In December 2025, the GYA Executive Committee (EC) participated in the third Hong Kong Science Summit on “Converging Knowledge, Inspiring Future”, organised by the Hong Kong Young Academy of Sciences together with the Hong Kong Academy of Sciences, where they signed a Memorandum of Understanding between the Hong Kong Young Academy of Sciences and the represented young organisations.
The Summit’s sessions examined ways to foster collaboration in science – internationally as well as inter-generationally.
Session 1, “Overview of Global Scientific Development”, saw inputs from representatives from a number of established science academies and networks, looking at some of the big challenges that science and science academies are currently facing, such as barriers to interaction because of geopolitics or dual-use considerations, spreading misinformation and distrust, as well as threats to academic freedom.
Panellists emphasised that science should know no borders and that synergies and interdisciplinary as well as inter-generational collaboration are needed to build a better world. International scientific exchange should already be fostered in early-career stages to build trust in collaboration and equip the future generations of scientists with an international perspective.
Photos courtesy of YASHK
Session 2 of the summit saw inputs from the Hong Kong Young Academy of Sciences, the UK Young Academy, the Thai Young Scientists Academy, the World Association of Young Scientists, and the ASEAN Young Scientists Network, discussing how science is facing complex and poly-systemic challenges and that collaboration between nations, sectors, generations, and disciplines is needed to combat these.
Young Academies as enablers of early-career talent have a role to play in tackling global challenges and they can force multipliers to connect excellent early-career professionals to each other and to pathways for making true impact.
GYA Co-Chair Siok Yee Chan (Sam) presented on “The Power of Young Scientists”, while GYA alumnus Abhi Veerakumarasivam, as Immediate Past Co-Chair of the ASEAN Young Scientists Network, spoke about regional collaboration among ASEAN young researchers and how they can drive local and regional progress. Abhi also shared that the Network had been spawned by the findings from the GYA GloSYS ASEAN report in 2018 to collaborate and to create impact.
GYA member Anderson Shum, in his role as the President of the Hong Kong YA, moderated the third session, which saw a discussion between scientists from 4 generations – a member from the Hong Kong Academy of Sciences, a Hong Kong Young Academy of Sciences member, a doctoral student from the University of Hong Kong, and a Secondary School student – on “The Next Decade of Science”.
Moreover, a Memorandum of Understanding between the Hong Kong Young Academy of Sciences and the represented young organisations was signed at the end of the Summit, to guide future collaborations and exchange of expertise on matters of common interest.
The GYA EC, invited by the Hong Kong Young Academy, then also held its annual EC in-person meeting in Hong Kong. GYA Managing Director Beate Wagner and Senior Project Officers Anna-Maria Gramatté and Jennifer Plaul also participated.
Discussions during the ECiP focused on fundraising and the GYA’s financial sustainability, GYA partnerships with a variety of organisations and other Young Academies, strengthening member engagement, as well as governance and internal processes considerations.
The minutes from the ECiP meeting will be available for members in early 2026.