or who integrates the research that is done by the university to policymakers. And all these roles are important and are very important for the scientific system. And they, right now, not always exist.

Izzie Clarke: 10:26

Yeah. And Lori, what do you think about that?

Lori Foster: 10:29

Yeah, the first thing I would encourage institutions to do is to make sure that their reward structure is aligned with the long view. If organizations are hoping for long-term productivity, collaboration, innovation, creativity, then that’s what they need to reward. So many times, they’re rewarding competition, short-term wins, quick publications and as many as you can get.

Two, there’s something called the Job Demands–Resources model. And Yensi, you’ve had me thinking about it during this conversation today. So, we could think broadly about what are the demands of the roles and what are the resources? And those demands can be both demands with respect to acquiring grants, demands with respect to publications or even interpersonal demands that you’re having in your lab and your environment.

And then what are the resources, you use that word Yensi earlier, to meet those demands? And those could be internal resources, they could be external resources, but really looking to make sure that our early- and mid-career researchers have the resources externally and internally that are needed to meet those demands.

And then the third and final thing that I’ll say in answer to this one is maybe less at the institutional level and more at the level of the lab, is to create that psychologically safe environment. That’s the environment that Yensi was describing, where each team member can play to their strengths, where they’re not afraid of getting or punished for thinking outside of the box.

Izzie Clarke: 11:56

And so what advice would you both give to early- and mid-career researchers who are struggling, especially in perhaps competitive or underfunded research environments? Yensi, what do you think?

Yensi Flores Bueso: 12:10

I would just say if they cannot find the support within their own lab or small circle, then to look a bit further to the university, and then if not the university, to other communities to get these support. There are more opportunities. The skills that we acquire in research are also very transferable.

Izzie Clarke: 12:32

And Lori?

Lori Foster: 12:33

For starters, I would say just know that you’re not alone. If you’re struggling, you are not alone. Many, if not all, people go through at different stages of their career. It’s not a weakness. And then I’ll also add two very practical things. One is focus on what’s within your control, your habits, your values, your boundaries. And then I would also say track small wins because, in this environment, it’s often the big grant that feels like the win or the publication, but it takes a long time. And so break that down, celebrate and track those small wins.

Izzie Clarke: 13:08

Yeah, it’s simple but effective. Thank you both so much for joining me today. If you’re an early- or mid-career researcher and you want to be part of a community, then join the International Science Council forum for emerging scientists.

Visit the website council.science/forum. I’m Izzie Clarke and next time we’ll be discussing the benefits of science evolving beyond academic laboratories and institutions. Until then.

Disclaimer
The information, opinions and recommendations presented in our guest blogs are those of the individual contributors, and do not necessarily reflect the values and beliefs of the International Science Council

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]]> https://council.science/podcasts/rethinking-growth-and-resilience-in-the-research-ecosystem/feed/ 0 Call for expressions of interest to ISC Members to join the SCI2SDG working group https://council.science/news/call-sci2sdg-working-group/?utm_source=rss&utm_medium=rss&utm_campaign=call-sci2sdg-working-group https://council.science/news/call-sci2sdg-working-group/#respond Thu, 09 Oct 2025 08:28:27 +0000 https://council.science/?p=108254 The project will inform future sustainability frameworks beyond 2030 and the International Decade of Sciences for Sustainable Development (IDSSD), and foster cross-disciplinary collaboration between ISC Members. All ISC Members are invited to join the working group.

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]]> ISC Member, the International Society for Porous Media (InterPore), in collaboration with other Members, including the International Union of Geodesy and Geophysics (IUGG), the International Geographical Union (IGU), the International Union of Soil Sciences (IUSS), the Urban Health & Wellbeing (UHWB) and the Integrated Research on Disaster Risk (IRDR), has launched a project called Mapping Contributions of Scientific Institutions to UN SDGs (SCI2SDG) to map how science that is produced within the ISC Member organizations contributes to the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals (UN SDGs).

The project is led by Dr. Tannaz Pak, Project Principal Investigator and ISC focal point at the International Society for Porous Media (InterPore), and supported by Prof. Alik Ismail-Zadeh, Research Professor at the Institute of Applied Geosciences at the Karlsruhe Institute of Technology, as Project Advisor.

Why the project matters

  • Global SDG progress is off track. The 2025 UN SDG Progress Report warns that only a fraction of targets are on course to be achieved by 2030, with contributions from scientific community often under-recognised or poorly connected to policy action.
  • The International Decade of Sciences for Sustainable Development calls for stronger alignment between research communities and sustainability priorities.
  • The ISC Strategic Framework emphasises agenda-setting, science-policy engagement, and inclusivity, and the SCI2SDG responds directly to this call.
  • Building a coordinated, Member-driven mapping effort can amplify the ISC’s collective voice and strengthen influence with global sustainability policy stakeholders.

Timeline

  • Survey (Nov 2025 – Jan 2026): Collect structured data on Members’ SDG-related research and initiatives.
  • Analysis & Mapping (Feb – Mar 2026): Synthesise data to identify thematic strengths, gaps, and emerging opportunities.
  • First Webinar (Apr 2026): Share initial findings with ISC Members, gather feedback, and refine analysis with Members’ contribution.
  • Thematic Focus Groups (May – Jun 2026): Convene groups around shared priorities (e.g. water, health, climate) to co-develop joint actions.
  • Collaborative Online Seminars (Jul – Sep 2026): Cross-group dialogue to refine priorities and propose concrete collaborative outputs.
  • Dissemination & Futures (Nov 2026): Final report and forward-looking recommendations exploring sustainability frameworks beyond 2030.
  • Future-Facing Component: SCI2SDG will go beyond documenting current contributions. It will help ISC and its Members look ahead to post-2030 sustainability frameworks, exploring scenarios and recommendations for how science can remain central to the next generation of global sustainability agendas.

Why ISC Members should participate

  • Visibility & Recognition: Showcase your organization’s contributions to the SDGs in a collective ISC platform.
  • Collaboration & Networking: Build new partnerships across disciplines and regions through thematic focus groups.
  • Policy Relevance & Agenda-Setting: Inform the future sustainability agenda and strengthen science’s role in global policy frameworks.
  • Capacity Building: Engage with peers and learn from international approaches to science-policy impact.

Join the working group

Every ISC Member is invited to nominate a representative or appoint someone with relevant expertise to join the working group and lead the contribution their Member organization. Should you be interested in joining the working group, please submit your expression of interest via the online form.

Contact

Should you have any questions, please contact Dr. Tannaz Pak, Project Principal Investigator and ISC focal point at the International Society for Porous Media (InterPore).

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]]> https://council.science/news/call-sci2sdg-working-group/feed/ 0 Call for IPY-5 National Committees https://council.science/news/call-ipy-5-national-committees/?utm_source=rss&utm_medium=rss&utm_campaign=call-ipy-5-national-committees https://council.science/news/call-ipy-5-national-committees/#respond Thu, 09 Oct 2025 06:50:00 +0000 https://council.science/?p=108485 The post Call for IPY-5 National Committees appeared first on International Science Council.

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]]> https://council.science/news/call-ipy-5-national-committees/feed/ 0 New Steering Group appointed to guide the ISC Forum on Publishing and Research Assessment  https://council.science/news/steering-group-research-assessment/?utm_source=rss&utm_medium=rss&utm_campaign=steering-group-research-assessment https://council.science/news/steering-group-research-assessment/#respond Thu, 09 Oct 2025 05:59:19 +0000 https://council.science/?p=108246 The International Science Council (ISC) has appointed a new Steering Group to guide the work of the Forum on Publishing and Research Assessment.  The Forum...

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]]> The International Science Council (ISC) has appointed a new Steering Group to guide the work of the Forum on Publishing and Research Assessment. 

The Forum brings together a broad community of stakeholders to advance global dialogue and action on the future of publishing and research assessment systems, with a focus on equity, inclusivity, and enabling science to best serve society. 

The Steering Group will provide strategic leadership for the Forum, shaping its agenda, identifying priorities, and ensuring broad engagement with ISC Members and partners worldwide. Its members bring extensive experience across research, publishing, policy, and assessment systems, as well as strong regional and disciplinary diversity. 

The Steering Group will play a central role in advancing the Forum’s objectives, including: 

  • Supporting more equitable and transparent publishing practices; 
  • Promoting responsible approaches to research assessment; 
  • Facilitating global exchange of knowledge and practices; 
  • Engaging with policymakers, funders, institutions, and publishers to drive systemic change. 

Members of the Steering Group 

Prof. Arianna Becerril-García

Working Group Lead on Open Knowledge as Commons

Latin American Council of Social Sciences (CLACSO)

Prof. Arianna Becerril-García

Prof. Geoffrey Boulton

ISC Governing Board Member, Regius Professor Emeritus, Provost of Science and Engineering and Vice Principal Emeritus

University of Edinburgh

Prof. Geoffrey Boulton

Dr. Sriparna Chatterjee

WISE-SCOPE Scientist

CSIR – Institute of Minerals and Materials Technology (IMMT)

Dr. Sriparna Chatterjee

Francis Crawley

Chair, International Data Policy Committee (IDPC)

CODATA

Francis Crawley

Prof. Richard de Grijs

Professor of Physics and Astronomy

Macquarie University

Prof. Richard de Grijs

Prof. Sarah de Rijcke

Professor

Leiden University

Prof. Sarah de Rijcke

Dr. Yensi Flores Bueso

Postdoctoral Researcher

University College Cork

Dr. Yensi Flores Bueso

Dr. Elizabeth Gadd

Head of Research and Innovation Culture & Assessment

Loughborough University

Dr. Elizabeth Gadd

Prof. Shaliza Ibrahim

AAIBE Chair of Renewable Energy

Universiti Tenaga Nasional (UNITEN)

Prof. Shaliza Ibrahim

Heather Joseph

Executive Director

SPARC

Heather Joseph

Dr. Karen Stroobants

Director

CultureBase

Dr. Karen Stroobants

Prof. Fang Xu

Deputy Director of the Research Evaluation Center

Chinese Academy of Sciences

Prof. Fang Xu

Maysaa Al Mohammedawi

Postdoctoral Researcher

Deakin University

Maysaa Al Mohammedawi

Dr. Ahmed Cassim Bawa

Professor

Johannesburg Business School, University of Johannesburg

Dr. Ahmed Cassim Bawa

The ISC warmly welcomes the new Steering Group and looks forward to working closely with them and the wider Forum community in advancing the future of publishing and research assessment worldwide. 

Joining the Forum 

If you are working on reform in scientific publishing or research assessment and would like to contribute to this initiative, please consider joining the Forum by filling out the form below. Membership of the Forum entails contributing expertise and perspectives to collective discussions on the future of publishing and research assessment. Members are invited to engage in consultations, review and comment on emerging outputs, and help shape the Forum’s priorities and activities over time. 

Contact Information

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ISC Expert Database

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Data protection: Applicants should be aware that ISC will hold the information submitted for the duration of their participation in the initiative.

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]]> https://council.science/news/steering-group-research-assessment/feed/ 0 Join the ISC social sciences Expert Network https://council.science/news/join-isc-social-sciences-expert-network/?utm_source=rss&utm_medium=rss&utm_campaign=join-isc-social-sciences-expert-network https://council.science/news/join-isc-social-sciences-expert-network/#respond Wed, 08 Oct 2025 06:54:00 +0000 https://council.science/?p=108488 The post Join the ISC social sciences Expert Network appeared first on International Science Council.

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