The head of a global academic council has urged Prime Minister Yoshihide Suga to provide a reasonable explanation for his decision to reject the appointment of six scholars to a government advisory body.
"To ensure an open and enabling environment for science in Japan, it would be helpful for the Japanese government to respond to the requests for an explanation, and to agree to an open discussion of the matter with the (Japanese council)," said Daya Reddy, president of the International Science Council, in a recent written interview with Kyodo News.
The international council, which consists of organizations such as natural and social science unions and associations as well as national academies, is the largest global science organization of its kind, according to its website. Its activities include giving science advice to governments.