Muscat Global Knowledge Dialogue and the International Science Council (ISC) third General Assembly

Venue: Oman Convention & Exhibition Center (OCEC)

Preamble.

The 2025 ISC General Assembly (GA) provided a premier occasion for all ISC members and partners from all domains of science and science organizations globally to meet and discuss challenges, priorities and agendas for international cooperation in science. The General Assembly was hosted by the ISC Member in Oman, the Ministry of Higher Education, Research and Innovation.
The Muscat Global Knowledge Dialogue (GKD) took place from January 27th – 28th January, with pre-event workshops on January 26th. (https://council.science/programme-muscat-gkd/). The GKD of the ISC General Assembly focused on science. It was organized around three streams thus 1) Science systems and science futures; 2) Science and transformations to sustainability; and 3) Science and society.

SASA participation

SASA was represented by two members, thus:
i. Professor Joachim Kapalanga from Ontario Canada
ii. Associate Prof. Francis Akena Adyanga from Uganda

During the pre-session event on day one (January 26th), Francis was a panelist in a session themed “Science is Social: Increasing the role and visibility of the social sciences”. ISC members noted with concern the low priority accorded by different governments and funders to social science research. They collectively reiterated the profound role that social sciences play in societal transformation along other disciplines. Members called for the ISC to take a lead in advocating for equal recognition of social sciences research.

On the second day, Francis participated in the main plenary session under the theme “Science education for our future – building capacity for global challenges”. The session provoked interesting discussions with focus on the eleven (11) recommendations of the ISC Report of the Consultative Group on Science to the ISC Governing Board (GB). Further, the session discussed and adopted the forwarding to the GB, the ISC report of the consultative group on science. In terms of what the ISC can do, the key recommendations from the SASA participant were:
1) Strengthen collaboration in research and grant writings between member organizations in the global north and south.
2) Advocate for special funding by African Development Bank for researchers and scientists in Africa.
3) Work closely with African Union to foster inclusive, integrated, and quality science systems as a catalyst for achieving Africa Agenda 2030 and Agenda 2063 currently being championed by the African Union.

On day three, the ISC Governing Board appointed four experts from four-member organization to serve on the Rules Committee. Representing SASA, Prof. Kapalanga participated on this high-profile committee. The rules committee developed three proposed resolutions, thus
1) Proposed resolution on the subject of war ethics.
2) Proposed resolution on the subject of the free circulation of scientists.
3) Proposed resolution on early and mid-career researchers.

Through consensus in the ISC general assembly, the above resolutions were unanimously adopted by the ISC General Assembly.

Note that SASA now has a voting right on all matters at the ISC. Prof. Kapalanga was the SASA voting person at this gathering.

SASA also participated in the category 3 membership meeting which took place on the third day. The meeting discussed challenges faced by ISC members, opportunities and areas of collaboration. The key deliberations of category 3 meeting were presented to the ISC General Assembly.

Furthermore, the priority areas of ISC draft strategic plan was discussed at the GA. These priority areas are:
1) Freedom, responsibility and inclusivity in science.
2) International science agenda setting.
3) The evolution of science and science systems.
4) Evidence-based policy making
5) Science diplomacy.

After a long discussion, the GA directed the ISC secretariat to polish up the strategic areas by reducing to one or two specific focuses. Therefore, the strategic plan is work in progress that members will pronounce themselves on at a later date to be communicated by the secretariat.
Major take home from the meeting:

ISC to advocate for increased funding for social science discipline.
The need for equal and equitable collaboration between the global north and global south was emphasized. ISC to play a leading role in this.
The GA voted against the ISC secretariat’s proposed 2% annual incremental membership fee. The vote was taken after long heated deliberations by members who evidently apposed annual membership fee increment.
There is uncertainty regarding funding from the USA government. This follows the announcement by the new administration to halt funding for 3 months.
A scoping exercise has been completed for the regional ISC presence in Africa. Future Africa campus at the University of Pretoria is being considered as Africa’s regional office.
Other African science organizations complained of lack of inclusivity in the consultative process to establish ISC presence at Future Africa campus.
The next ISC mid-term review meeting with be held in Beijing China in October 2026. The actual dates to be announced later.
The next ISC GA will take place in 2028. Members bidding to host the event can apply through the ISC website by mid-2025.

Report prepared by Francis Akena and Joachin Kapalanga
Submitted to SASA Executive President
Date: January 31 2025