Scientific Committee Membership - Call for Applications/Nominations

Background and general roles of IHDP SC members:

The International Human Dimensions Programme on Global Environmental Change (IHDP) is an international, interdisciplinary science programme,  dedicated  to  promoting, catalysing and coordinatingresearch, capacity development  and  networking on the human dimensions of global  environmental change. Its mandate is to provide international leadership in framing, developing, and integrating social science research on global environmental change and to promote the application of its key findings (for further information see www.ihdp.org).

The IHDP Scientific Committee (SC) represents a broad spectrum of scientific disciplines, professional backgrounds and nationalities. It develops and prioritizes plans for the Programme, guides implementation and supports the publication and dissemination of results. It promotes the coordination of national, regional  and international activities  that  contribute  to  the  implementation  of  the  IHDP  Strategic  Plan  2007-2015 and  the IHDP  Programme  of  work  2011-2013.  Furthermore,it  works  closely  with  the  other  global programmes within the Earth System Science partnership (ESSP), i.e. WCRP, IGBP, and Diversitas, and  facilitates collaboration  with relatedprogrammes of IHDP’s  institutional sponsors ISSC, ICSU, and UNU.

Members of the IHDP SC serve in their personal capacity. Candidates are selected based on their standing in the international scientific community with  due  regardfor regional, gender, and disciplinary balance. The terms of SC members are three years, renewable once. IHDP SC meetings take place at  least on ce in each  calendar year.  Based on the recommendations of the IHDP, ISSC, ICSU, and UNU appoint IHDP’s SC members.

Concrete tasks of IHDP SC members include:

  • Provide scientific knowledge and advice from their field of expertise as it relates to IHDP goals

  • Attend the annual SC Meeting

  • Encourage new and maintain existing multidisciplinary networks of dedicated scientists related to IHDP’s work

  • Host and/or support IHDP workshops and coordinate own IHDP activities

  • Represent  IHDP  at  relevant  scientific  and  user  community  meetings  and  act  as  IHDP “ambassadors”

  • Support  the  IHDP  core  research  projects  and  the  Secretariat  in  editing  newsletters  or  journal issues and contribute written reports on relevant events to be published in relevant media, e.g. on the IHDP website

  • Provide  a  two-way  channel  of  communication  between  the  SC  and  national,  regional  and international research and science user communities

  • Inform  the  IHDP  SC,  the  Secretariat,  and,  as  appropriate,  National  Committees/Contacts,  of actions directly or indirectly related to IHDP, e.g. during SC meetings    Assist in securing financial and other support for the implementation of the IHDP Strategic Plan 2007-2015 and the IHDP Programme of Work 2011-2013.

Note: Applicants should be aware that an active role at the IHDP SC requires a certain and flexible time commitment, but will be mutually beneficial for both the candidate and the programme.

Application Procedure

Nominations to the IHDP can be made by individuals or by the IHDP itself. All nominations are considered by IHDP. Based on its recommendations, ISSC, ICSU, and UNU appoint IHDP’s SC members. To be nominated, the candidate should send the following items (as Word files) by email to the IHDP Secretariat (secretariat@ihdp.unu.edu, reference: IHDP SC nomination):

  • A cover letter addressed to the IHDP SC Chairperson, stating the nominee’s vision for IHDP, their aspired role and concrete plans as an IHDP SC Member

  • The nominee's summary CV

  • A list of publications in the relevant research areas (max. 3 pages)

Application Deadline

The next deadline is 31 January, 2012.

Start of the membership

IHDP is currently looking for three candidates willing to start in 2013.

Discipline requirements

Candidates should have a scientific background and experience in anthropology, behavioural sciences, humanities (for example philosophy), or sociology.