The Scientific Council acts in an advisory capacity expressing preliminary scientific and technical opinions regarding research programmes and upon conclusion of the activity carried out by the personnel of the Institute and the personnel associated with it. This assessment is carried out in strict compliance with the methodology and actions envisaged by the National Agency for the Evaluation of Universities and Research Institutes (ANVUR) and, as far as may be applicable, by the independent rating organisation in compliance with Art. 14 and Art. 74, paragraph 4 of Law 150/2009.
The Scientific Council is composed of seven members: scientists from Italy and abroad of international renown, with special expertise and experience in the fields of biology and/or ecology. The majority of the members of the Scientific Council are selected from among the persons referred to in the preceding paragraph from public or private foreign research organisations. The Chair convenes the meetings of the Scientific Council and, after consulting the President of the SZN, establishes the order of the day.
The Scientific Council is appointed by the Administration Board upon recommendation by the President, who selects the members of the Scientific Council after consultation with the Council of Departments and seeks the binding opinion of the Accademia dei Lincei on the proposal to be submitted to the Executive Board.
The members of the Scientific Council remain in office for three years and may be reappointed twice.
The Scientific Council:
a. expresses its opinion on the overall scientific or sectoral strategy of the Institute, in particular on the ten‐year Strategic Vision Document and the Three‐Year Plan of Activity;
b. expresses its opinion on the constitution of the Departments and related research programmes;
c. expresses opinions on the projected human resources needs;
d. expresses its opinion on the content of educational activities;
e. expresses its opinion on the participation of the Institute in companies, consortia, and foundations;
f. must express its opinion on the evaluation procedures of researchers and technologists at the Stazione Zoologica, taking into account the methodology developed by ANVUR and, as far as is applicable, by the independent rating organisation under Art. 14 and Art. 74, paragraph 4 of Law 150/2009;
g. regularly assesses the results of the research work of the Institute, including activities undertaken in relation to the objectives set out in the Three‐Year Plan of Activity;
h. performs all the consultative activities assigned to it by the regulations of the Institute and the Administration Board.
The opinions and findings of the Scientific Council are communicated to the Executive Board together with a report by the Chair.
The President of the Stazione Zoologica may be invited to attend meetings of the Scientific Council without the right to vote.
The Scientific Council may meet using IT systems, as described in Art. 7, paragraph 9 of the SZN Statute.
