Science as a global public good: the roles of the representative bodies of science—a perspective

Science is a special form of knowledge, a formalised approach that is rationally explicable, tested against reality, logic, and the scrutiny of peers. It has become essential to human wellbeing and is most effective as a human enterprise if treated as a global public good, free at the point of use. Science creates new possibilities, whilst complementary efforts by other stakeholders make those possibilities tangible, useable and socially and economically profitable. Realising these potentials depends on an understanding of science’s interface with wider society and devising effective engagement processes between them. The international representative bodies of science, its national academies, scientific unions and associations, together with university representative bodies, play fundamental roles in articulating priorities for science, in contributing as a global public good to the resolution of contemporary global problems, in maximising the benefit and minimising the harms that might arise from scientific discoveries, and in adapted the working practices of science to contemporary challenges and opportunities. The open science movement has the potential to enhance the efficiency by which the public good of science is delivered and could evolve into a global open science commons, provided that the scientific community is energetic in adopting a practical open science vision and in removing major barriers that impede its realisation.