IIASA Governing Council elects new Chair

Michael Clegg is professor emeritus of biological sciences at the University of California, Irvine. He served as foreign secretary of the National Academy of Sciences for 12 years, and is currently vice president (external) of the International Council of Science (ICSU) and former co-chair of the Inter American Network of Academies of Science (IANAS).                     

Clegg served as the chair of the recent IIASA Institutional Review, an exhaustive evaluation that culminated in an in-depth report. The report finds that IIASA has a strong international reputation based on the work of its highly regarded science programs. A range of recommendations are advanced in the report to better position the institute to meet the challenges of the future. Clegg was named the Council member for the US National Member Organization of IIASA, the National Academy of Sciences, in summer 2017, following the completion of his work on the review process.   

Clegg succeeds Academician Alexei Gvishiani, who became acting Council Chair in summer 2017 when the previous Council chair, Professor Donald Saari, stepped down. The Council Chair is elected by the Council, and serves for a term of three years. Gvishiani continues in his role of vice-chair of the Council. 

The role of Chair is to lead the IIASA Council, working in collaboration with Council members and the IIASA Directorate to ensure that business matters move forward, to preside at Council meetings and to approve agenda items.

The IIASA Governing Council

The Council is the governing body of the institute and is responsible for establishing relations with governments and multi-national bodies; for determining financial and managerial policies, and subject areas for research of the institute; and for ensuring that the activities of the institute are in line with its objectives, the provisions of this Charter and the interest of member institutions.

Last edited: 05 October 2017