The result of the historic merger of the International Council for Science, ICSU, and the International Social Science Council, ISSC, two global iconic academic institutions, in September 2017 in Taipei, was officially renamed the International Science Council, ISC. The first General Assembly of the International Science Council was held on July 2 to July 6 2018 in Paris. Representing the Academia Sinica, Dr. Yuan-Tseh Lee, President Emeritus of the Academia Sinica, led the delegate team to the assembly. In the assembly, the items of business for the meeting encompassed not only the strategies and the goals of the new organization, but also, more importantly, the election of the members of the Governing Board, which would function as the executive team of the organization.

To show the determination of Taiwan participating in the global academic activities, Academia Sinica nominated President James C. Liao as the candidate of the election of the Governing Board members. Academia Sinica has been approved and supported by many members. Apart from Academia Sinica being an excellent institution among member states, President Liao also stands out from a large number of candidates, and he is named the member of Governing Board in the election. After Dr. Yuan-Tseh Lee, President Emeritus of the Academia Sinica, resigned from the position of the President of the International Council for Science two years ago, Academia Sinica once again becomes one member of the Governing Board. At the night of July 5 2018, President Liao flew to Paris to attend the Board Meeting after the 33^rd Convocation of Academicians  of Academia Sinica.

Undertaking the missions and objects of the International Council for Science and the International Social Science Council, International Science Council speaks for scientific issues around the world. The General Assembly of the International Science Council serves as a forum for the communication among its members, and the conclusions of the meeting will later become the policy guidelines of scientific development in many countries. International Science Council hence wins the praise as “United Nations of Academia.”

For more information, please visit the following link: https://council.science/current/press/international-science-council-holds-first-general-assembly-in-paris