Global Scientific Challenges: Perspectives from Young Scientists
The conference report Report and Reflections from the Planning Group is available... (25-04-08) 

ICSU newsletter — Insight
The latest ICSU newsletter is available on our website... (23-04-08) 

Radical changes needed in food production: Agricultural assessment report
A global report assessing agricultural science and technology calls for radical changes in food production if the world is to cope with population growth and climate change, while better serving the poor and hungry. The report, from the International Assessment of Agricultural Science and Technology for Development (IAASTD), was released last week... (22-04-08) 

Basic science: the focus for new Europe-Africa conferences
The European Science Foundation has announced a new series of research conferences to promote excellence and collaboration between Europe and Africa. The conferences, which are co-sponsored by ICSU, will focus on basic science that is important for development in Africa, Europe and beyond. The first conference is scheduled to take place in South Africa in 2009 and will cover the basic mechanisms underlying infectious diseases... (16-04-08) 

Input sought for reviews of Global Environmental Change programmes
The parallel reviews of the World Climate Research Programme (WCRP) and the International Geosphere-Biosphere Programme (IGBP) are underway. Both Review Panels are inviting input around the central question: what do scientists, sponsors and end-users get out of participating in and supporting the programme that they would not have gained if it did not exist? (16-04-08) 

Resilience, adaptation and transformation in turbulent times
The Resilience2008 conference – focusing on resilience, adaptation and transformation in turbulent times – took place in Stockholm, Sweden, last week. The conference brought together scientists, as well as representatives from government and business to discuss the challenges facing societal development and together propose ways forward. Resilience2008 was organized by the Resilience Alliance, in collaboration with the Royal Swedish Academy of Sciences and ICSU... (03-04-08) 

IPY day focussing on changing Earth
On March 12th, 2008, the International Polar Year (IPY) launched its third 'International Polar Day', focusing on our Changing Earth; with a specific focus on Earth history as discovered through paleoclimate records that study the long term history of the Earth by analysing ice sheets and sediments below polar lakes and oceans... (03-03-08) 

New Director for WCRP
Dr Ghassem R. Asrar has been appointed Director of the Joint Planning Staff for the World Climate Research Programme (WCRP). He will join the WCRP in March, following a successful career at NASA and the Agricultural Research Service of the U.S. Department of Agriculture... (25-02-08) 

Health and wellbeing in a changing urban environment
Planning has begun for a new interdisciplinary initiative on health and wellbeing in the urban environment. This new ICSU initiative will focus on a systems analysis approach, building on the strengths of the Scientific Unions and specifically designed to take into account the complexity of urban environments and the needs of policy makers... (19-02-08) 

Scientific community mourns the loss of Bert Bolin
Professor Emeritus Bert Bolin passed away on 30 December 2007. Bert Bolin played a leading role in the development of ICSU over the past 45 years. His vision has been instrumental in strengthening international science for the benefit of society. It is a tribute to his leadership that the 2007 Nobel Peace Prize was awarded to the IPCC for which he served as its first Chairman. Bert Bolin is mourned by many friends and colleagues in the ICSU family... (10-01-08) 

UN Commission on Sustainable Development
ICSU and the World Federation of Engineering Organizations have submitted a Discussion Paper to the 16th session of the CSD (CSD-16) as official input from the Scientific and Technological Community. The Discussion Paper focuses on science and technology related to agriculture, land, rural development, and drought and desertification, with special attention paid to Africa... (11-12-07) 

International Polar Year: Ice Sheet Day
The second International Polar Day took place on 13 December. The day focused on the Greenland and Antarctic Ice Sheets and their future in the face of global climate change... (10-12-07) 

GEO Ministerial Summit
ICSU attended the Fourth GEO Plenary and Ministerial Summit in Cape Town, South Africa, 28–30 November... (07-12-07) 

Earth System Governance at UN Climate Change Conference
ICSU and the International Human Dimensions Programme on Global Environmental Change (IHDP) are hosting a side event, ‘Earth System Governance: Theories and Strategies for Sustainability’, at the United Nations Climate Change Conference in Bali... (06-12-07)