Download - EASAC – European Science Advisory Council
EASAC –European Science Advisory Council
Professor Sir Brian HeapPresident
2Friday 21 April 2023
What is EASAC?• Coalition of the National Academies of Science of the member
states of the EU
• National Science Academies: networks of scientific excellence task of science-based policy advice
• EASAC as an instrument of independent policy advice of EU Science Academies for EU-institutions
EASAC Membership
• 25 National Academies of Science (not Malta, Luxemburg, Cyprus and Romania)
• Also membership of Norway and Switzerland (as extraordinary Council members)
• One pan-European Academy of Science (Academia Europaea) and the association of all European Academies (ALLEA)
• Observer: FEAM (Federation European Academies of Medicine)
EASAC‘s Purpose• National Academies of Science have to be present in Brussels to
fulfil their task of giving science-based policy advice
High rate of national policies are attributable to EU initiatives (up to 80% of new legislation of member states stem directly or indirectly from Brussels)
• Special weight in Brussels of a united voice of the best scientists in Europe
EASAC aims to:
• Deliver scientifically excellent, independent, topical and politically relevant advice for the institutions of the EU
• Run projects that are initiated both “bottom up“ (initiatives of member academies) and “top down“ (eg requests from EU institutions)
EASAC‘s Unique Characteristics• Highly efficient network of the best scientists within the EU
• Political and financial independence of National Academies of Science
• EU-wide perspective of all reports and recommendations
• Scientific positions reached consensually
Organisational Structure of EASAC
CouncilBureau
Secretariat
Steering Panel BiosciencesSecretary Biosciences
Working Groups Biosciences
Steering Panel EnergySecretary Energy
Working Groups Energy
Steering Panel EnvironmentSecretary Environment
Working Groups Environment
Recent EASAC Reports• Impact of Engineered Nanomaterials on Health (October 2011)• „Lay Summary“ Synthetic Biology (February 2011)• Synthesis Report: Infectious Diseases (April 2011)• Synthetic Biology (December 2010)• Groundwater Situation in Southern Europe (June 2010)• Climate Change and Infectious Diseases (March 2010)• Transforming Europe‘s Electricity Supply (June 2009)• Drug-resistant Tubercolosis (March 2009)• Ecosystem Services and Biodiversity (February 2009)
Current Working Groups• Concentrating Solar Power• Plant Genetic Resources for Food and Agriculture• Sustainable Biofuels• Adaptation to Extreme Weather• Direct-to-Consumer Genetic Testing• Carbon Capture and Storage
Evidence-based policies – do they work?
Key objectives
• Authoritative• Repeatable• Safe• Independent• International