www.sciencecouncil.org the science council and sustainability

www.sciencecouncil.org

The Science Council and The Science Council and SustainabilitySustainability


The Science CouncilThe Science Council

The Science Council is a representative membership organisation for professional and learned organisations across the spectrum of science and its applications

Our main aims are to:• promote the advancement and dissemination of knowledge of and

education in, science, pure and applied, for the public benefit• provide a collective voice for science and scientists• maintain standards across scientific disciplines through the

designation Chartered Scientist, Chartered Science Teacher• promote the members’ collective knowledge, resources and

achievements • provide a reliable and credible single point of contact


Member OrganisationsMember Organisations• Association for Clinical Biochemists• Association of Science Education• British Computer Society• British Psychological Society• Chartered Institution of Water and

Environmental Management• Energy Institute• Geological Society of London• Institute of Biology• Institute of Biomedical Science• Institution of Chemical Engineers• Institute of Corrosion• Institution of Environmental Sciences• Institute of Food, Science and Technology• Institute of Marine Engineering, Science

and Technology• Institute of Materials, Minerals & Mining

• Institute of Mathematics and its Applications

• Institute of Physics• Institute of Physics and Engineering in

Medicine• Institute of Professional Soil Scientists• London Mathematical Society• Mineralogical Society• Oil and Colour Chemists Association• Royal Aeronautical Society• Royal Astronomical Society• Royal Geographical Society• Royal Meteorological Society• Royal Society of Chemistry• Royal Statistical Society• Society for General Microbiology• Society of Dyers and Colourists


Key organisational values for Key organisational values for successsuccess

• Representative by nature – listen, hear, represent the views of members (not replace them)

• Inclusive – every member is valued – talk up the tail, don’t speak for the few

• Strength comes from breadth = mandate• Modus operandi is key - dialogue, consensus, collaboration

and partnership• Engagement and key – mechanisms must inform and involve

all members appropriately• The centre serves the members – leads responsively and

sensitively


Credibility depends uponCredibility depends upon• being authoritative about the concerns and activities of

members• being clear about the SC interest in the issue (and getting the

issue and timing right)• involving members in developing the policy or activity and

being seen to have done so• being aware of the negative perceptions and being prepared

for them• being able to explain the landscape, especially when

members don’t all agree• having the active and explicit support of member

organisations• only getting it right, never getting it wrong


Drivers on sustainability activitiesDrivers on sustainability activities

• Internal stakeholders – a desire to put the science back into sustainability from members and staff

• Government – local, national, international• Public - a key expectation of professionalism in the 21st

century• Lead from within – understand our own environment• Science Council – trusted to bring different perspectives

together• Foster collaboration, sharing best practice, learning

environment


Sustainability and Sustainable Sustainability and Sustainable DevelopmentDevelopment

• The Science Council believes that:– science and scientists can and must play a key role in achieving

sustainability– science and scientific methods of study and evaluation increase

our understanding of all aspects of the inter-related challenges facing the world through climate change, declining resources, increasing poverty and social injustice

– the use of sound science will enable us to identify, develop and implement sustainable development

• To progress towards sustainability scientists across all disciplines and professions will need to be aware of the principles of sustainable development and their application in their areas of practice.


Working with membersWorking with members

The Science Council therefore urges member organisations, in the context of their own disciplines, professions and industries, to:

• establish their commitment to the principles of sustainable development and to provide leadership

• encourage, value, support and develop awareness and understanding of the principles of sustainable development at all levels within their professions and disciplines;

• enable scientists within their professions to develop and use their skills, knowledge and experience to integrate the principles of sustainable development into the practice of their science;

• ensure that the principles of sustainable development are integrated into their professional standards and underpin lifelong learning and behaviours;

• identify an organisational champion to pursue the sustainability agenda


Some key areas of workSome key areas of work

• encourage and support member organisations through the provision of workshops, seminars and forums to facilitate shared learning and the development of best practice;

• introduce within the requirements for Chartered Scientist and Chartered Science Teacher a benchmark specification related to the commitment to aspire to the understanding and use of sustainable development principles;

• work with and support licensed bodies with regard to implementation of sustainability requirements in their professional specifications and requirements for CPD;

• work with Government to foster cross-disciplinary and cross-professional approaches to sustainability in horizon scanning and policy development

• work to increase awareness of the contribution that scientific method and the science professions can make to addressing sustainability;

• encourage and support interdisciplinary and multi-disciplinary approaches to sustainability

www.sciencecouncil.org the science council and sustainability

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