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The International Science Council (ISC), in partnership with the Global Young Academy (GYA), has launched a new science leadership workshop series designed for early- and mid-career researchers (EMCRs). The series introduces Collective Leadership as a practical approach to science leadership, exploring how scientists build leadership capacity through peer networks, mentoring, diverse communities and shared initiatives.

Why Collective Leadership?

Today's scientific challenges—from climate change and AI governance to research integrity and public trust—call for collaborative, interdisciplinary and globally connected leadership. Increasingly, scientific leadership emerges not from individuals acting alone, but from communities of scientists who learn, collaborate, mentor and act together across institutions and disciplines.

Drawing on the experience of the GYA, regional Science Leadership Programmes (SLPs) and partner organizations, the workshops will explore how emerging scientific leaders can strengthen their collective agency, expand their influence and contribute to systemic change. Participants will use Creative Problem Solving (CPS) and Inclusive Innovation methods to move from personal reflection to framing and addressing a shared leadership challenge.

Series Highlights

The series will emphasise:

• Leadership as a shared and relational practice rather than an individual position;

• The importance of diversity, trust-building and peer learning in scientific leadership;

• How regional and global scientist networks enable leadership growth;

• Methods and tools for collaborative leadership and collective problem-solving, including CPS and inclusive innovation; and

• The role of mentoring, dialogue and interdisciplinary exchange in developing future science leaders.

Session Design

Participants may join one or both workshops, each designed as a complete, self-contained learning arc:

Workshop 1 - will help participants understand and develop their own leadership through relationships and networks.

• Date: 24 November 2026 

• Time: 13:00 – 14:30 UTC

• Registration: register for workshop 1 here: https://council.science/events/science-leadership-emcr-gya1/

Workshop 2 - will let participants practice collective leadership on a shared, real science-system challenge.

• Date: 1 December 2026 

• Time: 13:00 – 15:00 UTC

• Registration: rRegister for workshop 2 here: https://council.science/events/science-leadership-emcr-gya2/

Workshop 1 will not be treated as a prerequisite for attending workshop 2. 

Facilitators will give every participant—first-time or returning—a fresh entry point into the material and will curate breakout groups for a mix of regions, disciplines, career stages and attendance history. An optional one-page pre-read will be available ahead of Workshop 2.

The workshops are part of the joint ISC-China Association for Science and Technology (CAST) initiative, “Empowering and Elevating the Voice of Early- and Mid-Career Researchers in International Science and Global Policy Processes”.

For more information visit the ISC website here: https://council.science/news/science-leadership-emcr-gya/