World Academy of Sciences to Install New Leadership
The research organization will see a new president and female-majority council take office on January 1, 2027.
Updated on Oct. 16, 2026 in People
Hou Jianguo, president of the Chinese Academy of Sciences, will serve as the new president of the World Academy of Sciences starting January 1, 2027. His election coincides with the appointment of a new 15-member council that includes a female majority.
Why it matters
The leadership change signals a shift in the governing structure of the 40-year-old academy, which focuses on scientific advancement in the Global South. This transition sets the oversight agenda for member research and collaboration initiatives through 2028.
The incoming council features 15 total members, with 11 women and 4 men, marking a shift in the 40-year-old academy's leadership. The president will serve a fixed two-year term beginning in 2027.
The players
Hou Jianguo
He is the current president of the Chinese Academy of Sciences and a physical chemist.
Quarraisha Abdool Karim
She is the outgoing president of the World Academy of Sciences.
The details
The World Academy of Sciences Fellows selected Hou Jianguo, a physical chemist and nanomaterials scientist, through a formal election process. This new leadership will guide the organization's mission to support scientific capacity in the Global South. The incoming team is set to oversee operations from 2027 through the end of 2028.
Timeline
The TWAS academy was founded in 1986.
Hou Jianguo begins his term on Jan. 1, 2027.
The new council term concludes on Dec. 31, 2028.
Market Landscape
The election of a female-majority council follows the 40-year governance history of the World Academy of Sciences. This leadership transition marks a departure from historical norms within the organization's oversight structures.
Operators in the scientific and research sectors should note the upcoming change in oversight at the World Academy of Sciences. Those engaging with the organization’s research programs in the Global South should prepare for potential policy shifts when the new term begins in 2027.
The takeaway
This leadership transition shifts the governing oversight of a major global scientific institution for the next two years. Interested parties should monitor upcoming announcements in early 2027 to identify changes to funding priorities or research collaboration protocols.
What happens next
The new council and presidential term will formally begin on Jan. 1, 2027, with the term concluding on Dec. 31, 2028.
Further reading
For broader trends in global scientific leadership, visit the People section.
Source note: This article includes information reported by Realnews Magazine.
