Future Earth seeks Interim Director and Nominations

The Science and Technology Alliance for Global Sustainability, which comprises ICSU, ISSC, the Belmont Forum, UNEP, UNESCO, UNU and WMO as an observer, is currently seeking nominations for experts to serve on the first Science Committeee of the Future Earth initiative.

Future Earth is a new 10-year initiative on integrated Earth system research for global sustainability, established by the Alliance. The goal of Future Earth is to develop the knowledge required for societies worldwide to face challenges posed by global environmental change and to identify opportunities for a transition to global sustainability. It will build on and extend the work that has been done by the Global Environmental Change programmes, which have been co-sponsored by ICSU.

While Future Earth will not be fully operational before mid-2014, the Alliance – acting as the Future Earth Governing Council in the interim – has agreed on the early appointment of a Science Committee.

This committee will ensure that the science of Future Earth is of the highest quality, making recommendations on new and existing projects, and emerging priorities for research. It will oversee the transition of IGBP, IHDP and Diversitas activities into Future Earth, secure strong partnership with the WCRP community and provide guidance on new activities for Future Earth.

The Science Committee will comprise 16 members and two co-Chairs, representing the full spectrum of global environmental change science from natural science to social sciences, humanities and engineering, and may include scientists working in non-academic sectors, such as government and industry. It will include representation from the existing Global Environmental Change programmes.

Find out more and how to make a nomination here.

Future Earth Interim Director

A Future Earth Interim Director is now needed to provide executive leadership for the Future Earth programme, as it transitions from initial design to full implementation. Working with the scientific community, stakeholders, and members of the Alliance, key tasks include:

• Providing visible executive leadership for Future Earth with the science community and stakeholders.
• Leading the establishment of Future Earth as a new programme, building up its main scientific, organisational, engagement and funding elements from their initial design to full implementation.
• Establishing the permanent Future Earth secretariat, and leading the interim secretariat which will be composed of a small dedicated team, together with contributions from Alliance members and existing Global Environmental Change programme secretariats.
• Engaging the global environmental change research, user and funding communities in the further development of Future Earth.
• Supporting existing global environmental change programmes and projects to merge into Future Earth.
• Creating early funding opportunities to support Future Earth research and developing the mid- to long-term funding base, including engaging new potential funders, for example development donors, foundations and venture philanthropists.

Find out more and how to apply here.