2025 Letten Prize call for applications
Are you a young researcher working within the fields of health, development or environment in any aspect of human life? Then apply to the Letten Prize, which is open to researchers under the age 45 from all corners of the world. The Letten Prize is a collaboration between the Letten Foundation and The Young Academy of Norway. The prize of 2.5 million NOK (ca. 235,000 USD) is awarded biannually. Shortlisted candidates will be interviewed, and the winner will be awarded the prize at a ceremony taking place in Oslo, Norway, in September 2025. More information, eligibility criteria, and how to apply is available here. Deadline is 6 February 2025.
Israel Young Academy initiates researcher exchange
The Israel Young Academy is pleased to announce a new initiative aimed at strengthening international research collaborations. They have issued a call for applications, which supports visits by leading researchers from abroad (along with their team members) to Israel for a minimum duration of 14 days. This initiative seeks to promote long-term research partnerships, provide exposure to diverse scientific disciplines, and deepen global connections among researchers. Applications should be submitted by 31 January 2025, to this email: Further details are available on their website here.
GYA supports early-career researchers at 2024 World Science Forum
The 2024 World Science Forum, which took place in Budapest, Hungary, hosted leading scientists and decision-makers from the world of politics, industry, representatives of civil society and the media from all over the world to engage in dialogue about pressing global challenges. Together with the InterAcademy Partnership, the GYA organized an interactive workshop for 25 early-career researchers at the Forum. The GYA also co-convened a panel on “Research Assessment”, and contributed to the closing declaration. Read more and see the photo galleries here.
Y-KAST signs Stockholm Charter for Academic Freedom
In September 2024, the Young Korean Academy of Science and Technology (Y-KAST) joined the “Stockholm Charter for Academic Freedom“, following a proposal from the Young Academy of Sweden, who led the development of the Charter in 2023. The Charter, which advocates for academic freedom and research autonomy, aligns closely with challenges faced by many Korean researchers under economic, institutional, and political constraints. Y-KAST believes that signing the Charter will offer an important opportunity to address these issues both on a domestic and a global scale, and explore solutions collaboratively.
Professor Young Keun Kim, Chair of Y-KAST, highlighted structural problems in Korea’s research ecosystem, where R&D funding is heavily concentrated on popular topics and large-scale projects. He emphasized and expressed hope for a positive transformation in Korea’s scientific landscape as this mindset gains traction. Based on its engagement with the Charter, Y-KAST plans to host a joint forum with the Ministry of Science and ICT on “The availability of funding for curiosity-driven research, in parallel with other types of funding”, to produce a report defining and highlighting cases of curiosity-driven research, and develop differentiated research support strategies through comparative analysis of similar initiatives. Young Academies from all over the world are invited to sign the Charter. If your Academy is interested, please use this email to contact the Young Academy of Sweden: .
Tri-Academy Partnership on Indigenous Engagement
In early November 2024, the College of New Scholars, Artists and Scientists of the Royal Society of Canada was one of the lead organizers for the inaugural conference for the “Tri-Academy Partnership on Indigenous Engagement: Research Summit on Cultural Heritage in an Era of Reconciliation”, together with the Australian Academy of Science and the Royal Society TeAparangi, New Zealand. The multi-year collaboration aims to improve understanding of how Indigenous perspectives on the sciences, social sciences, humanities and other areas of scholarly endeavor are not only amplifying voices, but leading to important change within communities of scholarship and research. Read more here about the three partners’ collective journey toward reconciliation. Also in November, the College welcomed Audrey Moores for a two-year mandate as President. In this capacity, she will also serve on the Royal Society of Canada’s Board of Directors and the RSC Council.
Book on food security advice in Mauritius
Earlier in 2024, the GYA WG on Science Advice, co-led by Jovana Milic (University of Fribourg, Switzerland) and Laura Zimmermann (University of Georgia, United States), took part in a three-month project led by the Mauritius Academy of Science and Technology (MAST) on “Strengthening science advice capability of the Mauritius Academy of Science and Technology (MAST): focusing on food security”. Learn more and download the booklet here.
GYA Statement on climate action unveiled at COP29
Six GYA working groups have collaborated on the GYA Statement “Young researchers and scholars’ proposals for action for a sustainable present and future”, which was presented at the United Nations Climate Change Conference (COP29) in Baku, Azerbaijan. GYA alumnus Renard Siew (Centre for Governance and Political Studies, Malaysia) introduced the Statement. Read more, and download the GYA Statement here.
Videos for Anti-Microbial Resistance Awareness week
On the occasion of the World Anti-Microbial Resistance Awareness Week in November 2024, the Global Health WG, together with GYA Executive Committee Members Wasim Sajjad (National University of Medical Sciences, Pakistan), Siok Yee Chan (Universiti Sains Malaysia), and Sri Fatmawati (Institut Teknologi Sepuluh Nopember, Indonesia), produced a series of videos, including “Stop! Self-prescribing antibiotics today could endanger 10 million lives tomorrow. Say no to self-medication—consult your doctor“. In the video (link above), this message is presented by 15 GYA members in 15 different languages. Further such videos are available on our YouTube channel here.
U.S. New Voices publication
In December 2023, U.S. New Voices member Umut Gurkan (Cohort 2021-2023) co-organized a workshop “On Leading a Lab: Strengthening Scientific Leadership in Responsible Research”. The workshop aimed to address the evolving roles and responsibilities of research leaders, particularly those overseeing cross-disciplinary and multi-institutional teams. The proceedings of the workshop are available here.
Young Academy of Scotland member appointed to King’s Council
Usman Tariq, a member of the Young Academy of Scotland, has been appointed to the King’s Council. Read more here about what that role entails and about Tariq’s work to make the legal profession more equal, diverse and inclusive.
