Strengthening trust in science at the European level discussed during the meeting of the Federation of European Academies of Sciences#News247WorldPress

On June 3-4, the president of the Academy of Sciences of Moldova, Acad. Ion Tighineanu, participated in the General Assembly of the members of ALLEA (All European Academies), which was hosted by the Royal Academy of Sciences and Letters in Denmark. This year’s scientific forum had on its agenda both organizational discussions regarding the promotion of freedom and responsibility in scientific work, as well as events open to the public.

The first part of the meeting of ALLEA members discussed the challenges and opportunities of reforming the scientific research evaluation system. Thus, with concrete examples of practices applied in recent years, the representative of the German Research Funding Agency (DFG) stated that recently, the evaluation of research projects in Germany is based on both the scientific excellence of the project proposal and a narrative description of the main achievements materialized in impactful scientific publications. In this way, the system no longer relies solely on synthetic and quantitative performance indicators, such as the number of scientific papers and the impact factor of the journals in which they were published.

The discussions continued regarding the implementation plan for the strategic priorities that ALLEA aims to bring to the agenda of the European Commission. The main strategic priorities for the next five years include: Promoting autonomy, integrity, and trust in science; Improving conditions for research; Delivering independent scientific consultancy; Actively engaging ALLEA members in the consultation process with decision-makers concerning the adjustment of the scientific system to societal needs.

During the scientific symposium “Europe and the Arctic: Science and Diplomacy,” the issue of transnational scientific research in the Arctic region was addressed, which has a significant impact on monitoring and modeling climate change. Due to political misunderstandings between states, especially after the onset of Russia’s war in Ukraine, and after the rise to power of President Trump’s team in the USA, research in this field is facing difficulties. The Arctic and associated regions are components of the same ecosystem, with elements that depend on one another – a relationship that has become increasingly evident against the backdrop of climate change and growing geopolitical tensions.

The meeting culminated in the presentation of the Madame de Staël award to Ms. Viola Priesemann, a German physicist and member of the board of the Young Academy in Germany (“Die Junge Akademie”), in recognition of her remarkable scientific achievements in the field of physics and her profound commitment to promoting successful interdisciplinary research during the pandemic. The selection committee found that Professor Dr. Priesemann’s unwavering dedication to fostering an environment where interdisciplinary research can thrive and to advancing pan-European cooperation in science, politics, and public health during a global crisis was remarkable in itself, as well as complementary to ALLEA’s mission to facilitate cross-border and transdisciplinary scientific collaboration.

ALLEA is the European Federation of Academies of Sciences and Humanities, representing about 60 academies from approximately 40 EU and non-EU countries. Since its founding in 1994, ALLEA has expressed the opinions of its members on the European and international stage, promotes science as a global public good, and facilitates cross-border and transdisciplinary scientific collaboration. The academies are autonomous bodies made up of distinguished scientists from all fields of scientific research. They contain a unique human resource of intellectual excellence, experience, and multidisciplinary knowledge dedicated to the advancement of science and studies in Europe and worldwide. Together with its members, ALLEA aims to improve research conditions, provide the best available independent and interdisciplinary scientific advice, and strengthen the role of science in society.

By doing this, ALLEA channels the expertise of European academies for the benefit of the research community, policymakers, and the public. The results include scientific consulting in response to socially relevant topics, as well as activities that encourage scientific cooperation, scientific reasoning, and values through public engagement.