Science diplomacy takes many forms: When nations come together to negotiate cooperative agreements on fisheries management or infectious disease monitoring, they need scientific expertise. When scientists come together for complex multi-national projects in astronomy or physics, their nations devise diplomatic agreements on management and financing. And when political relations between two nations are strained or broken, joint research efforts can give them a way to keep talking – and to build trust. Today, the need for science diplomacy is growing. In collaboration with a growing number of partners, including the American Association for the Advancement of Science (AAAS), TWAS's science diplomacy activities include lectures, workshops, courses and prizes aimed at building bridges between the worlds of science and diplomacy.
Humanity's greatest challenges – and some of its most promising opportunities – are regional and global. Increasingly, the world requires effective partnerships between scientists, policymakers and diplomats.
Turkish Professor Yusuf Baran has launched and implemented eco-friendly initiatives at the Izmir Institute of Technology
During the annual American Association for the Advancement of Science-TWAS science diplomacy course students tested their diplomatic skills in simulation exercises
TWAS is among the event’s joint organisers, and will take part in an event focused on displaced scientists.
Experienced Austrian diplomat Clemens Mantl urged holistic approach to science diplomacy in an S4D4C talk at TWAS.
Early-career researchers are in Trieste, Italy, for a workshop on responsible use of chemistry and biology, organised by OPCW, IAP and TWAS.
Teaching negotiation and respect for other people's views is essential in the training of science diplomats, experts said at a AAAS-TWAS science diplomacy course.
Lassina Zerbo, head of the Comprehensive Nuclear-Test-Ban Treaty Organization, described the challenges of nuclear diplomacy at the TWAS Paolo Budinich Lecture.
Africa can benefit from science diplomacy – if countries work together, experts said at Namibia workshop co-organised by AAAS and TWAS.