Strategic Plan
The report outlines the strategy to realize the RFP’s mission to amplify the voice of science within and beyond the region, encompassing countries from South Asia, East Asia, South-East Asia, and the Oceania.
The ISC RFP-AP will align its programmes and activities with ISC Statutes, strategic plans and the themes in the Unleashing Science and Flipping the Science Model reports. The Regional Focal Point will implement two flagship programmes tailored to the priorities and needs of the region, one focusing on Asia and one focusing on the Pacific.
Additional activities will be designed, emphasizing the importance of ‘how to better integrate and elevate the voice of science’ in achieving sustainability goals. Programmes and activities will be developed around three pillars: knowledge generation, capacity building, and science communication and translation.
Pacific Academy of Sciences
Recognizing the need to assist science and scholarship in the Pacific and to support new academies of sciences in underserved regions, the ISC and the Regional Focal Point attracted initial funding and support to launch the process through a regional consultation with Pacific Islands scholars, funders and decision-makers.
Following the successful launch of the Academy, the ISC has continued to facilitate support for the initiative.
Asia Science Mission
The ISC Regional Focal Point for Asia and the Pacific is working with Future Earth Asia to develop a Meta-Network Hub Asia that will address the critical challenge of optimizing the utilization of existing local resources for achieving the Sustainable Development Goals in Asia by harnessing the power of local science communities embedded within universities, colleges, and civil society organizations.
Asia-Pacific Academic Mentoring Program
The ISC Regional Focal Point for Asia and the Pacific is facilitating a mentoring programme to connect Early Career Researchers with senior science mentors to guide young scientists from low-income nations within the region to become future leaders in academia.
The mentoring programme commenced in September 2024 and will run for one year.
INGSA-Asia Science Advice Workshops
The ISC Regional Focal Point for Asia and the Pacific has partnered with the International Network for Governmental Science Advice-Asia to strengthen the institutional science advice capability in Asia through training opportunities, stronger engagement with policymakers, building regional and inter-regional networks, and strengthening the regional science-advice ecosystem.
Media and Communications Training
The ISC Regional Focal Point for Asia and the Pacific will be delivering a program of online workshops specifically for its members to build capability in science communication, understanding of the media landscape and to improve digital storytelling and use of social media platforms for scholars in the region throughout 2024-2026.
Seeds of Science, Asia
The Seeds of Science, Asia grant funding programme is run by the ISC Regional Focal Point for Asia and the Pacific and INGSA-Asia. The programme is an opportunity for scientists, researchers, academics and practitioners in Asia to share their knowledge and insights on science advice with members of the scientific community and policy makers in their respective countries. Equally, it is an opportunity for policymakers, civil servants, and government officials to explore how science advice can best support their work, and to provide relevant advice to scientists about the complexities of policymaking, and how science can be efficiently integrated therein.
