The Supreme Council of Sciences was established as an independent body by Presidential Decree No.825 in the year 1958. At the beginning, the Council was attached to the Prime Minister Office, but later in 1966, the Council became attached to the Ministry of Higher Education, and is chaired by the Minister of Higher Education.
Goals
The Council aims mainly at encouraging scientific research and proposing policies that help activate and direct scientific research so as to serve scientific and intellectual advancement in Syria. It achieves this goal by
• following up scientific output in all universities, institutes and research centres, and ensuring that this ouptput follows recognized standards;
• investigating the country’s need for academic capacities and proposing policies that help fulfil this need;
• helping scientists in Syria stay updated with the advancements in science around the world, and
• standardizing the bases upon which academic awards are granted.
Tasks
• Coordinate, support and follow up the implementation of scientific output in the country.
• Review Syria's requirements of academic workers and draw up the country's scientific policy.
• Monitor scientific progress around the world and provide access for scientists and academic workers to the scientific knowledge they need.
• Determine the criteria for awarding grants and prizes to scientific researchers.
Main Committees
The Council works through specialized main and sub committees. The main committees are as follows:
• The Committee for Basic Sciences
• The Committee for Civil Engineering and Architecture
• The Committee for Technical Engineering
• The Committee for Agricultural and Veterinary Sciences
• The Committee for Medical, Pharmaceutical & Dentistry Sciences
• The Committee for Economics
Some committees were terminated after establishing specialized commissions and centres such as the National Committee for Marine Sciences, which was terminated after the establishment of the Higher Institute for Marine Research at Tishreen University.
