Proposals from France and Japan to host the founding General Assembly in 2018 Document JM/12
Invitation by the Académie des Sciences to host the Founding General Assembly of the New Science Council in Paris, France in July or September 2018
Meeting Place The General Assembly will be held in «La Maison des Océans» in the heart of the Latin Quarter (near Luxembourg gardens and the Panthéon). It is a historical place created by Prince Albert I of Monaco. It offers a large and beautiful amphitheatre:
And several very nice and elegant rooms available for separate meetings:
Scientific event associated with the G.A. To mark the celebration of the new organization, the Académie des Sciences will co-organize with the new, merged organization a high-level International Science event to take place directly before or after the General Assembly. This event will take place at the legendary Coupole, solemn Conference Hall of the Institut de France, with talks by Nobel Prize and Medal Field winners as invited keynote speakers. Guests will also include high-level political figures from the ministry and from the Elysee Palace, and financial support will be provided to enable the participation of scientists from developing countries. The Académie will work closely with French government representatives to demonstrate clearly its political support for a robust science system in France, and the important role of the new organization as a key international proponent of science.
Associated events with the G.A. Paris offers a large number of wonderful places and we will be happy to receive the participants and the accompanying persons for a private visit and dinner in one of a variety of places including our best known and most prestigious museums: Le Louvre, the Jacquemart-André Museum, or the Marmottan Museum, depending on the exact date of the G.A.. Hall of the Jacquemart-André Museum Organisational matters and VISA The Académie des Sciences will take full care of registration, hotel reservations and transportation between the hotels and the sites WIFI and internet will be available at all sites Extensive cultural programmes will be proposed for accompanying persons Visa No need of a visa for Schengen countries. The Académie des Sciences will provide support to ensure ease of visa application in terms of letters and endorsements for all other members who require it.
Science Council of Japan 7-22-34, Roppongi, Minato-ku,Tokyo 106-8555 Japan Phone : 81-3-3403-1949 Fax: 81-3-3403-1755 E-mail: president-scj@cao.go.jp Professor Gordon McBean President of ICSU Professor Alberto Martinelli President of ISSC October, 2017 Dear Professor Gordon McBean, Dear Professor Albert Martinelli, A merger process of International Council for Science (ICSU) and International Social Science Council (ISSC) has been in progress, and the world largest international academic organization is to be established in autumn 2018. Science Council of Japan (SCJ) as one of the few organizations which affiliates with both the organizations, has been positively and sincerely participating in the discussions and keenly observing its directions. The issue of merger will be discussed further during the Joint General Assembly in Taipei on October 25 and 26, 2017. One of the agenda is that where we should hold a founding general assembly (FGA) for a new organization. Once a merger is decided, voting for deciding its venue will be conducted on the last day of the joint general assembly. In fact, Japan has been a candidate for hosting the FGA. SCJ officially decided April this year that our Council is ready to host the FGA in Fukuoka City, the prefecture of Fukuoka in autumn next year. The significant reason why we should like to host is that the 4 th World Social Science Forum (2018WSSF) jointly organized by ISSC, Kyushu University and SCJ, scheduled to be held on 25-28 September 2018, in Fukuoka City, has been already set in place. This forum is the world largest international conference in the social
science discipline, where about 1,000 scientists from 85 states and regions would participate. SCJ has been proposing to hold the FGA for establishing the new organization in conjunction with the 2018WSSF. In articulating the schedule, and as a party concerned, ISSC could benefit by saving its cost and time, and it would be the best opportunity for ICSU as well, for directly linking with the latest movement of social science and holding numerous joint meetings for the new organization. We have confirmed supports from Mr. Hiroshi Ogawa, Governor, Fukuoka Prefecture, Mr. Soichiro Takashima, Mayor of Fukuoka City, Prof. Chiharu Kubo, President of a preeminent university, Kyushu University, and needless to say, the Japanese government. Fukuoka is the central city of Kyushu area, and the second largest city after Tokyo in terms of a number of organizing international conference (363 annually) and rich in expertise in international conventions of a large scale. No doubt Fukuoka City has a maximum safety standard in any Japanese cities with countless outstanding attractiveness. This also may be due to a fact that Fukuoka City has a historical background of more than 1000 years as a center of foreign trades in Japan. Please refer to an annex describing attractive characteristics of Fukuoka. We consider it useful and efficient to hold the FGA where and when a majority members of the new organization assemble at a time. In Japanese (or Chinese character), fuku of Fukuoka means happiness, oka means hill, a slightly higher place. I am really looking forward to welcoming all of you and your delegates in Fukuoka in 2018, at the Japan s happiest hill of Fukuoka at this occasion of the FGA, the world largest international academic organization. Sincerely yours, Juichi Yamagiwa President Science Council of Japan Takashi Onishi Former President Science Council of Japan
Significance of Convention City Fukuoka - We Welcome You All to Happy City Fukuoka in Autumn 2018 - Fukuoka makes every visitor to be Happy Fuku of Fukuoka in Japanese (and in Chinese character) connotes happiness and oka represents a hill, a hillock. We are looking forward to welcoming you all, the world renowned representatives of scientist, in the autumn of 2018 for the occasion of a founding general assembly of the world largest international academic organization. Core City of East Asia Fukuoka Fukuoka City has a population of over 1.5 million and is one of core cities of Japan and East Asia at large. Tourist arrivals in a year is around 19.7 million people (foreign tourists: 2.5 million), who are attracted by its charms, verifying the city s popularity. Above: city area by the sea Left; over 1.5 million cosmos flowers at Uminaka Park in autumn Right: Autumn color leaves in a Japanese garden in the city (Yusentei Park) Convention City Fukuoka, Fukuoka International Convention Center Fukuoka is the second city after Tokyo in terms of number of international conferences held per year (363 conferences) amongst numerous metropolitan cities in Japan. This number shows that Fukuoka City has a maximum standard of safety in comparison with countless fascinating attractiveness. The Fukuoka International Convention Center (FICC) will be the venue for the proposed Founding General Assembly of a new organization following a merger of ICSU and ISSC. It is one of the leading conference centers in Japan which is equipped with the latest facilities for hosting over a thousand events every year. It was one of the main venues for the 99th Lions Club International Conference held in June 2016, accommodating around 38,000 representatives from 119 countries/regions. Since its inception in 2003, the FICC has been the place for a number of international academic conferences as well. *Statistical figure of 2015 by JNTO or Fukuoka City.
Significance of Convention City Fukuoka - We Welcome You All to Happy City Fukuoka in Autumn 2018 - Access to Fukuoka International Conference Center Fukuoka International Airport is located within the City limit, and its access to the City center is highly advantageous as follows: Time to Fukuoka International Conference Center from Airport By car (taxi): about 15 minutes /By underground and bus: about 20 minutes Fukuoka City is geographically proximate to South Korea and there are about 70 direct flights per week between Seoul and Fukuoka (nearly 80 minutes). It may be convenient to fly in from other Japanese cities such as Haneda/Tokyo (about 90 minutes) and Narita/Tokyo (about 125 minutes). Fukuoka International Airport by air from around the world East Asia/Southeast Asia: 2~8 hours Oceania; 4~12 hours South Asia/Central Asia: 10~16 hours Middle East: 10~15 hours North America: 10~16 hours Europe: 11~15 hours Africa: 20~25 hours South America: 25~26 hours * open source from major domestic tour operators and airliners in Japan Colorful Cultures of Fukuoka Fukuoka prides in academic facility, cultural institution, and multitude of cuisine culture with reasonable prices. Parties can be arranged not only at hotels or restaurants but also at local shopping arcades or high streets. There are other numerous attractions where visitors could enjoy to meet own preferences. Hakata Ramen Kawabata shopping arcade Kyushu University Kyushu National Museum (Dazaifu-City) Sushi with fresh ingredients from nearby sea in Fukuoka (Reprinted from the official website)