The International Science Reserve (ISR), an initiative of The New York Academy of Science, mobilizes the global scientific community to respond to complex, fast-moving situations, across borders, too big for any one country to handle – such as the next pandemic, a food systems catastrophe, or multiple climate-related weather disasters.
Science in a time of crisis is not “science as usual.” The ISR was informed by the unprecedented global response to the COVID-19 pandemic, resulting in the quick development of COVID-19 vaccines and treatments. This was made possible through the collaboration of academia, industry, governments, non-governmental organizations, and scientists around the world. The ISR seeks to ensure collaborative systems and shared resources, like the ones that were mobilized in response to the pandemic, are assembled and ready before the next complex global crisis strikes.
The New York Academy of Sciences is responsible for establishing the ISR’s scientific network, identifying and securing critical resources, and overseeing the ISR throughout all stages of its work. The Academy works closely with the ISR Executive Board, members, collaborators, and the scientific community. We are generously supported by our partners, IBM, Google, Pfizer, and UL Solutions.
The International Science Reserve mobilizes the global scientific community to respond to complex crises across borders – such as the next pandemic or climate-related disasters – by establishing an open, global network of scientists and preparing them to act when crisis hits.
Recognized by Fast Company as a World Changing Idea, the International Science Reserve has rapidly seeded a network of scientists who are poised to respond to the next big crisis. Nearly 20,000 scientists have joined from across physical, life, earth, and behavioral sciences, from over 100 countries, seeking highly-focused, intensive, international collaboration needed for global solutions.
The International Science Reserve runs online scenario-planning, or readiness exercises, for scientists to explore different ways to apply their existing research to specific crisis situations. By rehearsing what would happen in a real crisis, scientists can work together and build collaboration in advance.
The ISR has partnered with the Center for Advanced Preparedness and Threat Response Simulation (CAPTRS) to build customized digital serious games to help its network prepare for disaster response. Learn more about how ISR is working with CAPTRS to design serious games for crisis response.
Brazil
Scientific Director of Microbiote
Fundação Arthur Bernardes/Petrobras, Universidade Federal de Viçosa
Microbiology
As scientists, we can prevent real crises. The ISR allows us to think in advance, think about the future. When a crisis arrives, we can have strong projects or concepts that are ready to help mitigate disasters.
Australia
The Australian National University
Paleoecology
I want my research to also help people, to contribute to humanity, because directly or indirectly ecological crises affect people's lives. The ISR's first readiness exercise gave me a way to think about my research interests and areas of expertise from another perspective that explores multidisciplinary approaches.
Philippines
Independent Researcher
Environmental Engineer
I was impressed by the inclusive way that the ISR opened its first readiness exercise. The issue of air quality in public health, as part of crisis preparation, is very important and yet understudied in my country. I couldn't pass up submitting a proposal.
Trinidad and Tobago
Department of Geography
The University of the West Indies, St. Augustine
Behavioral Science
I observed how the 2007 earthquake off the coast of Martinique changed people's perceptions in Barbados towards earthquakes. Then, I thought about natural disasters like hurricanes and wildfires that people know are coming and wanted to find out more about why populations act or do not act. By participating in the first ISR readiness exercise, I could see the usability of my work and its impact on a real-life situation — a phenomenal feeling.
Turkey
Hydropolitics Association (HPA)
Ankara & Akdeniz University
Climate Science
We are scientists. We have no nations. It is crucial for us to collaborate across international borders, through organizations like the International Science Reserve. My hope is that the global scientific community will be able to solve some issues that cannot be solved on a national level.
Brazil
Universidade Federal de Santa Catarina
Mathematics
The ISR offers a way for scientists to come together and brainstorm on a model and the tools you will need. Like in our regular research, this is an opportunity for us to use our research tools and our knowledge — but to directly help society.
Chile
Universidad Técnica Federico Santa María
Computer Science
In my work, it is difficult to access certain essential data. We need something like the ISR to help us with that, and for scientists to better learn from reach other regardless of their geographic location.
With private and public sector partners, such as IBM, UL Solutions, Google, and Pfizer, and the National Science Foundation, the ISR matches scientists to specialized resources needed during a crisis. This equips experts to respond faster and more effectively with scientific and technical problem-solving.
Scientists, especially those from across the ISR Community in low-resource countries and contexts, identified the need for more access to and coordination of specialized data resources and institutional partnerships. The ISR pre-positions scientific resources, so that scientists can connect to them quickly across borders, without extensive applications or long waits for approvals.
These tools, including high-performance computing, remote sensing, geospatial-temporal mapping, and databases, can help scientists address the worst impacts of disaster, including damage to people, communities, and livelihoods from heatwaves, wildfires and flooding.
