Latest on the 2018 World Social Science Forum

We're delighted to announce a number of plenary speakers for the 2018 World Social Science Forum, which takes place in Fukuoka, Japan, from the 25 to 28 September 2018. The theme of the Forum is ‘Security and Equality for Sustainable Futures’. Speakers for all the plenary sessions are currently being approached, and we are pleased to confirm that the following leading thinkers on security have already accepted: 

• Craig Calhoun, President of Berggruen Institute and Former Director of the London School of Economics and Political Science (LSE)

• Sir Partha Dasgupta, Frank Ramsey Professor Emeritus of Economics at the Faculty of Economics, University of Cambridge

• Andrew Feinstein, Executive Director of Corruption Watch, Investigative Writer, Broadcaster and Campaigner

• Barbara M. Fraumeni, Research Associate, the National Bureau of Economic Research (NBER), USA

• Urs Gasser, Executive Director, Berkman Klein Center for Internet & Society, Harvard University

• Jiro Kokuryo, Vice-President, Keio University and Japan Science and Technology Agency (JST) Program Supervisor

• Martin Rees, Emeritus Professor of Cosmology and Astrophysics at the University of Cambridge

• Nur Hassan Wirajuda, Professor at the School of Government and Public Policy; Editor-in-chief of Strategic Review — The Indonesian Journal of Leadership, Policy and World Affairs

Biographies for all the above plenary speakers are available on the Forum website. Additional plenary speakers will be confirmed in the coming weeks.

Following a call for sessions earlier in the year, the 2018 World Social Science Forum now invites authors to submit individual abstracts for participation in Specific Panels, Topical Sessions, and Poster sessions. All abstracts are requested by 17 March. 

We're very pleased to announce a grants programme to support the participation of early-career social scientists in the Forum:

• The WSSF Scholarship for Early-Career Social Scientists from Low- or Lower-Middle Income Countries, which will cover travel, accommodation, sustenance and registration for successful applicants. 
• The WSSF Fukuoka Student Award, which will provide a maximum of JPY 100,000 for successful applicants, who must be graduate students who are presenting either an oral or a poster presentation as a primary author.

More information is available on our website - the deadline for applications for both programmes is 17 March. 

Registration for the Forum will open on 1 March. We hope to see you there!

Government and expert review of the IPCC Special Report on Global Warming of 1.5°C

The Intergovernmental Panel on Climage Change (IPCC) is seeking Expert Reviewers for the Second Order Draft of the Special Report on Global Warming of 1.5°C. The review will take place from 8 January - 25 February 2018. The purpose of the review is to help ensure that the report provides a balanced and comprehensive assessment of the latest scientific findings, and a range of views, expertise and geographical representation are being sought. 

Prospective expert reviewers may register online via the IPCC website by 16 February 2018. Additional information on the role of Expert Reviewer is available in Annex 1 of Appendix A to the Principles Governing IPCC Work. An information note explaining the Expert review is also available. 

From our Fellows...

Khan, F. Your City Has a Gender and It’s Male, Nautilus, 11 January 2018.

Mukerjee, J. (Ed). 2018. Sustainable Urbanization in India. Springer Singapore. doi: 10.1007/978-981-10-4932-3.

Patterson, J.J., Thaler, T., Hoffmann, M., Hughes, S., Oels, A., Chu, E., Mert, A., Huitema, D., Burch, S., Jordan, A. Political feasibility of 1.5°C societal transformations: the role of social justice, Current Opinion in Environmental Sustainability, Vol. 31, April 2018.

Pelling, M., Leck, H., Pasquini, L., Ajibade, I., Osuteye, E., Parnell, S., Lwasa, S., Johnson, C., Fraser, A., Barcena, A., Boubacar, S., Africa's urban adaptation transition under a 1.5° climate, Current Opinion in Environmental Sustainability, Vol. 31, April 2018.

Termeer, C.J.A.M., Drimie, S., Ingram, J., Pereira, L., Whittingham, M.J. A diagnostic framework for food system governance arrangements: The case of South Africa, NJAS – Wageningen Journal of Life Sciences, Vol. 84, March 2018, pp. 85-93.

This list is not exhaustive and Fellows wishing to have their work featured here are encouraged to contact issc@worldsocialscience.org.

Vacancies

Future Earth is currently recruiting for the following positions: 

A Coordination Assistant to support the development and streamlining processes of Future Earth and to provide administrative and coordination support to specific projects. This position is based in Montreal, Canada, and requires a work permit for Quebec - apply by 6 February.

A Grant Writer, who will work with and report to the Executive Director, focusing primarily on grant writing, as well as issue briefs, op-eds, articles and concept notes, and other general communication functions. This position is based in Montreal, Canada, and requires a work permit for Quebec - apply by 14 February. 

A Science and Engagement Officer, who will provide support to the co-chairs of Future Earth's newly announced Advisory Committee. This position is based in Stockholm, Sweden - apply by 16 February.