Expert Advice. The InterAcademy Council (IAC) is a multinational organization of science academies created to produce reports on scientific, technological, and health issues related to the great global challenges of our time, providing knowledge and advice to national governments and international organizations. Sound scientific, technological, and medical knowledge is fundamental to addressing critical issues facing the world today – economic transformation and globalization; sustainable use of natural resources; reduction of poverty, hunger, and disease.

Sharing Knowledge. At the United Nations in February 2004, the IAC released its first report, Inventing a Better Future – A Strategy for Building Worldwide Capacities in Science and Technology. A second IAC report, commissioned by the U.N. Secretary-General and published in June 2004, was titled Realizing the Promise and Potential of African Agriculture – Science and Technology Strategies for Improving Agricultural Productivity and Food Security in Africa. A third report was published in June 2006, Women for Science. A fourth report was published in October 2007, Lighting the Way: Toward a Sustainable Energy Future. Planned IAC studies will also address critical global issues – such as enhancing global surveillance of emerging infectious diseases; improving global water quality and availability; and scientific ethics and responsibilities.

Global Experience. The IAC embodies the collective expertise and experience of national academies from all regions of the world. The current eighteen-member InterAcademy Council Board is composed of presidents of fifteen academies of science and equivalent organizations—representing Brazil, Chile, China, France, Germany, Hungary, India, Iran, Japan, Malaysia, Turkey, the United Kingdom, and the United States, plus the African Academy of Sciences and the Academy of Sciences for the Developing World (TWAS)—and representatives of the IAP: the global network of science academies, the International Council of Academies of Engineering and Technological Sciences (CAETS), and the InterAcademy Medical Panel (IAMP) of medical academies.  Official observers on the IAC Board include the presidents of the International Council for Science (ICSU) and the Royal Netherlands Academy of Arts and Sciences (KNAW).

Independent Judgment. When requested to provide advice on a particular issue, the IAC assembles an international panel of experts. Serving on a voluntary basis, panel members meet and review current, cutting-edge knowledge on the topic; and prepare a draft report on its findings, conclusions, and recommendations. All IAC draft reports undergo an intensive process of peer-review by other international experts. Only when the IAC Board is satisfied that feedback from the peer review has been thoughtfully considered and incorporated is a final report released to the requesting organization and the public. Every effort is made to ensure that IAC reports are free from any national or regional bias.

Diversified Funding. IAC projects are funded by multiple sponsors, including national governments, private foundations, and international organizations. Administrative overhead is covered by special grants from the Royal Netherlands Academy of Arts and Sciences. Participating academies contribute not only intellectual resources but also funding for developing new projects and special activities.

Promoting Innovation. Enhanced worldwide abilities for innovation and problem-solving are required for responding to nearly all the urgent challenges addressed by the InterAcademy Council. The IAC Board will thus sponsor special projects to promote capacities in science and technology in all regions of the world.

 InterAcademy Council Board 2009-2013

Robbert Dijkgraaf, Co-Chair
President, Royal Netherlands Academy of Arts and Sciences

LU Yongxiang, Co-Chair
President, Chinese Academy of Sciences

Howard Alper, Ex Officio Member
Co-Chair, IAP: the global network of science academies

Eduardo Charreau, Member
President, Argentina National Academy of Exact, Physical and Natural Sciences

Ralph Cicerone, Member
President, U.S. National Academy of Sciences

Robin Crewe, Member
President, Academy of Science of South Africa

Mohamed H.A. Hassan, Member
President, African Academy of Sciences

Ichiro Kanazawa, Member
President, Science Council of Japan

Yücel Kanpolat, Member
President, Turkish Academy of Sciences           

Eduardo Moacyr Krieger, Member
Former President, Brazilian Academy of Sciences

Kurt Lambeck, Member
President, Australian Academy of Science

Sangkot Marzuki, Member
President, Indonesian Academy of Sciences

Volker ter Meulen, Member
Former President, German National Academy of Sciences Leopoldina

Jacob Palis, Member
President, Academy of Sciences for the Developing World (TWAS)

Martin Rees, Member
President, The Royal Society, United Kingdom

Jean Salençon, Member
President, Académie des Sciences, France

Guy de Thé, Ex Officio Member
Co-Chair, InterAcademy Medical Panel

Achiel Van Cauwenberghe, Ex Officio Member
Former President, International Council of Academies of Engineering and
Technological Sciences(CAETS)

M. Vijayan, Member
President, Indian National Science Academy

Goverdhan Mehta, Observer
Former President, International Council for Science (ICSU)

Ed Noort, Observer
Foreign Secretary, Royal Netherlands Academy of Arts and Sciences (KNAW)

IAC Secretariat

John P. CAMPBELL
Executive Director
InterAcademy Council (IAC)
Kloveniersburgwal 29
1011 JV Amsterdam
THE NETHERLANDS
Email: j.campbell@iac.knaw.nl