About the European Science Foundation1

ESF UpdateFuture of NuPECC and EBCs within ESF and Science Europe

Jean-Claude WORMSHead of Unit, PESSC

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Baseline: 2011 Review of Expert Boards

• Took place between April and August 2011

• All 6 ESF Expert Boards assessed by one Panel

• Chair: Martin Huber

• Other NuPECC-related members:S. Nagamiya, D-O. Riska and J. Simpson

• General outcome with regards to NuPECC was positive

• Review Panel overarching statement concerning NuPECC: “NuPECC has provided a valuable role for the European nuclear physics community. NuPECC’s advice and strategy, as being from the community itself, must continue. It should continue to advise the various European institutions and funding agencies”

• General (primary) recommendations– It is highly desired that NuPECC is converted into a new high-level strategic

scientific organisation in Europe, together with Science Europe.– NuPECC’s formal interactions and relationships with similar organisations world-

wide should be enhanced.

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ESF situation

• ESF Governing Council (Den Haag, 27-28 September 2012) and meeting of Expert Boards and Committees (EBC) and Standing Committee Chairs with ESF Management (28/09)

• No vote at the November 2012 General Assembly on the ESF closure in 2015. This does not mean that this closure will not take place, but that the formal decision will only take place in 2013 or 2014

• Possible successor organisation to ESF, to provide services that are not on the strategic plan of Science Europe: mandate (and budget) was given to ESF Management to prepare alternative business models for such a possible successor organisation

• The ESF Standing Committees will cease to exist after their October plenary meetings and be replaced by a much reduced structure: the Scientific Review Group(s) until 2015

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Science Europe

• Science Europe’s letter to ESF Chief Executive:“…The Board recognised that the EBCs are of value within their domains, and that there is potential benefit to collaborating with these interdisciplinary groups. However, it was felt that Science Europe would not be the appropriate platform for the EBCs to operate from, as their mandate is clearly outside the scope of Science Europe, which is set up to operate with a Committee structure based on scientific rather than organisational representation, and with specific groups acting as sub-committees. Consequently, it was unanimously agreed that the EBCs should not be operated from within the Science Europe structure. Having said this, Science Europe will seek to ensure fruitful dialogue with the Expert Boards and Committees, with a view to collaboration where this might be appropriate…”

• EBCs will not be hosted by Science Europe

• There is a will to engage in future dialogue to develop partnerships between SE and EBCs

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Expert Boards and Committees

• Need to find workable solutions for EBCs is advocated and agreed by ESF Member Organisations

• ESF appears to be both a logical hosting place for EBCs and one that would receive their assent

• Adequate financial and legal models for hosting the EBCs into ESF should therefore be studied in the coming months– develop a legal structure for EBCs within or on the side of ESF, in

agreement with EBCs

– Meeting between Chairs and ESF in November

• The mandate and budget given to ESF Management to prepare business models for a possible successor organisation also apply to finding the best practical solution for the future of EBCs

• The cessation of ESF Standing Committees opens opportunities for EBCs to help ESF and its possible successor organisation with scientific expertise and strategy definition in their areas

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