Latest News

ALLEA Member Academies unanimously re-elected Professor Antonio Loprieno as President for the term 2021–2023. Board Members Professor Annette Grüters-Kieslich and Professor Luke Drury were appointed as ALLEA Vice-Presidents.

The elections’ results were announced today during the annual meeting of ALLEA, the European Federation of Academies of Sciences and Humanities. As a result of the current COVID-19 pandemic, the voting took place by correspondence ahead of the virtual meeting.

“I am very grateful for the trust and support from our Member Academies. It is an honour for me to serve ALLEA during these critical times, and I am looking forward to an increasingly productive dialogue between science and society, in order to carry ALLEA’s European vision and mission across borders, disciplines and societal actors”, President Loprieno said.

As representative of the Swiss Academies of Arts and Sciences, Loprieno assumed the ALLEA Presidency in May 2018 for a first three-year term. The ALLEA President serves a maximum of two consecutive terms and chairs the ALLEA Board with responsibility for strategic priorities, the overall policy direction, budgetary issues and other governance topics of the European Academies’ federation.

Following the General Assembly, the ALLEA Board convened and appointed its members Annette Grüters-Kieslich (Leopoldina / Union of German Academies) and Luke Drury (Royal Irish Academy) as ALLEA Vice-Presidents for the President’s term 2021–2023.

ALLEA’s 2021 General Assembly also featured the virtual scientific symposium ‘Across Boundaries in Sciences’, co-organised with the Council of Finnish Academies on 5 May. The event gathered leading academics, policymakers, and civil society from over 40 countries to discuss today’s position of science in society and in relation to policy, including a particular focus on interdisciplinary research and a debate on the recently released ALLEA discussion paper ‘Fact or Fake? Tackling Science Disinformation’.

Helen Keller, Laureate of the 2021 ALLEA Madame de Staël Prize for Cultural Values

On the occasion of ALLEA’s General Assembly, law scholar Helen Keller was announced laureate of the 2021 All European Academies Madame de Staël Prize for Cultural Values. The Jury recognised Keller’s important contribution to the development and consolidation of human rights jurisprudence in Europe as well as her commitment to fundamental rights.

Helen Keller is Chair for Public Law, European and Public International Law at the University of Zurich. She is a former member of the UN Human Rights Committee and served as Judge at the European Court of Human Rights in the period of 2011-2020. In December 2020, she was appointed Judge to the Constitutional Court of Bosnia-Herzegovina.

The ALLEA Prize recognises researchers or intellectuals whose work represents a significant impact on the advancement of Europe. Professor Keller will deliver a Prize Lecture during a dedicated online event in the second half of 2021.

ALLEA and the Council of Finnish Academies hosted an international scientific symposium online on 5 May 2021. The event gathered leading academics, policymakers, and civil society to rethink the role of science in society in response to wicked problems and particular threats like science disinformation.

A diverse programme of keynotes, plenary discussions and breakout sessions invited the participants to explore the benefits and challenges of interdisciplinary research and the boundaries of science across regions, disciplines and generations. The conference closed with a dedicated presentation and discussion of ALLEA’s newly published report ‘Fact or Fake? Tackling Science Disinformation’.

Interdisciplinarity was the focus of the first part of the symposium which started with the keynote ‘Fostering convergence across disciplines’, by Academician of Science and Professor Riitta Hari (Aalto University).

As a physician herself working on neuroscience and arts, she reflected on her lessons learned to achieve convergence. Among her suggestions to move towards interdisciplinary, she underlined the need for deep knowledge foundations, the importance of learning how to work in a team (not in a group) and how to communicate with other disciplines.

Other speakers also recognised the great uncertainty that interdisciplinary research entails. “A discipline is like a security blanket for academics. Interdisciplinarity is inventing your own security blanket”, said Professor Joyce Tait (Co-Director at Innogen Institute, Royal Society of Edinburgh).

Moving into interdisciplinary research is not an easy choice for early-career researchers, argued Dr. Mona Mannevuo (Postdoctoral researcher, Young Academy Finland), but encouraged her fellows to think of interdisciplinarity as a strategy: “not for instrumental purposes but for restructuring the order of knowledge.”

Science, Politics and Disinformation

In the second part, ALLEA President Antonio Loprieno shared the stage with Adrienn Király, Head of Cabinet of European Commissioner Mariya Gabriel, and Permanent Secretary Anita Lehikoinen, the Ministry of Education and Culture, Finland. He presented his view on the future of academies when rethinking the boundaries between politics and science.

According to him, in times of crisis like the ongoing pandemic, academies may prove more flexible in providing science advice thanks to their experience and know-how on increased interdisciplinary interaction and flexibility.

The symposium closed with a final panel dedicated to discuss the recently published report ‘Fact or Fake? Tackling Science Disinformation’. Its lead author, Professor Dan Larhammar (President of the Royal Swedish Academy of Sciences), provided an overview on the main findings with an optimistic message, despite the dangers of this phenomenon.

“Research provides a great deal of hope to fight disinformation. There is evidence that people can be made aware of disinformation. They can be inoculated against it”, he stated after presenting examples of strategies to counter science disinformation.

The symposium was recorded and is already available to watch here.

©Krister Majander

On the occasion of the 2021 ALLEA General Assembly, ALLEA and the Council of Finnish Academies are organising the scientific symposium ‘Across Boundaries in Sciences’ on 5 May. The online event is open to all upon registration and will consist of a full-day of thought-provoking discussions on today’s science boundaries with leading academics, policymakers, and civil society.

During the Covid-19 pandemic, the boundaries of science have been increasingly pushed and pulled. These tensions have shaken our understanding of science not only within the scientific system, but in relation to politics and society in general. In this evolving scenario, leading academics, policymakers and civil society will join to reflect upon three guiding questions:

• How can interdisciplinary research increase the impact of science in society?
• Are the boundaries between science and politics changing?
• Do we need to strengthen the boundaries of science to tackle science disinformation?

The event will open with the keynote “Fostering Convergence Across Disciplines” from Prof. Riitta Hari (Aalto University). Questions regarding action-focused interdisciplinary research and the boundaries of science across regions, disciplines and generations will be discussed in the following panels, including a breakout session where participants will be able to interact within smaller groups.

In the afternoon part of the event, “Rethinking Boundaries Between Politics and Science”, participants will attend a speech by Ms Adrienn Király, Head of Cabinet of European Commissioner Mariya Gabriel, followed by the contributions of ALLEA President Antonio Loprieno and the Finnish Minister of Education and Culture Annika Saarikko.

Science Disinformation on Focus

The final panel discussion will tackle the topic of science disinformation and focus on the role of policy, science, and civil society in fighting this multi-dimension phenomenon in the context of the blurring boundaries of science and society.

The line of speakers will include Prof. Dan Larhammar (President of the Royal Swedish Academy of Sciences), Permanent Secretary Anita Lehikoinen (Ministry of Education and Culture of Finland), Prof. Jane Suiter (Director Institute for Future Media, Democracy and Society, Royal Irish Academy), and Roman Adamczyk (Research Coordinator at EU DisinfoLab).

The debate will also delve into the upcoming work of the ALLEA project Fact or Fake? Tackling Science Disinformation, which deals with the COVID-19 pandemic and the accompanying ‘infodemic’.

The symposium is free and open to all, but registration is mandatory.

Learn more about the programme, concept, and speakers on this dedicated conference website, and join the discussion on social media at #ScienceXBoundaries.

The Scientific Symposium “Across Boundaries in Science” is fast approaching. As previously announced, we will sadly not be able to meet in person in Helsinki on 5 May 2021, where our co-organiser Council of Finnish Academies was expecting us. Nevertheless, this online symposium promises to be the place of exchange, discussion and reflexion that we have known at ALLEA previous assemblies.

Featuring a wide range of international perspectives from research, politics, and civil society, speakers will share and discuss their latest insights on this complex topic. Join us online for thought-provoking talks, workshops, roundtable discussions, and inspiring conversations.

Registrations and full programme will open early April 2021. Stay tuned!

ALLEA President Antonio Loprieno proclaimed the outcomes of the 2020 General Assembly during a videoconference with the delegates of ALLEA member academies earlier today. 

Most notably, the delegates voted to admit two new member academies, the Cyprus Academy of Sciences, Letters and Arts, as well as the German young academy, Die Junge Akademie.  

Antonio Loprieno commented:  

“ALLEA warmly welcomes the Cyprus Academy and Die Junge Akademie into the European family of academies. We are looking forward to working with them. With the admission of the Junge Akademie, ALLEA has taken an important step in connecting young researchers with established academies. ALLEA sees itself as a truly transversal network, where topics are discussed across disciplines and borders, but also across career stages and origins.” 

Philipp Kanske, the Speaker of Die Junge Akademie said: 

“Becoming a member of ALLEA is a great chance for Die Junge Akademie to contribute to a common European framework of free and independent academic research. We look forward to collaborating with our fellow European academies, and to sharing our diverse experiences and expertise across borders and disciplines. We are particularly proud to be the first Young Academy in ALLEA and serve as a role model for future alliances.” 

Achilles C. Emilianides, the Secretary-General Cyprus Academy of Sciences, Letters, and Arts said: 

“The Cyprus Academy of Sciences, Letters, and Arts expresses its satisfaction for its acceptance as a full member of ALLEA. It is an honor and an opportunity for which we thank ALLEA and its Member Academies. 

Both the Cyprus Academy and ALLEA represent the Natural Sciences, the Humanities, and the Social Sciences and this makes the relationship between the Cyprus Academy and ALLEA a truly important one. We do hope that our collaboration in addressing interdisciplinary issues and in advancing new trans-disciplinary initiatives will be mutually beneficial.” 

The ALLEA member academies also elected a new Board, to serve alongside the President until 2022. The ALLEA Board now consists of 10 members representing academies from Austria, Finland, Germany, Ireland, Italy, Netherlands, Poland, Spain, Sweden, and the United Kingdom. 

In addition, the meeting participants heard reports on key ALLEA activities of the previous months as well as an outlook on future steps towards implementing ALLEA’s strategic objectives. 

Due to the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic, ALLEA organised this year’s General Assembly by correspondence only. The meeting was supposed to take place at the Royal Society in London on 3 June on the invitation of the UK and Irish ALLEA member academies. 

Read ALLEA Activities Report 2019-2020.

Read the press release published by Die Junge Akademie.

Due to the ongoing restrictions on public gatherings as a result of the Coronavirus disease (COVID-19) pandemic, ALLEA and the hosting academies have made the decision to cancel all physical meetings in the context of this year’s ALLEA General Assembly.  

We are therefore announcing that the public symposium Research Collaboration in Changing Times on 4 June at the Royal Society will regrettably not take place.  

The business meeting for ALLEA delegates, originally scheduled for 3 June at the British Academy, will be reorganised to take place by correspondence. Member Academies and their delegates will be informed about the procedures in due course. 

This is a difficult decision for ALLEA and the hosting academies in Ireland and the UK, but the health and safety of participants and staff remain our top priority. 

We are asking for your understanding and we are hoping to be able to welcome you on another occasion. 

The Royal Irish Academy (RIA) joins the British Academy, the Learned Society of Wales, Royal Society and Royal Society of Edinburgh in hosting the 2020 ALLEA General Assembly, taking place in London on 3 and 4 June.

The RIA’s Secretary for Policy and International Relations Professor Peter McHugh commented:

“The Royal Irish Academy is delighted to join with its sister academies in the UK to host this year’s ALLEA General Assembly on the theme of research collaborations in changing times.  The positive impact of longstanding traditions and practices of research collaboration across Europe are clear: international collaboration makes for better science with a greater impact on society and industry and offers exciting opportunities for early career researchers to train and learn in the best research centres.”

ALLEA warmly welcomes RIA as new partner co-hosting its 2020 annual event and is looking forward to a fruitful collaboration.

The UK member academies of ALLEA will host the next General Assembly in London on 3 and 4 June 2020. Registration to the event is now open.

On the occasion of the ALLEA General Assembly, a scientific symposium on “Research Collaboration in Changing Times” will take place on 4 June. In addition to the symposium, the event will feature the awarding of the 7th All European Academies Madame de Staël Prize for Cultural Values and the annual business meeting of ALLEA’s membership. The ALLEA General Assembly will bring together representatives of academies of sciences and humanities from 40 countries across the Council of Europe region, leading researchers, policy-makers and civil society representatives.

The core deliberations of the scientific symposium will touch on research collaboration in times of major transformations and challenges for Europe. Discussions will be of particular importance to those concerned with ensuring and enabling high quality international research collaboration.  Among others, core questions will cover how Europe can strike a balance between excellence in research and the development of underfunded regions, and how research can contribute to solving major societal challenges.

These questions will be explored during the three sessions of the Symposium:

• Protecting Collaborative Research in a Turbulent Europe
• Balancing Excellence and Regional Equality within Europe
• Interdisciplinary Research: The Key to the Future?

Detailed descriptions of the individual sessions and the programme are available on the website.

The scientific symposium is free to all participants.

Register now!

Confirmed speakers:

• Professor Ash Amin, British Academy, University of Cambridge
• Professor Mauro Ferrari, President, European Research Council
• Professor Ivana Gadjanski, University of Novi Sad
• Professor Anet Rezek Jambrak, Global Young Academy, University of Zagreb
• Professor Joyce Tait, Royal Society of Edinburgh, Centre for Social and Economic Research on Innovation in Genomics, University of Edinburgh
• Professor Ulrike Tillmann, Royal Society, University of Oxford
• Professor Koen Vermeir, Co-Chair, Global Young Academy, French National Centre for Scientific Research

We are happy to announce that the UK Member Academies of ALLEA will host the next General Assembly in London on 3-4 June 2020. Save the date and do not miss the updates of the programme and the event by following us on our social media, our newsletter and this website.

As in past editions, the annual meeting of European Academies will include a scientific symposium which will bring together international scholars and scientists, high-rank European policymakers as well as the interested public to discuss the most pressing issues for the scientific community in Europe. Next year’s theme will be ‘Research Collaboration in Changing Times’.

Further information on the programme and speakers will be released soon. Registration for the event will start in the beginning of 2020.