Abstract
The Science Committee (SCICOM) meeting was a hybrid meeting, with in-person and online attendance. The Committee received updates on ongoing activities and discussed strategic developments relevant to the Committee.Key actions from the meeting included:SCICOM welcomed the SCICOM Members’ Handbook to support the work of national members and alternates in SCICOM that will help onboard new members and alternates.SCICOM approved three proposals for symposia seeking co-sponsorship for 2025 and one proposal for 2026. A further proposal seeking full organization by ICES for a symposium in late 2025 or early 2026 was given provisional approval, subject to full financial clarity being presented in September 2024 for final approval.SCICOM supported the development of an ICES DEI group to operationalise the recommendations made by several subgroups, including the WGCHAIRS DEI group and the Council DEI group. Leadership from the Secretariat, SCICOM, ACOM and Council is needed.SCICOM supported the AI subgroup to address the challenges and opportunities of AI moving into 2025.SCICOM supports a wider mentoring of Early Career Scientists, including SCICOM national members and alternates.The Steering Group, Operational Group and Strategic Initiative chairs provided brief updates on the work of the groups and initiatives.The Conference Coordinator provided an update on the planning for the ASC in 2024 and the conference in 2025. SCICOM selected members for the Award Selection Group and chaperones for the keynotes in 2024, conveners for the contributed paper session and members for the theme selection group for 2025.Work on the Kunming-Montreal Global Biodiversity Framework was welcomed, and the Belgium and Norwegian SCICOM members will present a draft proposal for a roadmap.The topic of Animal Welfare will be further developed among the ASG and EPDSG chairs.The Working Group on Cumulative Effects Assessment Approaches in Management (WGCEAM) might evolve into a joint ICES/ OSPAR working group.WGCHAIRS must evolve into a more interactive format with more online information and/or consultation sessions during the year, and in-person meetings at the ASC.Climate change is an ICES-wide topic, which also includes the aspect of advising on net-zero emission practices, and SICCME will be invited to advise on future activities.SCICOM members were invited to provide input into the analysis and evaluation of the ASC format (led by Conference and Training Coordinator).The breakout groups on the Science Plan gave excellent feedback on the general introduction, the How-We-Work and other general elements of the Science Plan, including an infographic to map the science themes on a marine social-ecological system. The Framework for Ecosystem Informed Science and Advice will be added to the Science Plan. The feedback of the breakout groups will be used to revise the current Science Plan draft.The breakout groups on operationalising EBM reflected on the current process of operationalising EBM in ICES with a focus on the Framework for Ecosystem Informed Science and Advice. The following steps will include further consultation with ACOM and likely a workshop to provide concrete, actionable recommendations.