Anna Harris has been elected to the Executive Committee of the Global Young Academy (GYA) from June 2021 until June 2022.
The members of the Executive Committee (EC) will represent the GYA worldwide engaging, for example, with presidents of universities and science academies, government ministers as well as with funding bodies and foundations like the Global Research Council, the Wellcome Trust or the Volkswagen Foundation.
The GYA comprises 200 early career researchers from 66 countries and a wide range of disciplines who share a passion about the role of science in creating a better world. With its worldwide network and highly trained membership, the GYA is sometimes called “the best bet on the global scientific leadership over the next 10 years”. Members are typically 3 to 10 years post-PhD and below the age of 40 when admitted, and are appointed to five-year terms based on (i) their demonstrated research excellence, and (ii) their commitment to improving the state of science and its links to broader society.
GYA activities focus on science and policy, on education and outreach as well as on strengthening international networks of researchers. The AGM alternates between low/middle income countries
and high-income countries, raising the profile of science in a different host nation every year and stimulating there and throughout the year transnational research and collaborations in new and
developing areas. The GYA also supports the formation and cooperation of National Young Academies, and has organised regional meetings of Young Academies in both Africa and Asia as
well as worldwide meetings. In Africa, the GYA, in collaboration with the University of Pretoria, established the Africa Science Leadership Programme, which is now in its 6th year.
