high-level dialogue on the future of science diplomacy
INGSA2024 Satellite Event
3 May 2024 | 9:30am-1:00pm Kigali, Rwanda
Science diplomacy, as a defined concept, approaches its 15th anniversary marked by the seminal AAAS and Royal Society paper "New frontiers in Science Diplomacy." This field has rapidly expanded, gaining traction within international scientific and diplomatic communities, and spawning an array of national, regional, and global high-profile initiatives, including conferences, training programs, university courses, and the adoption of national science diplomacy strategies by some countries. These developments underscore the broad recognition and application of science diplomacy by scientific leaders and diplomats alike.
However, the frameworks guiding science diplomacy often mirror the period of their creation, and thus, may not fully align with today's rapidly changing world, marked by political polarization, fragmentation, and growing concerns over research security and the openness of the global science system. Additionally, the advent of disruptive technologies like artificial intelligence, quantum computing, and mRNA vaccines has heightened the geopolitical importance of research and innovation and underscored the need for better anticipatory and multilateral approaches to the governance of frontier science.
The global geopolitical landscape has also become more volatile. Armed conflicts, growing tensions among leading scientific nations, and scientific and technological competition - coupled with systemic crises like climate change and biodiversity loss- pose significant challenges to global stability. Furthermore, current science diplomacy practices often overlook the complex interplay between national security concerns and scientific collaboration.
These gaps highlight the need for an evolved understanding of science diplomacy, one that incorporates new criteria and frameworks responsive to current and future challenges, and one that is developed with diverse input, including views from low- and middle-income countries that play an increasing role in the global science diplomacy discourse. This session aims to foster an interactive discussion among scholars and practitioners on how the core concepts of science diplomacy can and should evolve to address pressing global issues effectively.
The High-Level Dialogue on the Future of Science Diplomacy will be an invitation-only meeting of science diplomacy leaders worldwide. Applications for this event have now closed. We apologize in advance that not all applications will be able to be accepted and we thank you for your interest and understanding.
