Annual Retreat of the Scientific Advisory Board

The Scientific Advisory Board held its second in-person annual retreat on 11 and 12 September at the Dag Hammarskjöld Library, United Nations Headquarters in New York. Board members and network representatives advanced four priorities: agreement on a public Statement on Open Science, identifying topics for the next round of Science Briefs, strengthening the science-policy interface across the UN system, and connecting with the diplomatic community. A highlight of the retreat was a dialogue with Secretary-General António Guterres, who welcomed the Board’s contributions and emphasized the need to link science with ethics and political decision-making. In an exchange with Deputy Secretary-General Amina Mohammed, members considered how scientific advice could be more deeply embedded in UN Country Teams to support practical action on food security, energy, climate, and digital connectivity.