Science organizations in the digital age 

Background 

To respond to the critical existential threats that humanity is facing, scientific organizations must be robust and agile to ensure that science is strong and relevant. But the nature, scope and breadth of what an organization is and does changes as technology and culture change. This is particularly true in the digital era.

So – what does ‘digital’ mean? And how can we empower the scientific community to harness its potential?

The Phase I (2022-2024) started with an exploration of these questions, in consultation with its Members, which culminated in a practical report ‘Science organizations in the digital age’. It serves as both a current reflection of the digital status in the science community and a guide for organizations embarking on their digital transition journeys

The Phase II ‘Digital journeys’ (2024-2025) of the project seeks to build on these lessons and create support mechanisms tailored specifically to science organizations in the low- and middle-income countries (LMICs).

As part of it, eleven ISC Members engaged in a four-month digital journey, guided by experts and supported by a community of peer change-makers. Their experiences informed the recommendations and the support mechanisms the ISC produced for the wider community.

Featured resources

Report: Harnessing “digital” for science in lower-resource settings

The report examines how science organizations can strengthen their digital capacity to achieve their missions, particularly in low- and middle-income contexts.

Toolkit: Strengthening digital maturity

This toolkit provides practical exercises, case studies, and guidance designed to help science organizations understand, assess, and strengthen their digital maturity.

Accompanying tools

• Tool #1: Digital Maturity Test
• Tool #2: User journey mapping
• Tool #3: Planning your conference

This project is part of Science Systems Futures.

The Phase II is carried out with the aid of a grant from the International Development Research Centre, Ottawa, Canada, to the ISC’s Centre for Science Futures. The views expressed herein do not necessarily represent those of IDRC or its Board of Governors.

Activities and impact 

Phase I (2022-2024)

• 2022: under the guidance of Nick Scott, a digital transformation consultant, the ISC Secretariat enters the discovery stage to explore the state of the Council’s digital maturity and drafts the ISC digital vision. 
• 2023: a broad survey of the diverse ISC Membership collects key insights and acts as a barometer to gauge the digital engagement and capacities of ISC Members.
• 2023: Findings from the survey and in-depth interviews are shared at the Mid-term Meeting of ISC Members, prompting other organizations to take inspiration from presented case studies to attempt or progress on their own digital journeys. A number of workshop, including a Practical Deep-Dive on ChatGPT’ (recording available) equip science professionals with skills to use AI effectively and ethically.  
• 2024: the newly published report ‘Science organizations in the digital age’ synthesizes the key findings and lessons learned. 

Phase II (2024 – 2025) – ‘Digital journeys’

• 2024: Through a call for applications, eleven ISC Members with a footprint in the low- and middle-income countries are selected to pursue a guided digital journey with the ISC:
  • Caribbean Academy of Sciences
  • Nigerian Young Academy
  • International Astronomical Union
  • International Society for Digital Earth
  • International Sociological Association
  • International Union of Immunological Societies
  • Scientific Research Council, Jamaica
  • Sudanese National Academy of Sciences
  • Philippine Social Science Council
  • The University of the South Pacific
  • The World Academy of Sciences (TWAS)

• January – May 2025: The cohort of selected organizations forms a reflexive community of learning and exchange, and receives expert guidance to advance their digital journeys internally.
• September 2025: The report, the toolkit, and other support mechanisms (see resources below), resulting from the learning experiences of the digital cohort, are made available for the wider scientific community.