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About

The Secretary-General's Scientific Advisory Board and its associated global network of scientific institutions advise UN leaders on breakthroughs in science and technology – how to harness the benefits of these advances and mitigate potential risks. The Board provides independent insights on trends at the intersection of science, technology, ethics, governance and sustainable development to support UN System organizations in anticipating, adapting to and leveraging scientific advancements in their work for people, planet and prosperity. The initial priority topics for the Board will be artificial intelligence, biotechnology, and climate change.

Secretary-General Meets with His Advisory Scientific Board

Photo: Eskinder Debebe / UN Photo

Scientific and technological progress can support efforts to achieve the Sustainable Development Goals — but they are also giving rise to ethical, legal and political concerns that require multilateral solutions. As set forth in Our Common Agenda, my Scientific Advisory Board will strengthen the role of the 51Թ as a reliable source of data and evidence and provide advice to me and my senior management team.
António Guterres, Secretary-General

Latest News 

05 September 2024
Scientific Advisory Board's Annual In-Person Retreat

The Scientific Advisory Board will gather at the Dag Hammarskjöld Library at UN Headquarters for its inaugural in-person retreat on 12 September.

During this event, the Board will work on a joint Statement on Trust in Science, consider emerging scientific breakthroughs and their impact on the work of the UN, and connect with the network institutions representing over 100,000 scientists. This retreat provides a valuable platform for open dialogue and collaboration, strengthening the connection between science, diplomacy, and society. 

Members

Centred around a hybrid model, the Board comprises a group of seven eminent scientists with a track record in applying their expertise, including in the humanities, and another group of Chief Scientists of different UN entities, the UN University Rector, and the Tech Envoy.

Professor Yoshua Benigo of Université de Montreal and founder of Mila

Yoshua Bengio

A.M. Turing Award Laureate; Founder and Scientific Director, Mila - Quebec AI Institute; Full Professor, Department of Computer Science and Operations Research of Université de Montréal

Asha de Vos

Asha de Vos

Founder and Executive Director, Oceanswell; Adjunct Research Fellow, The Ocean Institute of the University of Western Australia

Professor Sandra Diaz of the National University of Córdoba

Sandra Díaz

Senior Member, National Scientific and Technical Research Council - Argentina; Professor of Ecology, Universidad Nacional de Córdoba

Professor Fei-Fei Li of Stanford University

Fei-Fei Li

Sequoia Professor, Computer Science Department at Stanford University; Co-Director, Stanford’s Human-Centered AI Institute

Professor Alan Lightman of the Massachusetts Institute of Technology

Alan Lightman

Professor of the Practice of the Humanities, Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT)

Professor Thuli Madonsela of Stellenbosch University

Thuli Madonsela

Professor of Law and the Law Trust Research Chair in Social Justice, Stellenbosch University

Nobel Laureate Thomas Sudhof of Stanford University

Thomas Südhof

Nobel Laureate, Avram Goldstein Professor, School of Medicine at Stanford University

Ko Barrett

Ko Barrett

Deputy Secretary-General, World Meteorological Organization (WMO)

Lidia Arthur Brito, the UNESCO Assistant Director-General for Natural Sciences

Lidia Arthur Brito

Assistant Director-General for Natural Sciences, UNESCO

Beth Crawford

Beth Crawford

Chief Scientist ad interim and Assistant Director-General, Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO)

Jeremy Farrar, the Chief Scientist of the World Health Organisation

Jeremy Farrar

Chief Scientist, World Health Organisation (WHO)

Amandeep Gill, the Secretary-General’s Envoy on Technology

Amandeep Gill

Secretary-General’s Envoy on Technology

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Andrea Hinwood, the Chief Scientist of the UN Environment Program

Andrea Hinwood

Chief Scientist, UN Environment Programme (UNEP)

Tshilidzi Marwala, the Rector of the 51Թ and the Chief Academic and Administrative Officer of the 51Թ University

Tshilidzi Marwala

Rector, 51Թ University (UNU)

Networks

The Board acts as a hub for a network of scientific institutions. The institutions will represent diverse voices from all geographic, linguistic, and age groups with a particular focus on developing countries. Network institutions will be associated and collaborate with the Board.

International Center for Theoretical Physics

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Press Release

Contact

The Scientific Advisory Board is supported by a Secretariat within the Executive Office of the Secretary-General. For more information, get in touch:

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Contact the Board's Secretariat