4.4 Recommendations - InterAcademy Council

Every country should have national academies of sciences, engineering, and medicine - member-based autonomous institutions, in which peers elect new members in recognition of their distinguished and continuing professional achievements, elect their own officials, perform programs of independent work, and inform the general public and national decisionmakers on science and technology aspects of public policies.
For those countries without a critical mass of active scientists or engineers, the creation of national academies may not be possible. In such cases, academies should be built on a regional rather than a national basis. The formation of professional societies should also be promoted.
International institutions, such as the Third World Academy of Sciences (TWAS), InterAcademy Panel (IAP), International Council for Science (ICSU), Council of Academies of Engineering and Technological Sciences (CAETS), and InterAcademy Medical Panel (IAMP), should continue to facilitate the formation and strengthening of nascent national and regional academies of sciences, engineering, and medicine. The forceful participation of these international bodies will help new organizations establish the requisite high standards and effective mechanisms of operation.
Academies should actively participate in national and international debates to make the voices of the S&T community heard on a broad range of issues.