New UN science board to advise secretary-general

SciDev.Net : To promote cooperation among agencies of the United Nations and the international scientific community in dealing with science-related issues, UNESCO will set up a science advisory board. The announcement was made at the Rio+20 conference held 20â22 June in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil. Comprising specialists from the natural sciences, social and human sciences, and engineering, the board will aim to represent the diverse backgrounds and regions of the world. Specifics including who will be funding the board, how much it will cost, and its exact relationship with the UN secretary-general have yet to be decided.