Members and Committees
Members
The Science Council of Japan (The SCJ) consists of 210 Council Members and some 2,000 Associate Members, elected as representatives of the approximately 870,000 scientists nationwide. The SCJ conducts activities from a universal perspective and a comprehensive and multifaceted point of view, taking advantage of the fact that The SCJ is comprised of scientists from a broad-range of fields spanning over humanities, social sciences, life sciences, natural sciences and engineering.
Council Members
210 Council Members are selected and recommended from amongst scientists with excellent accomplishments in their research or achievements, and are appointed by the Prime Minister. Their term of membership is six years, and half of the Council Members are newly appointed every three years.
Associate Members
Approximately 2,000 Associate Members perform in cooperation with Council Members. They are selected and recommended from amongst scientists with excellent accomplishments in their research or achievements, and are appointed by The SCJ President. In principle, their term of membership is six years.
President and Vice Presidents
The SCJ President is elected by way of an internal vote amongst The SCJ Council Members. The three Vice-Presidents are nominated from among Council Members by the President with approval of the General Assembly. Their term of office is three years, however they may be reelected and reappointed.
Committees
General Assembly
The General Assembly is composed of Council Members and is the highest decision-making body. It basically meets twice a year (April and October).
Sections
Council Members are grouped into three Sections. Each Section has one Chairperson, one Vice-Chairperson and two Secretaries.
- Section I: Humanities and Social Sciences
- Section II: Life Sciences
- Section III: Physical Sciences and Engineering
Executive Board
The Executive Board normally meets every month to deliberate on matters relating to the operation of The SCJ. It consists of the President, three Vice-Presidents, and the Chairpersons, Vice-Chairpersons and Secretaries of each Section. It is able to establish auxiliary committees if required for the execution of its duties.
Administrative Committees
Four Administrative Committees have been established for the organizational management of The SCJ.
- Nomination Committee
- Committee for Scientific Community
- Committee for Science and Society
- Committee for International Affairs
Disciplinary Area Committees
All of the field of specialty over humanities, social sciences, life sciences, natural sciences and engineering are divided into 30 academic disciplines, and 30 Committees Based on Fields of Specialties deliberate on various issues in each field.
Issue-oriented Committees
Issue-oriented Committees are established for a certain period of time to deliberate on issues of importance, which our society is currently faced with. They prepare recommendations as summaries of the pertinent opinions of the scientific community in a timely manner.
