Learned Societies
Learned societies can play an important role in building the scientific capacity of developing countries. These institutions are able to harness the expertise, experience and networks of their members to serve the needs of scientific communities, policymakers and the public in developing countries. A growing number of learned societies in the UK are working with partners in the global South on a range of activities including scholarships and fellowships; research grants; mentoring schemes; conferences; support for sister learned societies, professional bodies and networks; schools projects; and access to journals, text books and reference material.
The UK National Commission for UNESCO (UKNC) promotes effective, coordinated action amongst UK learned societies in their capacity building activities in developing countries. It aims to do this through facilitating discussions between learned societies and other stakeholders on relevant initiatives, sharing good practice, and examining the scale and status of current activity.
Survey of UK Learned Societies’ Capacity Building Initiatives
At the end of 2009, the UKNC conducted a survey of UK learned societies’ capacity building activities in developing countries. The survey is a follow-up to the UKNC’s 2008 report on UK learned societies and journal access programmes as well as to a jointly organised discussion meeting of UK learned societies held in June 2009.
The information gathered in the survey has contributed to the development of a new UK Collaborative on Development Sciences (UKCDS) webpage on UK learned societies’ capacity building activities in developing countries.
To access the UKCDS website and see an overview of UK learned societies’ capacity building activities in developing countries click here.
The Royal Society © Kaihsu Tai