Science Diplomacy in Geneva and Switzerland
Switzerland, as a Host-State of international organizations, supports a number of platforms, which offer a neutral space for collective brainstorming and exchanges outside of formal settings, where stakeholders explore and test new ideas, share good practices, or discuss emerging issues. There are currently seventeen platforms of various sizes, covering issues ranging from human rights to the environment.
A perspective from Jordan
I find it easier and more logical for a scientist to learn the world of diplomacy, which already exists, acquiring the needed skills to bring science into the spot-light, rather than a diplomat doing it the other way around.
An enormous learning experience
I was introduced to Science Diplomacy through the National Science Policy Network (NSPN) and realized that my scientific expertise could be used in several other ways, such as to frame or inform the policymaking process or to advise diplomatic decisions.
Boundary spanning successes and challenges
The techniques I learned during the course helped me to use scientific facts in negotiation. Despite the fact that in traditional societies even scientific facts are not accepted science can still help to open the conversation.
Science as a process
Science is a systematic process for understanding the world. Diplomacy is a process of interaction and negotiation between states. Both are necessary for addressing sustainable development, but how?
Science Diplomacy and Internet Governance
Disinformation and rumors are critical issues in internet governance and related areas. Those issues also relate to fair competition in the market.
Representing the EU in China
The international character of science also brings the opportunity to have open dialogues between the EU and China involving the research communities in science and research, especially in fundamental research, where common ground can be found more easily.
On dealing with uncertainty
What is Science Diplomacy? This was the fundamental question I was hoping to answer, and then help answer for others, by volunteering to be part of this initiative. I’ve got some bad news because I still don’t have an answer, but this bad news is actually a good thing! In teaching complex subjects I feel that it is only natural that the teacher learns from reviewing and presenting the material and expands their understanding from there based on discussions and feedback from their students. In that sense this experience totally delivered!
Climate change through the Science Diplomacy lens
While weaving my atmospheric and climate knowledge together with the history of international environmental efforts for this module, I was able to gain and share new insights into the history of science-diplomacy including its successes and set-backs.
Science Diplomacy and planetary health: A medical practitioners’ perspective
In general, ‘science in diplomacy’ is most relevant in my working context. The COVID-19 pandemic has brought some ‘diplomacy for science’ (cooperation between otherwise independent and occasionally competing structures for scientific needs).
