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Global Call for Priorities for Science: A call for inputs to shape a priority action agenda for science

13 August 2020

The International Science Council seeks contributions to shape a priority action agenda for science that will advance the implementation of the Sustainable Development Goals by 2030

In the last few months, the COVID-19 pandemic has reminded us of the interconnected nature of the common and global challenges we face, arising from growing pressures on the environment, and endangering not only public health, but also the economy and society as a whole. To minimize the risk of large-scale shocks in the future, achieving the 2030 Agenda and its 17 Sustainable
Development Goals (SDGs) has become even more important and urgent.

As with addressing the COVID-19 pandemic, mobilizing global science action is essential if we are to achieve the 2030 Agenda. Recognizing this urgency, science funders and the research community have initiated a “Decade of Global Sustainability Science Action” (https://council.science/science-funding/) in order to catalyse collective action to accelerate the impact of science and science funding on the achievement of the SDGs. To this end, science funders have asked the International Science Council (ISC) to convene the insights and ideas of the broader global scientific community on the critical priorities for science that will support and enable societies to accomplish the SDGs by 2030.

Expert views are now sought on priorities for science that can deliver game-changing action in two related domains:

  • Science for Sustainability Transformations, and
  • Transformations of Science Systems.


This is a unique opportunity for the international science community to advise science funders about the support that science needs in order to maximize its impact on the achievement of the SDGs over the next decade.

By sharing your views via this survey by 2 October 2020, you will help to shape the international science funding agenda. All contributions will be mapped and clustered into thematic science missions for the SDGs and presented to science funders in 2021, with the aim of shaping global research and research funding priorities for the coming years, as well as exploring opportunities for strategic collaboration among funders. If you need any further information, please contact Katsia Paulavets (katsia.paulavets@council.science).

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