The Federation's senior scientific body, which reviews major research and advises the Federation Council, and which received the Hekaran evidence that warp drive was damaging the fabric of space.
The Federation Science Council is the body that weighs important scientific findings on behalf of the United Federation of Planets and recommends policy to its government.
It features in the Next Generation episode Force of Nature. The Hekaran scientists Rabal and Serova had submitted their theory that warp fields were eroding subspace in the Hekaras Corridor, but the Council judged the evidence insufficient and asked for further study. Frustrated, the pair resort to disabling ships in the corridor to gain attention.
After Serova proves the theory by sacrificing herself to create a subspace rift, the Enterprise-D crew forward their data, and the Federation Council responds by limiting its vessels to warp five except in emergencies.