European Science Foundation
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The European Science Foundation (ESF) is an association of 11 member organizations devoted to
scientific research The scientific method is an empirical method for acquiring knowledge that has characterized the development of science since at least the 17th century (with notable practitioners in previous centuries; see the article history of scientific m ...
in 8
Europe Europe is a large peninsula conventionally considered a continent in its own right because of its great physical size and the weight of its history and traditions. Europe is also considered a Continent#Subcontinents, subcontinent of Eurasia ...
an countries. ESF is an independent, non-governmental, non-profit organisation that promotes the highest quality science in
Europe Europe is a large peninsula conventionally considered a continent in its own right because of its great physical size and the weight of its history and traditions. Europe is also considered a Continent#Subcontinents, subcontinent of Eurasia ...
. It was established in 1974 and its offices are located in
Strasbourg Strasbourg (, , ; german: Straßburg ; gsw, label=Bas Rhin Alsatian, Strossburi , gsw, label=Haut Rhin Alsatian, Strossburig ) is the prefecture and largest city of the Grand Est region of eastern France and the official seat of the Eu ...
,
France France (), officially the French Republic ( ), is a country primarily located in Western Europe. It also comprises of Overseas France, overseas regions and territories in the Americas and the Atlantic Ocean, Atlantic, Pacific Ocean, Pac ...
(headquarters). ESF Member Organisations are research-performing and research-funding organisations, academies and learned societies across Europe. After four decades of success in stimulating European research through its networking, ESF undertook a re-alignment and re-calibration of its strategic vision and focus. The launch of its Expert division "Science Connect" beginning of 2017 marks the next phase of its evolution and has been born out of a deep understanding of the science landscape, funding context and the needs of the research community.


Past Activities

Up to 2015 ESF provided a platform for research scoping, planning and networking on a European and global scale for ESF member organisations. ESF activities were organised around three operational bases: strategy, synergy and management. In line with its then mission and strategic plan, the European Science Foundation ran programmes in science; programmes to enhance science synergy such as research networking programmes and collaborative research projects for European scientists; along with activities dedicated to science management, such as providing administrative services to independent scientific committees and other organisations. ESF-EUROHORCs - The Funding Gap In June 2008, ESF in collaboration with EUROHORCs (European Heads of Research Councils) published a policy briefing ‘The EUROHORCs and ESF Vision on a Globally Competitive ERA and their Road Map for Actions to Help Build it’, detailing essential requirements to build a globally competitive
European Research Area The European Research Area (ERA) is a system of scientific research programs integrating the scientific resources of the European Union (EU). Since its inception in 2000, the structure has been concentrated on European cooperation in the fields of ...
within the next five to ten years. At the time, EUROHORCs used the European Science Foundation as an implementation agency. Unfortunately, in 2014 this instrument disappeared from the European landscape and has not been replaced by any other funding mechanism.


A change of focus

ESF has recently changed its scope of work. ESF has closed its traditional research support activities (European Collaborative Research Projects, Exploratory Workshops, Research Networking Programmes, etc.) and is focused now on supporting the scientific community through scientific-support services delivered by its Expert divisio
Science Connect


Structure

ESF is structured as follows: * Governing bodies * Science Connect Division * Community of Experts * Expert Boards


Governing bodies

The annual ''assembly'' is the highest level decision making body of the ESF. It elects the ESF president, the Executive Board, ratifies the budget and accounts and admits new members. The assembly delegates are appointed by ESF member organisations. The ''Executive Board'' sets and direct the overall strategy of the ESF and coordinates the relations with EU and other institutions. The Executive Board consists of the ESF president and 3 to 8 member organisations. The Executive Board meets twice a year. The ''President'' officially represents the ESF to the public and in relations with other national or international organisations. The ''Chief Executive'' is responsible for the implementation of the strategy and policy set by the Executive Board, for administration of the ESF office and its finance and for ensuring the execution of the decision of the assembly and the Governing Council.


Science Connect Division

Science Connect is ESF's Expert services division dedicated to support scientific decision-making through a range of science-support services, such as Grant Evaluation, Career Tracking, coordination of EU-funded Projects and the hosting of scientific platforms and Expert Boards.


Community of Experts
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ESF’s Community of Experts is a quality driven network of international recognized experts that covers the full spectrum of the scientific landscape (Humanities, Economics and Social Sciences, Physics, Chemistry, Mathematics and Engineering Sciences, Earth and Environmental Sciences, Life and Biomedical Sciences). Its role is to sustain scientific collaboration, support excellence in research grant peer-review and proposal evaluation across all scientific disciplines. ESF’s Community of Experts comprises two colleges: * The College of Review Panel Members. Review Panel Members have a broad expertise in several scientific disciplines and their mission is to build consensus during the evaluation of research proposals. * The College of Expert Reviewers. Expert Reviewers are scientists specialized in a specific scientific domain and are in charge of assessing and evaluating several types of proposals such as fellowship applications and research projects.


Expert Boards

Since 1974 ESF has set up and hosted expert boards and committees in several scientific domains. These include space sciences; radio-astronomy frequencies; nuclear physics; marine and polar sciences; and materials science. At present ESF hosts the following Expert Boards: '
European Space Sciences Committee
(ESSC) Established in 1974, the ESSC provides unbiased, expert advice to the space scientific community including but not limited to the European Space Agency, the European Commission, EU national space agencies. Over the years, the ESSC has become the reference body in Europe for independent scientific advice on space matters and a key partner for international research collaboration. '
Nuclear Physics European Collaboration Committee
(NuPECC) NuPECC’s aim is to strengthen European collaboration in nuclear physics through the definition of a network of complementary facilities within Europe. NuPECC issues recommendations on the development, organisation and support of European nuclear physics and particular projects. '
Committee on Radio Astronomy Frequencies
(CRAF) Established in 1988, CRAF represents all the major radio astronomical observatories in Europe. CRAF initiates and encourages scientific studies aimed at reducing radio astronomy interference at source and the effects of interference. Throughout the years CRAF has become an active voice in Europe and engages with other groups of radio astronomers in discussions with international organisations that decide on the use of radio spectrum.


ESF Member Organisations

Belgium *Fonds de la Recherche Scientifique - FNRS (F.R.S.–FNRS) ( Fund for Scientific Research - FNRS (F.R.S.–FNRS)) Bulgaria *Българска академия на науките (BAS) ( Bulgarian Academy of Sciences) *Научни изследвания
National Science Fund of Bulgaria
France *Institut Français de Recherche pour l’Exploitation de la Mer (
IFREMER IFREMER (Institut Français de Recherche pour l'Exploitation de la Mer; ) is an oceanographic institution in Brest, France. Scope of works Ifremer focuses its research activities in the following areas: * Monitoring, use and enhancement of coa ...
)(French Research Institute for Exploitation of the Sea) *EuroScience (
EuroScience EuroScience (the founding organisation of ESOF, EuroScience Open Forum) is a pan-European grassroots organisation for the support and promotion of science and technology in Europe. The membership of EuroScience consists of individuals interested in ...
) *Core Technologies for Life Sciences
CTLS
Hungary *Magyar Tudományos Akadémia (MTA) ( Hungarian Academy of Sciences) Luxembourg * Fonds National de la Recherche
FNR
Romania *Consiliul Național al Cercetării Științifice
National Council for Scientific Research -CNCS
Serbia *Српска академија наука и уметности (САНУ) (
Serbian Academy of Sciences and Arts The Serbian Academy of Sciences and Arts ( la, Academia Scientiarum et Artium Serbica, sr-Cyr, Српска академија наука и уметности, САНУ, Srpska akademija nauka i umetnosti, SANU) is a national academy and the ...
) Turkey *Türkiye Bilimsel ve Teknolojik Araştırma Kurumu (TÜBITAK) (
Scientific and Technological Research Council of Turkey The Scientific and Technological Research Institution of Turkey ( tr, Türkiye Bilimsel ve Teknolojik Araştırma Kurumu, TÜBİTAK) is a national agency of Turkey whose stated goal is to develop "science, technology and innovation" (STI) policies ...
)


ESF Presidents

* 1974-1979
Brian Flowers Brian Hilton Flowers, Baron Flowers FRS (13 September 1924 – 25 June 2010) was a British physicist, academician, and public servant. Early life and studies The son of the Rev. Harold Joseph Flowers and Mrs Marian Flowers, Brian Hilton Flowe ...
* 1980-1984
Hubert Curien Hubert Curien (30 October 1924 – 6 February 2005) was a French physicist and a key figure in European science politics, as the President of CERN Council (1994–1996), the first chairman of the European Space Agency (ESA) (1981–1984), and s ...
* 1985-1990 Eugen Seibold * 1991-1993 Umberto Colombo * 1994-1999 Sir
Dai Rees David James Rees, (31 March 1913 – 15 November 1983) was one of the Britain's leading golfers either side of the Second World War. The winner of many prestigious tournaments in Britain, Europe and farther afield, Rees is best remembered as ...
* 2000-2005 Reinders van Duinen * 2006-2011 Ian Halliday * 2012-2015 Pär Omling * 2016-April 2020: Martin Hynes *April 2020 to date: Véronique Halloin


ESF Secretaries General and Chief Executives

* 1974-1979 Friedrich Schneider * 1980-1986 John Goormaghtigh * 1986-1993 Michael Posner * 1991-1993 Umberto Colombo * 1993-1998 Peter Fricker * 1998-2003 Enric Banda * 2004-2007 Bertil Anderson * 2007 John Marks * 2008-2011 Marja MakarowMarja Makarow, chief executive, European Science Foundation, Strasbourg, France
Nature 452, 1030 (23 April 2008)
* 2012-2015 Martin Hynes * 2016-June 2019: Jean-Claude Worms http://www.esf.org/newsroom/news-and-press-releases/article/european-science-foundation-announces-appointment-of-new-chief-executive-dr-jean-claude-worms/ *July 2019 to date: Nicolas Walter


Notes and references


External links

* {{Authority control International scientific organizations based in Europe 1974 establishments in Europe Organizations based in Strasbourg Organizations established in 1974