The Pacific Science Council is the governing body of PSA. It is composed of one or several representatives from each national member to PSA (known as an Adhering Organization).
Current national members to PSA include Australia, China-Beijing, China-Hong Kong, China-Taipei, France, Guam, Indonesia, Japan, Korea, Malaysia, New Zealand, Okinawa, Pacific Islands (Cook Islands, Fiji, Kiribati, Marshall Islands, Nauru, Niue, Samoa, Solomon Islands, Tokelau, Tonga, Tuvalu, Vanuatu), Philippines, Russia, Singapore, Thailand, United States, and Vietnam.
Each Adhering Organization selects their representatives to the Pacific Science Council. Thus, PSA Council positions are held by the Adhering Organization, rather than by the individuals who are selected to represent the institution. This inevitably results in some turnover between meetings, although there is also much continuity of individuals who represent an Adhering Organization within the Council.
National Committees to PSA are established by some Adhering Organizations (ex. USA, Korea, Japan, China-Taipei) and help implement national-level activities of the PSA.
LIST OF ADHERING ORGANIZATIONS
National Academies Forum (Australia)
The National Academies Forum is the peak organisation for the four Australian learned academies: Academy of the Social Sciences in Australia, Australian Academy of Science, Australian Academy of Technological Sciences and Engineering, and Australian Academy of the Humanities. Established in 1995, the Forum provides a basis for cooperative activities by the four Academies and a common point of access to the Academies for outside organisations and individuals. It promotes a unified national vision, helping to overcome the difficulties that have often separated science, technology and engineering from the social sciences and the humanities.
China Association for Science and Technology
http://www.cast.org.cn/ (Chinese language)
The China Association for Science and Technology (CAST) is a non-profit, non-governmental organization of Chinese scientific and technological workers. As a bridge between the nation’s scientific and technological workers and the government, it is an important driving force in developing the country’s science and technology. The major tasks of CAST are: 1) to promote the advancement of science and technology by means of scientific exchanges; 2) to popularize scientific knowledge among the general public; 3) to safeguard the legitimate rights of scientific and technological workers and organize them to participate in the political life of the state; 4) to award scientific and technological workers with outstanding contributions; 5) to provide policy advice and other services to the government and the society on science- and technology-related issues so as to contribute to the nation’s economic and social development; 6) to develop cooperative relations with the international science and technology community; and 7) to conduct continued education through various training programs.
University of Hong Kong
The University of Hong Kong (or HKU, as it is familiarly known to students, staff and alumni) is the oldest tertiary education institution in Hong Kong. On March 16, 1910, Sir Frederick Lugard, the then Governor of Hong Kong, laid the foundation stone for the University, signifying the birth of Hong Kong’s first tertiary institution. HKU is an adhering organization to the Pacific Science Association.
Academia Sinica
http://www.sinica.edu.tw/ (Chinese language)
Academia Sinica was founded in Nanking on June 9, 1928. As the highest academic institution in Taiwan, Academia Sinica has two basic missions: conducting scientific research in its own institutes, as well as providing guidance, channels of communication, and encouragement to raising academic standards in the country. Academia Sinica has adopted various measures to promote internal integration of research activities in the three research disciplines (mathematics and physical sciences; life sciences; and humanities and social sciences); to help with the planning, implementation, and evaluation of long-term projects in order to enhance the impact of the research activities; to harness basic research results for applications and technology transfer; to engage the academic and research community within China-Taipei (Taiwan) toward a modern and forward-looking collective academic vision; to cultivate an intellectual environment that is conducive to the nurturing of young scholars and the recognition of outstanding scholarship in China-Taipei; and to promote international cooperation and scholarly exchanges that will accelerate the overall development of academic research in Academia Sinica and China-Taipei.
Académie des sciences
http://www.academie-sciences.fr/ (Français)
The Academy of Sciences of the Institute of France brings together French scholars and forms associations with foreign scholars, where both the former and the latter are selected from among the most eminent. By their involvement, they contribute to the accomplishing of the missions of the Academy. The Academy of Sciences is independent and durable, it encourages scientific life, and contributes to progress in the sciences and in their applications: it studies social questions associated with the development of the sciences and formulates recommendations, possibly with the involvement of other Academies, it is involved in the development of international scientific relations, notably within the European Union, and in the representation abroad of research carried out in France, it monitors the quality of the teaching of the sciences and works to ensure that the products of scientific development are integrated into the culture of people of our time, it encourages the diffusion of science among the public, it diligently upholds the role and the quality of French scientific language. The Academy represents New Caledonia and French Polynesia in the PSA.
The University of Guam
The University of Guam, accredited by the Western Association of Schools and Colleges, is a 4-year Land-Grant U.S. institution which offers baccalaureate and master degrees. Founded in June 1952, the institution also excels in Pacific island research through its diverse research centers, e.g., Cancer Research Center, Institute for Micronesian Health and Aging Studies, Marine Laboratory, Micronesian Language Institute, Richard F. Taitano Micronesian Area Research Center, Water and Environmental Research Institute of the Western Pacific, and Western Pacific Tropical Research Center. The university exists to service its learners and the communities of Guam, Micronesia and the neighboring regions of the Pacific and Asia.
The Indonesian Institute of Science (Lembaga Ilmu Pengetahuan Indonesia – LIPI)
http://www.lipi.go.id/ (Bahasa Indonesia)
LIPI’s mandate is To assist the President of the Republic of Indonesia in organizing research and development, to provide guidance and service in science and technology, and advise the government on national science and technology policy. It conducts research and development of science and technology; provides guidance on the development of science and technology; encourages and develops science consciousness among the Indonesian people; encourages and develops the scientific community; develops cooperation with national as well as international scientific bodies; provides services relating to science and technology; and advises the government on the formulation of national policy on science and technology in the following fields: Social Science and Humanities, Natural Sciences, Engineering Sciences, Scientific Infrastructure.
The Science Council of Japan
The Science Council of Japan, born of the firm conviction that science constitutes the foundation of culture, was established, in January 1949, for promotion and permeation of science in all government agencies, industries and people’s lives, as the organization to represent Japanese scientists, both in Japan and abroad and as a “special agency” under jurisdiction of the Prime Minister’s Office. In the subsequent reorganization of central government agencies in January 2001, the Council was affiliated with the Ministry of Public Management, Home Affairs, Posts and Telecommnunications. The Council, consisting of 210 representative members (term: 3 years) elected from among some 730,000 scientists in the country, and functioning independently, is mandated (1) to deliberate on important matters related to science and implement decisions reached and (2) to promote effective exchanges among researchers to achieve greater productivity in conducting scientific research. The Council provides counsel and recommendations when requested by the government and also has authority to offer, on its own initiative, advice and opinions to the government. Some of the Council’s international activities include: affiliating with various international academic institutions, sending delegations to academically important conferences overseas and to countries under bilateral academic exchange programs, and cosponsoring and supporting important international academic conferences in Japan.
The National Academy of Sciences
http://www.nas.go.kr/main.php (Korean language)
The National Academy of Sciences, Republic of Korea , is the Senior national organization of distinguished Korean scientists and scholars. Its primary objective is to promote learning and research in all areas of sciences by conferring membership and preferential treatment to those who have made outstanding contributions to the advancement of sciences and learning. The Academy consists of 150 Fellows who are selected by their peers for outstanding contributions to the sciences and education. The Academy is dedicated to: fostering the highest levels of learning and research in all areas of scholarship by conferring the National Academy of Sciences Award; making available its members’ broad and varied knowledge to evaluate and advise on social, cultural, economic and scientific issues for the benefit of Korea; promoting Korean scholarship and accomplishments internationally through active exchanges with other national academies; and suggesting policy recommendations of the promotion of science to the national government.
Ministry Of Science, Technology & Innovation Malaysia (MOSTI)
MOSTI was first established in 1973 as the Ministry of Technology, Research and Local Government. As it assumed additional responsibility as the lead agency pertaining to environmental matters, the ministry then assumed its name Ministry of Science, Technology and Environment (MOSTE) in 1976. MOSTI reached its current form after the restructuring of MOSTE following the Cabinet decision on March 27, 2004. With the new entity of MOSTI came several agencies, including the Introduction of cluster approach in February 2007 (Biotechnology, ICT, Industry, Sea to Space and S&T Services). Introduction of National Innovation Model 2007. Its Strategic Focus Areas have two main thrusts. Thrust One is to move the economy up the value chain, by increasing productivity and competitiveness in agriculture, manufacturing and services sectors; and to generate new sources of wealth in technology and knowledge-intensive sectors. Thrust Two is t o raise the country’s capacity for knowledge, creativity and innovation and nurture first class mentality. Knowledge and innovation will be key determinants of Malaysia’s success as a KBE. Enhance innovation system that encourages top quality R&D and its commercialization.
Royal Society Te Apārangi
The Royal Society Te Apārangi (formerly Royal Society of New Zealand) has operated since 1867. Its mandate is to foster in the New Zealand community a culture that supports science and technology. RSTA promotes science and technology in schools, in industry and in society, and administers several funds for science and technology, publishes science journals, offers advice to Government, and fosters international scientific contact and co-operation.
University of the Ryukyus
http://www.u-ryukyu.ac.jp/ ()
The University of the Ryukyus was founded in 1950 under U.S. military control and became a Japanese national university in 1972, when Okinawa reverted to Japan. This historical background gives UR university unique characteristics that cannot be found in other national universities in Japan . Japanese universities are now undergoing a barrage of reforms, learning a great deal from U.S. universities. Since its foundation, our university has maintained a number of systems that other Japanese universities are now considering adopting.
The University of the South Pacific (Fiji)
Based in Suva , Fiji , The University of the South Pacific (USP) is the premier provider of tertiary education in the Pacific Region, and an international centre of excellence for teaching and research on all aspects of Pacific culture and environment. Established in 1968, USP’s academic programmes are recognised worldwide, attracting high calibre students and staff from throughout the Pacific Region and internationally. The University represents twelve Member Countries: Cook Islands, Fiji Islands, Kiribati, Marshall Islands, Nauru, Niue, Samoa, Solomon Islands, Tokelau, Tonga, Tuvalu, and Vanuatu.
The National Research Council of the Philippines
The National Research Council of the Philippines was created on 8 December 1933 to promote the advancement of science through research in order to build up a body of Filipino men and women devoted to scientific research. It was renamed the National Research Council of the Philippines after the country’s independence in 1946. Among the principal mandates of NRCP is the provision of assistance for the development of the research capabilities of Filipino scientists. It also acts as an advisory body to the Philippine national government in select priority sectors on problems and issues affecting the country. Its mandate is the promotion and support of fundamental or basic research for the continuing improvement of the research capability of individual or group scientists; to foster linkages with local and international scientific organizations for enhanced cooperation in the development and sharing of scientific information; to provide advice on problems and issues of national interest; and to promote scientific and technological culture to all sectors of society. The Mission of NRCP is “to promote and support basic and problem-oriented research, particularly those which are multidisciplinary, in the sciences as well as in the humanities, to identify and provide solutions to national issues and problems, and to generate new knowledge in preparation for the future.”
Russian Academy of Sciences (русский язык)
The Far Eastern Branch of the Russian Academy of Sciences (RAS-FEB). RAS-FEB contains 35 research institutions under 6 regional scientific centers ( Amur Scietific Center, Kamchatka Scientific Center, Primorsky Scientific Center, Sakhalin Scientific Center, North-East Scientific Center, and Khabarovsk Scientific Center). The staff of the FEB RAS is 7,435 members, including 1,461 research staff members (13 Academicians, 20 Corresponding Members, 271 Doctors of Sciences and 1,157 Candidates of Sciences). Scientific activities are focused on studies of geology and geophysical consistent patterns of evolution and structure of the transition zone from the continent to the ocean, development of scientific basis for technologies for complex processes of automation and making of expert systems, development of communication systems, evaluation of seismic and volcanic danger, fundamental research of biodiversity, evolution and ecology of the plant and animal kingdom of the Far East, study of molecular basis of structure of marine biological systems, investigation of principles of molecular structure of marine biological systems, investigation in molecular immunology, biotechnology, oceanography, history and ethnography.
Singapore National Academy of Science
The Singapore National Academy of Science is an umbrella organization for the premier scientific societies in Singapore. Established in 1967, its principal mission objective is the promotion of science and technology in Singapore. The nine scientific societies under the aegis of the Academy are: Institute of Physics Singapore; Singapore Association for the Advancement of Science; Singapore Institute of Biology; Singapore Mathematical Society; Singapore National Institute of Chemistry; Singapore Institute of Statistics; Singapore Society for Microbiology & Biotechnology; Singapore Society for Biochemistry & Molecular Biology; and Science Teachers Association of Singapore. The various constituent societies play a very active role in the promotion of their respective mission objectives. Some of the important programmes of the Academy include the following: presentation of SNAS Young Scientist Awards, which was instituted in 1997 to give recognition to outstanding young researchers; publication of the international science journal, COSMOS, with the Editorial Board comprising Nobel Laureates, Fellows of the Royal Society, and other eminent scientists; organizing of regular international conferences Presentation of SNAS Awards to outstanding university students in the various scientific disciplines; publishing of papers in international refereed journals and chapters in books of international publishers on issues of national significance under the Academy’s byline. The Academy is headed by Professor Leo Tan Wee Hin, Director of the National Institute of Education and Professor of Biological Sciences, Nanyang Technological University.
National Research Council of Thailand
http://www.nrct.net/ (Thai language)
The National Research Council of Thailand (NRCT) was inaugurated by the National Research Council Act B.E.2502 (1959) and was designated by the Cabinet as the national body responsible for implementing research – related matters and considering proposals of the Office of the National Research Council of Thailand before forwarding them with comments to the Cabinet. The council is also assigned to give the Prime Minister comments on research issues upon requested. The NRCT is chaired by the Prime Minister, with Deputy Prime Ministers as Vice Chairmen, and Ministers and Deputy Ministers as Advisors.
National Academy of Sciences (USA)
The National Academy of Sciences (NAS) is a private, non-profit, self-perpetuating society of distinguished scholars engaged in scientific and engineering research, dedicated to the furtherance of science and technology and to their use for the general welfare. Upon the authority of the charter granted to it by the Congress in 1863, the Academy has a mandate that requires it to advise the federal government on scientific and technical matters. Dr. Ralph J. Cicerone is the president of the National Academy of Sciences. The Academy is represented to the PSA by the U.S. National Committee for PSA.
Vietnam Academy of Science and Technology (VAST)
With a view to improve the science and technology of Vietnam and to contribute to national development, Vietnam Academy of Science & Technologywas established as a national center for scientific research. It is the biggest scientific research institute in the country and has been in operation for 28 years now. The chief focus of VAST has been on research in various scientific and technological fields.
The institutes of VAST include Institute of Mathematics, Institute of information Technology, Institute of Mechanics, Institute of Physics, institute of Chemistry, Institute of Biotechnology, Institute of Geography, Institute of Geophysics, Institute of Tropical Technology, Institute of Oceanography etc. The institutes are equipped with modern research instruments, qualified and skilled professors etc.
The courses and programs of VAST are available in different fields of science and technology. Various divisions of the institute are state owned companies, development units, Institute for Scientific Information etc. Working in collaboration with various national and international universities, VAST is involved in a number of projects for the development and growth of scientific and technological research in the country.