Issued by: United Societies of Science (USS) Issue date: 2026-05-07 Subject: Establishment of the USS R9 South Asia Council and Launch of the Preparatory Work
To deepen the global academic and industrial networks of USS and promote the integration and application of scientific knowledge at the regional level, USS proposes to establish the USS R9 South Asia Council (the “Council”) under the USS framework, serving as the regional coordination platform for USS across South Asia.
South Asia is home to fast-growing scientific communities and diverse social and industrial needs. India, as the region’s largest population center and an emerging science and technology powerhouse, offers significant strengths in fields such as artificial intelligence, biomedicine, advanced manufacturing, clean energy, space technology, and social policy. The establishment of the Council will help connect and mobilize regional resources across South Asia—including Afghanistan, Bangladesh, Bhutan, India, Maldives, Nepal, Pakistan, and Sri Lanka—advancing science for regional prosperity and human well-being.
Reference: https://www.usssociety.org/about/councils.html
As the official regional representative of USS in South Asia, the Council will carry out key functions including:
The Council aims to become one of the most dynamic regional hubs within the USS global network—cultivating an open, inclusive, innovative, and collaborative academic community in South Asia that radiates influence across the region.
The following indicators are the Council’s development targets for 2027–2032:
Indicator
Target (2027–2032)
Members
≥ 1,000
National/Area Focal Points Established
≥ 6
Regional Branches
≥ 5
Regionally Themed Publications
≥ 1
Flagship Events Hosted
≥ 10
Annual Activities Organized
≥ 30
Cross-border Collaboration Projects Launched
≥ 20
Youth/Early-career Programs Organized
The Preparatory Committee is responsible for coordinating and delivering the establishment work of the USS R9 South Asia Council before the first General Assembly, including:
To accelerate the establishment work, applications/expressions of interest are now open for:
USS R9 Member Application Form: https://www.usssociety.org/membership/join.html
Please make sure you register for USS R9 South Asia Council membership through the application system above.
All members may apply via the link above. Applicants who submit their applications before 2026-08-15 may, subject to the USS Constitution and the bylaws of USS subordinate bodies, be eligible to stand for election to the 2027–2029 term positions of Chair, Vice Chair, Standing Council Members, Chief Supervisor, and Supervisors, and to serve as delegates to the First R9 Council General Assembly.
Date
Milestone
Key Tasks
2026-05-07
Establishment Announcement No. 1
1) Announce preparatory work and clarify roles. 2) Announce the Advisory Committee. 3) Call for Executive Directors and Discipline Coordinators. 4) Launch membership registration system. 5) Publish official R9 website and social media platforms.
2026-06-20
Establishment Announcement No. 2
Announce appointed discipline convenors.
2026-08-15
First R9 Council General Assembly
Elect 2027–2029 leadership and appoint Secretary-General.
2026-08-20
Establishment Announcement No. 3
Announce election results and call for 2027 activity proposals.
2026-10-20
Publish 2027 Activity Plan
Specify annual conferences, training programs, early-career scholar support initiatives, etc.
National/Area Focal Points (to be appointed):
Preparatory Committee Members (as of 2026-04-29):
For privacy and data protection, individual personal contact details (email/phone) are not published in this announcement.
- Dr. Assoc. Prof. Kishore R, SSN
- Email: R9@usssociety.org, kishore@usssociety.org
- Email: jessie@usssociety.org