Young Academy of Europe

The Young Academy of Europe (YAE) is a pan-European non-governmental academy of top young scientists and scholars with outspoken views about science and science policy.

The YAE was founded in 2012,^[1] with a mission to provide input to scientific exchange and science policy across all member states of the European Union or an Associated Country. YAE members are experts and leaders in their respective fields, who seek to provide a ‘younger’ perspective about the future of science and academia in Europe.

The ‘younger’ perspective provided by the YAE aims to resolve a tension between the fact that traditional academies are composed of scientists and scholars aged 50+, whilst scientists and scholars typically produce their most influential work in their thirties .

Specifically, the YAE aims at improving the conditions in which young scientists and scholars across Europe will work and operate in the future, and thus contribute to policy and societal change. It endorses a network of top young researchers across all disciplines and across all countries of the European Research Area (ERA) in the pursuit to shape science policy with the perspective of a young generation.

The Young Academy of Europe was formally established as an independent association of top young researchers in Europe at a constitutive annual meeting hosted by COST in Brussels on 7/8 December 2012. This event followed from previous consultations of ERC Starting Grant grant holders in 2010/2011, and a kick-off meeting with 11 ERC grantholders from various member states, held in Paris in September 2011. At this meeting, possible routes towards establishing a Young Academy of Europe were discussed, including the definitions of its aims and activities.

Mission

The Mission of the Young Academy of Europe is based on four key aims:

Science Policy

The YAE acts as a voice for young researchers and scholars by actively reaching out to policy makers in an attempt to influence science policy and contribute to the development of a European science agenda for the coming decades. The YAE seeks to provide input and feedback on aspects of science and academia in Europe, with the perspective of a “young” generation of scientists and scholars. The YAE will consult and advise about science-related policy issues, from a perspective of early and mid-career scientists and scholars. Specifically, the YAE seeks to involve top young scientists and scholars to shape the future European research strategy and policy, such as the European Research Area, Long Range Plans and European Science Foundation Roadmaps;

Interdisciplinary exchange

The YAE seeks to function as a pan-European platform fostering interdisciplinary and international scientific exchange, collaboration, and knowledge transfer amongst its members and other organizations.

Science communication

The YAE encourages young scientists to communicate their research to the general public in Europe, in particular scientific and scholarly issues which affect society, quality of life and standards of living.

Networking

Efficient communication of the YAE’s activities is a key component to strengthen the solidarity and networking amongst exceptional young researchers in Europe in order to create a pool of information, pass on experience, give feedback, and provide active support to colleagues across Europe and future generations of leading scientists. The YAE seeks to support other young scientists and scholars in Europe in their further development and in thinking strategically about the future of their own discipline. The YAE will create and foster a network of esteemed and outspoken young researchers and scholars across all disciplines in Europe, and to generate a strong voice representing the interests of a young generation of academics

Organisation

The YAE is administered by a Board of 12 elected members of the YAE . It is divided into three Domains, namely Physical Sciences and Engineering (PE), Life Sciences (LS) and Social Sciences and Humanities (SH).

The Board consists of a Chair, a Vice chair, a Secretary, a Treasurer, the Chair of the Membership Selection Committee, the Chairs and Vice-Chairs for the three Domains and one additional member. The members of the Board of the YAE are elected from among its members representing the three Domains at the annual meeting for the YAE. Each board member is elected for one year with possible re-election for a total of up to three years. The exceptions to this are the posts of Chair and Vice chair of the YAE, which can only be held for a single term. The Board's main function is to support members' work by guiding and coordinating their ideas and activities. The Board serves as the first point of contact for external parties, and all Board members oversee the Young Academy's themes and activities including working groups .

The Selection Committee consists of five YAE members: The Chair of the Selection Committee, the Chair of the YAE, and the Chairs of the three Domains. The Chair of the Selection Committee leads the selection process. The Chair forwards a list of new members to the YAE Board, which takes the final decision on the admission of new members.

Membership

The members of the Young Academy of Europe consist of outstanding researchers and scholars whose academic excellence has been recognized by European or national bodies and peers; who have a wide interest in science and science policy at the European level; who have demonstrated leadership abilities; who are presently carrying out research in the European Union or an associated country; and who have obtained their doctoral degree no longer than 12 years ago at the time of admission.

The YAE initially recruited about 100 members from the pool of European Research Council Starting grant holders . As of 1 January 2014, the YAE has been open to all leading young scholars whose scientific and academic excellence at the international level has been recognized by their peers (for instance, holders of prestigious European or national research grants or awards). Selection of nominees is based on letters of recommendation from two members of the Young Academy of Europe and/or Academia Europaea, with the two members having different nationality or country of residence. Strong emphasis will be placed on the candidates’ intent to participate in key activities of the Young Academy of Europe. Members of the YAE automatically become alumni five years after their admission. Prospective members of the YAE are outstanding researchers whose scientific excellence at the international level has been recognized by European or national bodies; have a wide interest in science and science policy at the European level; have demonstrated leadership abilities; are presently carrying out research in the European Union or an associated country; have obtained their doctoral degree no longer than 12 years ago.

Members of the Young Academy of Europe

A full list of current members can be found here: Young Academy Website.

References

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