Academia Sinica President Emeritus Yuan-Tseh Lee officially took up the reigns of the International Council for Science (ICSU) on September 30. He was inaugurated as President of the international organization during the 30th General Assembly held in Rome, which was attended by over 300 ICSU representatives from around the world.

In his visionary statement, the Nobel laureate called attention to the world's unsustainable over-development. He argued that, while the developed countries must drastically reduce their carbon footprint, the emerging and developing countries have to refrain from following the path Europe and the United States took to obtain national wealth. They must instead pursue new ways of development. President Lee called for a re-establishment of the central role of the sun as a source of the earth's energy, the building of technology and infrastructure to benefit communities rather than consumers, and the tapping into the wisdoms of our ancestors and ancient cultures in order to rediscover how to live in harmony with the environment.

In this inaugural speech, Dr. Lee also said that, for humanity to face down this crisis of survival, governments, companies and societal groups must all band together, recognize the cost to be paid, and take immediate actions to build a new human civilization that is sustainable, fair, and just. To help mankind construct this new world, science must be far more global, integrating all disciplines and knowledge systems. It should inspire young researchers and define a closer, more constructive relationship with the rest of society – from governments to businesses and civil society.

Dr. Lee's term as President of ICSU will last for three years until 2014. During this period, ICSU will co-organize the Scientific and Technological Major Group at the United Nations"Rio+20" Conference on Sustainable Development in 2012. And it will push forward a new, unprecedented 10-year initiative on Earth system and sustainability research. Dr. Lee has a long history of involvement with ICSU and also with other international scientific committees. From 1994 to 2006 he chaired the National Committee of ICSU in Taiwan, and from 1994 to 2005 he served on the Standing Committee on Freedom in the Conduct of Science. From 2005-2006 he served on the Council's Standing Committee on Freedom and Responsibility in the Conduct of Science.

ICSU was founded in 1931 and is a non-governmental organization with 121 national members and 30 scientific union members. Its mandate is to strengthen international science for the benefit of society. The organization has regional offices in Asia, Latin America and Africa. The ICSU General Assembly is held every three years. This year, the Italian national member is the host of the 5-day event, which in addition to inaugurating the new president, has for the first time invited leading scientists to give lecturers on topical issues in science.

Academia Sinica has been an active member of ICSU since 1937.

Related websites: http://www.icsu.org/general-assembly