International Relations

The RIA is a member of, and affiliated to, numerous international, particularly European, organisations which speak and provide support for science policy and science in policy in the natural sciences, humanities and social sciences.

EASAC (European Academies Science Advisory Council)

EASAC was established in 2001 to enable the individual national academies to collaborate with each other in providing advice to European policy-makers on issues of science and provide a means for the collective voice of European science to be heard. The RIA has been a member since its inception and Professor David Spearman, former President of the Royal Irish Academy, currently sits on the EASAC Council.

The RIA occasionally nominates representatives to participate in EASAC working groups and panels. Current memberships include:

• Energy Steering Panel, RIA representative: Professor Mark O’Malley, MRIA, (UCD)
• Environment Steering Panel, RIA representative: Professor John Sweeney, (NUIG)
• Biosciences Steering Panel, RIA representative: Professor Clive Lee, (RCSI)
• Concentrating Solar Power Working Group, RIA representative: Mr Paul Smith, (EirGrid)
• Carbon Capture and Storage Working Group, RIA representative: Dr John Morris, (GSI)
   

EASAC Nanomaterials Report

This joint report from EASAC and the Joint Research Centre highlights the need for a harmonised scientific and regulatory framework addressing potential health and environment impacts of nanomaterials. The development of new generations of nanomaterials can potentially play a major role in European innovation and economic growth but will require an even stronger interdisciplinary collaboration between scientists. Download here

ALLEA (All European Academies)

Established in 1994, ALLEA is a federation of fifty-three European academies of sciences and humanities. ALLEA aims to promote the exchange of information between academies and to provide national, international and supranational political organisations with advice on science policy. The RIA has been a member since 1994 and Professor Marie Therese Flanagan, RIA Secretary for International Relations, is a member of the ALLEA Steering Committee.

Current ALLEA activities of interest to the RIA include:

• Working Group on Science Education, RIA Representative: Professor Peter Mitchell, RIA Science Secretary
• ‘Towards a European Code of Conduct on Scientific Integrity’

Speech by Máire Maire Geoghegan Quinn, European Commissioner for Research, Innovation and Science to the ALLEA group on SSH, at British Academy, London on 10 November 2011

"The future of Social Sciences and Humanities in Horizon 2020"

 
IAP (The Global Network of Science Academies)

The IAP is a global network of the world’s science academies, launched in 1993, designed to help member academies work together to advise citizens and public officials on the scientific aspects of critical global issues. The RIA is a founding member. IAP organizes international conferences, sponsors workshops, issues statements and serves as a forum for the exchange of ideas and experiences among academies.

ICSU (International Council for Science)

Founded in 1931, the ICSU contains a global membership of national scientific bodies and international scientific unions and aims to mobilise the knowledge and resources of the international scientific community to strengthen international science. The RIA is a National Member since 1952.

CODATA (Committee on Data for Science and Technology)

CODATA is an interdisciplinary Scientific Committee of the ICSU established in 1966 to improve the quality, reliability, management and accessibility of data of importance to all fields of science and technology. The Academy is a National Member of CODATA since 2005 and Professor John Corish, RIA Treasurer, is a delegate and chair.