The European Academies' Science Advisory Council (EASAC) is a regional association of

National Academies A national academy is an organizational body, usually operating with state financial support and approval, that co-ordinates scholarly research activities and standards for academic disciplines, most frequently in the sciences but also the humani ...

of science. Its members are 25 National Science Academies of the Member States of the European Union (EU), and the National Science Academies of Norway, Switzerland and the UK. Malta and Luxembourg do not have National Academies of Science. A pan-European Academy (

Academia Europaea The Academia Europaea is a pan-European Academy of Humanities, Letters, Law, and Sciences. The Academia was founded in 1988 as a functioning Europe-wide Academy that encompasses all fields of scholarly inquiry. It acts as co-ordinator of Europea ...

) and a network of all Academies from across the continent of Europe also have membership (

ALLEA All European Academies (ALLEA) is the European Federation of Academies of Sciences and Humanities. It was founded in 1994, and brings together more than 50 Academies of Sciences and Learned Societies from over 40 member countries of the Council o ...

). EASAC was founded in June 2001 and is currently headquartered at the

German National Academy of Sciences Leopoldina The German National Academy of Sciences Leopoldina (german: Deutsche Akademie der Naturforscher Leopoldina – Nationale Akademie der Wissenschaften), short Leopoldina, is the national academy of Germany, and is located in Halle (Saale). Founded ...

, in Halle (Saale). EASAC was set up as a mechanism of collaboration for its member Academies, in particular for providing “science-for-policy” advice to the institutions of the EU. This means that through EASAC scientific advice is offered jointly by the Academies to the European Commission and the European Parliament EASAC's work also aims to help inform national policy-making across Europe, and engage European media and societies. EASAC aims to provide science-based analysis and recommendations on questions that are of relevance to EU policy thinking and development, e.g. on plastics in the

circular economy A circular economy (also referred to as circularity and CE) is a model of production and consumption, which involves sharing, leasing, reusing, repairing, refurbishing and recycling existing materials and products as long as possible. CE aims ...

, genetically modified crops, climate change and health, forest biomass for energy, or decarbonisation of transport. The association is funded by EASAC member Academies. Since 2012 the IAP - The InterAcademy Partnership has also provided funds to EASAC which functions as IAP’s regional affiliated network for Europe.

EASAC Core Programmes and "Science-Policy Dialogue"

The three core programmes of EASAC are Biosciences (including Public Health), Energy and Environment. They explore areas where scientific evidence can help to inform the development of policy-making in the European institutions and, when relevant, also global policy-making. Project remits require both considerations of the implications of the scientific evidence for policy formulation and the evaluation of the adequacy of the relevant science base. Each programme is run by a Programme Director and a Steering Panel consisting of scientists nominated by EASAC member Academies. Members of the three EASAC Steering Panels are chosen for their experience in the respective field and together they advise EASAC on specific projects and help build relations with other expert scientists in the EU.

Biosciences

The aim of the Biosciences Programme is to inform policy-makers through scientific analysis on topics such as health, agriculture, and the progression of novel technologies with potentially multiple applications. The scope of the programme includes e.g. biotechnology, nanotechnology, synthetic biology, personalised medicine, and biosecurity. The Steering Panel is chaired by Professo
Volker ter Meulen
The Biosciences Programme Director Dr Robin Fears is responsible for the programme's general organisation, project management, delivery and quality control, and day-to-day business.

Energy

The Energy Programme provides scientific assessments and advice to EU policy-makers in the areas of energy and climate change-related topics. The programme covers a range of issues of concern to the EU, including energy resources, energy systems integration, renewable energies, energy efficiency, greenhouse gas emissions, electricity grid management, and energy security. The Energy Steering Panel is co-chaired by Professor Hanna-Leena Pesonen and Professor Neven Duic. Energy Programme Director Dr. William Gillet is responsible for the programme’s general organisation, project management, delivery and quality control, and day-to-day business.

Environment

The Environment Programme provides scientific assessments and advice to EU environment policy communities on topics including climate change, air and water quality, wastes and resources, biodiversity, ecosystems, and sustainability. The Steering Panel is chaired by Professor

Lars Walløe Lars Walløe (born 20 May 1938) is a Norwegian academic, chemist, physiologist, and scientific adviser to the Norwegian government. He was Head of Norwegian Delegation to the Scientific Committee of the International Whaling Commission (IWC); a ...

. Environment Programme Director Professor Mike Norton is responsible for the programme’s general organisation, project management, delivery and quality control, and day-to-day business.

Science-Policy Dialogue

Since 2012 EASAC has engaged with its member Academies in a number of activities under the headline of "Science-Policy Dialogue". These have generally focused on sharing of good practice of member Academies on questions such as the management of working groups and engagement with policy-makers and the media. As a result of the first such activity, a document on Good Practice Guidance for Managing Dialogue Between Academies of Science and Policy Communities was published in 2013. In 2017-2018, EASAC's members reflected on the Sustainable Development Goals (SDG) and how the European and global networks of Science Academies could contribute to the United Nations SDG process. Since 2020, EASAC has organised a series of virtual 'Science Communications Webinars', focusing on the contribution of the European Science Academies to the efforts to overcome the COVID-19 pandemic in Europe.

Organisational structure

Council

The Council is EASAC's assembly and governing body. It is composed of 30 scientists, nominated by, and representing, EASAC members. Council members are expected to regularly consult with their Academies about EASAC business to make decisions on their behalf at Council meetings. Council sets EASAC's direction, agrees on the initiation of projects, monitors their progress, and reviews and approves reports and other types of documents for publication. It meets every six months, at the Academy of the EU Member State which will take over the EU Presidency about one month later.

Bureau

The Bureau comprises the EASAC President, Vice-Presidents, and the past and incoming Presidents (for one year after and before tenure, respectively). Since 2012, Bureau has co-opted the Chairs of EASAC’s Steering Panels as members. EASAC Bureau meets at least four times per year and is accountable to Council: it is responsible for implementing Council’s decisions and ensuring EASAC business runs smoothly. It is supported by the EASAC Secretariat, which is managed by the Executive Director and also comprises the Programme Directors, Secretariat Coordinator, Head of Communications and others.

Secretariat

Originally managed and hosted by the British

Royal Society The Royal Society, formally The Royal Society of London for Improving Natural Knowledge, is a learned society and the United Kingdom's national academy of sciences. The society fulfils a number of roles: promoting science and its benefits, re ...

, the Secretariat is now hosted by the

in Halle. EASAC’s Brussels Office at the

Royal Academies for Science and the Arts of Belgium The Royal Academies for Science and the Arts of Belgium (RASAB) is a non-governmental association which promotes and organises science and the arts in Belgium by coordinating the national and international activities of its constituent academies su ...

is also part of the Secretariat. The Secretariat is responsible for maintaining the working process of EASAC's groups, including the organisation of meetings of Council, Bureau, Programme Steering Panels, and working groups. It oversees management of EASAC working groups' outputs towards publication, launch and dissemination of EASAC reports, statements, and commentaries. It liaises with EU policy-makers, EU institutions, and other EU and national agencies of relevance to EASAC's work. The Secretariat maintains contact with EASAC member Academies and liaises with other Academy networks. The Secretariat also manages EASAC's communication activities, such as press releases, newsletters, website, and social media pages.

Members

All European Academies All European Academies (ALLEA) is the European Federation of Academies of Sciences and Humanities. It was founded in 1994, and brings together more than 50 Academies of Sciences and Learned Societies from over 40 member countries of the Council o ...

* Bulgarian Academy of Sciences *

Croatian Academy of Sciences and Arts The Croatian Academy of Sciences and Arts ( la, Academia Scientiarum et Artium Croatica, hr, Hrvatska akademija znanosti i umjetnosti, abbrev. HAZU) is the national academy of Croatia. HAZU was founded under patronage of the Croatian bishop J ...

Cyprus Academy of Sciences, Letters and Arts The Cyprus Academy of Sciences, Letters and Arts (Greek language: Κυπριακή Ακαδημία Επιστημών, Γραμμάτων και Τεχνών) was founded in 2017 and launched by the President of Cyprus Nicos Anastasiades in 2018. I ...

Royal Danish Academy of Sciences and Letters {{Infobox organization , name = The Royal Danish Academy of Sciences and Letters , full_name = , native_name = Det Kongelige Danske Videnskabernes Selskab , native_name_lang = , logo = Royal ...

German Academy of Sciences Leopoldina The German National Academy of Sciences Leopoldina (german: Deutsche Akademie der Naturforscher Leopoldina – Nationale Akademie der Wissenschaften), short Leopoldina, is the national academy of Germany, and is located in Halle (Saale). Founde ...

Estonian Academy of Sciences Founded in 1938, the Estonian Academy of Sciences ( et, Eesti Teaduste Akadeemia) is Estonia's national academy of science in Tallinn. As with other national academies, it is an independent group of well-known scientists whose stated aim is to ...

Finnish Academy of Science and Letters The Finnish Academy of Science and Letters (Finnish ''Suomalainen Tiedeakatemia''; Latin ''Academia Scientiarum Fennica'') is a Finnish learned society. It was founded in 1908 and is thus the second oldest academy in Finland. The oldest is the Fi ...

Académie des sciences The French Academy of Sciences (French: ''Académie des sciences'') is a learned society, founded in 1666 by Louis XIV at the suggestion of Jean-Baptiste Colbert, to encourage and protect the spirit of French scientific research. It was at th ...

* Academy of Athens *

Royal Dutch Academy of Sciences The Royal Netherlands Academy of Arts and Sciences ( nl, Koninklijke Nederlandse Akademie van Wetenschappen, abbreviated: KNAW) is an organization dedicated to the advancement of science and literature in the Netherlands. The academy is housed ...

Royal Irish Academy The Royal Irish Academy (RIA; ga, Acadamh Ríoga na hÉireann), based in Dublin, is an academic body that promotes study in the sciences, humanities and social sciences. It is Ireland's premier List of Irish learned societies, learned socie ...

Accademia Nazionale dei Lincei The Accademia dei Lincei (; literally the "Academy of the Lynx-Eyed", but anglicised as the Lincean Academy) is one of the oldest and most prestigious European scientific institutions, located at the Palazzo Corsini on the Via della Lungara in Rom ...

Latvian Academy of Sciences The Latvian Academy of Sciences ( lv, Latvijas Zinātņu akadēmija) is the official science academy of Latvia and is an association of the country's foremost scientists. The academy was founded as the ''Latvian SSR Academy of Sciences'' ( lv, L ...

Lithuanian Academy of Sciences The Lithuanian Academy of Sciences or LMA ( lt, Lietuvos mokslų akademija) is a state-funded independent organization in Lithuania dedicated for science and research. Its mission is to mobilize prominent scientists and initiate activities that ...

Norwegian Academy of Sciences The Norwegian Academy of Science and Letters ( no, Det Norske Videnskaps-Akademi, DNVA) is a learned society based in Oslo, Norway. Its purpose is to support the advancement of science and scholarship in Norway. History The Royal Frederick Univer ...

* Austrian Academy of Sciences *

Polish Academy of Sciences The Polish Academy of Sciences ( pl, Polska Akademia Nauk, PAN) is a Polish state-sponsored institution of higher learning. Headquartered in Warsaw, it is responsible for spearheading the development of science across the country by a society of ...

Lisbon Academy of Sciences The Lisbon Academy of Sciences ( pt, Academia das Ciências de Lisboa) is Portugal's national academy dedicated to the advancement of sciences and learning, with the goal of promoting academic progress and prosperity in Portugal. It is one of Po ...

Romanian Academy The Romanian Academy ( ro, Academia Română ) is a cultural forum founded in Bucharest, Romania, in 1866. It covers the scientific, artistic and literary domains. The academy has 181 active members who are elected for life. According to its byl ...

Royal Swedish Academy of Sciences The Royal Swedish Academy of Sciences ( sv, Kungliga Vetenskapsakademien) is one of the Swedish Royal Academies, royal academies of Sweden. Founded on 2 June 1739, it is an independent, non-governmental scientific organization that takes special ...

Swiss Academies of Arts and Sciences The Swiss Academies of Arts and Sciences is a Swiss organization that supports and networks the sciences at a regional, national and international level. They are designated by the Federal Act to Promote Research and Innovation to promote resear ...

Slovak Academy of Sciences The Slovak Academy of Sciences ( sk, Slovenská akadémia vied, or SAV) is the main scientific and research institution in Slovakia fostering basic and strategic basic research. It was founded in 1942, closed after World War II, and then reestab ...

Slovenian Academy of Sciences and Arts The Slovenian Academy of Sciences and Arts ( sl, Slovenska akademija znanosti in umetnosti (SAZU)) is the national academy of Slovenia, which encompasses science and the arts and brings together the top Slovene researchers and artists as members ...

* Real Academia de Ciencias Exactas, Físicas y Naturales *

Academy of Sciences of the Czech Republic The Czech Academy of Sciences (abbr. CAS, cs, Akademie věd České republiky, abbr. AV ČR) was established in 1992 by the Czech National Council as the Czech successor of the former Czechoslovak Academy of Sciences and its tradition goes back ...

* Hungarian Academy of Sciences

Cooperations

EASAC cooperates with a number of other organisations and networks, most notably IAP and SAPEA.

IAP

EASAC is the affiliated network for Europe of the InterAcademy Partnership (IAP). The IAP is the global network of more than 140 National Academies of science, medicine and engineering. A part of IAP's work is done through its four regional networks in Africa, Asia, the Americas, and Europe. Through IAP, EASAC connects with national science academies around the globe. EASAC has collaborated with all the three other regional networks of IAP: the Association of Academies and Societies of Sciences in Asia (AASSA), the InterAmerican Network of Academies of Sciences (IANAS) and the

Network of African Science Academies The Network of African Science Academies (NASAC) was formed in December 2001 as an independent forum for African science academies to discuss scientific issues of common concern. Member academies are: * African Academy of Sciences * Cameroon Academ ...

(NASAC), in particular on the project "Food and Nutrition Security and Agriculture" (2017-18). EASAC research also provided the basis for IAP projects such as the recent "Climate Change and Health" project, which aims to produce regional assessments similar to the EASAC report, and a global synthesis in late 2021.

SAPEA

EASAC is a member of the project consortium for

SAPEA The Scientific Advice Mechanism is a service created by the European Commission which provides independent science advice directly to European Commissioners to inform their decision-making. The Mechanism consists of two parts: the Group of Chief ...

– ‘Science Advice for Policy by European Academies’. SAPEA is part of the European Commission’s Scientific Advice Mechanism (SAM), which provides scientific advice to the College of European Commissioners to inform their decision-making. The project consortium of SAPEA consists of the five European academy networks:

, EASAC, the

European Council of Applied Sciences and Engineering The European Council of Applied Sciences, Technologies and Engineering (Euro-CASE) is a European non-profit organization, which groups 19 to 20 European national academies of engineering, applied sciences and technology. The organization provides a ...

(Euro-CASE), and the Federation of European Academies of Medicine (FEAM).

References

External Links

*{{Official site, https://easac.eu National academies of sciences International science academies cooperation organizations