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Centre for Science Futures

A think tank of the International Science Council

Status: In progress
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The ISC has established the Centre for Science Futures to improve our understanding of emerging trends in science and research systems, and to provide options and tools for appropriate action. 

The Centre, launched in May 2023, explores where changes in science and its organization are leading us by carrying out analytical work, organizing workshops, and compiling resources. 

It engages in focused interventions within critical discussions on science futures, science systems, and science policy to push these discussion forward and provide options and tools for better informed decisions and targeted action for the future of science systems.

The Centre received a grant from the International Development Research Centre (IDRC) to investigate the impact of AI and emerging technologies on Science, Technology & Innovation organizations in the Global South. The three-year project, Science Systems Futures, was officially launched in May 2024 and will continue until mid-2027. 

Advisory council

The work of the Centre is guided by an Advisory Council. Advisory Council members are accomplished experts and exceptional individuals who combine rich and varied experience in areas relevant to the Centre’s mandate.

Jinghai Li

Jinghai Li

President

the National Natural Science Foundation of China

Jinghai Li
Prof. Sarah de Rijcke

Prof. Sarah de Rijcke

Professor

Leiden University

Prof. Sarah de Rijcke
Maria Fernanda Espinosa

Maria Fernanda Espinosa

Former President

United Nations General Assembly

Maria Fernanda Espinosa
Derrick Swartz

Derrick Swartz

Special Advisor

South Africa’s Minister of Higher Education, Science and Innovation

Derrick Swartz
Christina Yan Zhang

Christina Yan Zhang

CEO and Founder

Metaverse Institute

Christina Yan Zhang
Dr Sudip Parikh

Dr Sudip Parikh

CEO

American Association for the Advancement of Science (AAAS)

Dr Sudip Parikh

Research Associates

Research Associates are qualified experts who help the Centre produce a diversity of documents on a variety of topics relevant to its mission.

Prof James Wilsdon

Prof James Wilsdon

Digital Science Professor of Research Policy, University of Sheffield and Founding Director, Research on Research Institute

Prof James Wilsdon
Prof Stéphanie Balme

Prof Stéphanie Balme

Dean of Undergraduate Studies

Sciences Po

Prof Stéphanie Balme
Prof Simon See

Prof Simon See

Director

NVIDIA AI Technology Center

Prof Simon See

Latest news View all

group of people at a conference blog
06 October 2025 - 8 min read

A new vision for a borderless symposium

Learn more Learn more about A new vision for a borderless symposium
Jamaica SRC team blog
23 September 2025 - 8 min read

A people-first approach to building digital pathways

Learn more Learn more about A people-first approach to building digital pathways
a computer with an overlay of a world map blog
22 September 2025 - 6 min read

A tool to plan an online or a hybrid conference

Learn more Learn more about A tool to plan an online or a hybrid conference

Upcoming and past events View all

person writing on printing paper events
25 September 2025

Launch event: A practical digital toolkit for science organizations

Learn more Learn more about Launch event: A practical digital toolkit for science organizations
An abstract illustration of artificial intelligence events
21 May 2025 - 22 May 2025

Impact of emerging technologies on the Global South science systems

Learn more Learn more about Impact of emerging technologies on the Global South science systems
events
3 April 2025

AI in national research ecosystems: progress, challenges and lessons learned

Learn more Learn more about AI in national research ecosystems: progress, challenges and lessons learned

Project team

Vanessa McBride

Vanessa McBride

Science Director, Acting Head of the Centre for Science Futures

International Science Council

Vanessa McBride
Zhenya Tsoy

Zhenya Tsoy

Head of Communications

International Science Council

Zhenya Tsoy
Jane Guillier Jane Guillier

Jane Guillier

Administrative Officer

International Science Council

Jane Guillier

Publications View all

abstract digital art publications
24 September 2025

Strengthening digital maturity: a practical toolkit for science organizations

Learn more Learn more about Strengthening digital maturity: a practical toolkit for science organizations
Abstract connected dots and lines. Concept of AI technology, Motion of digital data flow. Communication and technology network concept with moving lines and dots. 3D rendering publications
24 September 2025

Harnessing “digital” for science in lower-resource settings

Learn more Learn more about Harnessing “digital” for science in lower-resource settings
abstract visual of data publications
08 September 2025

Data and AI for science: Key considerations

Learn more Learn more about Data and AI for science: Key considerations

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