The Pacific Islands is the only region in the world that does not have its own learned academy and a local collective voice for science, despite the region experiencing profound impacts due to climate change.
That changes from today, thanks to the launch of the Pacific Academy of Sciences and the election of 12 eminent scholars as Foundation Fellows, who will provide a strong voice for science in the region.
The Australian Academy of Science welcomes the establishment of the new academy, which was launched today alongside the Commonwealth Heads of Government meeting in Samoa.
The new academy will promote the study and application of the natural and social sciences, the humanities, Indigenous Knowledge and technology for the benefit of the Pacific Islands region and beyond.
Australian Academy of Science President Professor Chennupati Jagadish said the Australian Academy was proud to have played a role in the establishment of the new Pacific Academy through its leadership of the International Science Council Regional Focal Point for Asia and the Pacific, along with other partners.
"Until now, there has been no mechanism for Pacific scholars to convene and bring together their knowledge so it can inform regional and international decision-making, despite the region experiencing profound impacts arising from a changing climate," Professor Jagadish said.
"More often than not, decisions are made by others about them, not with them, even though local scientists and Indigenous communities possess unique knowledge about their respective regions and inhabitants. That changes from today."
Foundation Fellow and newly appointed Pacific Academy of Sciences President, Professor Teatulohi Matainaho from Papua New Guinea, highlighted the opportunities the academy would create for young scientists in the region.
"The Pacific Academy of Sciences will support our young people with their career development in the Pacific for the Pacific by providing mentors and building collegiality with peers regionally and globally," Professor Matainaho said.
"The Pacific Academy of Sciences offers exciting possibilities to connect scholars from across the globe who share a common goal, that is: addressing global challenges through evidence-based science and actionable knowledge.
The Pacific Academy has been established as a charitable trust to be based in Apia, Samoa.
The first meeting of the Governing Council (Trustees and Foundation Fellows) is set to be held after the launch.
About The International Science Council Regional Focal Point for Asia and the Pacific
The International Science Council Regional Focal Point for Asia and the Pacific (ISC RFP-AP) is funded by the Australian Government and hosted by the Australian Academy of Science. The five-year programme (2023-2028) is working to ensure that regional needs and priorities are adequately represented in the International Science Council's (ISC) global agenda, that regional voices are actively engaged in the governance and management of the ISC's work, and that the region benefits from the results of that work.
