Note: This article is a part of the publication ‘Science diplomacy capacity development: Reflections on Diplo’s 2021 course and the road ahead’
The cataclysmic events of the past two years – the devastating COVID-19 pandemic, raging forest fires because of climate change, alarming vaccine inequity – got me seriously thinking about how to use my scientific knowledge for public good.
During the COVID-19 induced lockdown, I wrote an op-ed in the San Francisco Chronicle urging my peers in the scientific community to become ‘social media influencers’. Distressed by the misinformation and disinformation rampant on social media about the coronavirus, I volunteered my services as part of the NSPN (National Science Policy Network) & FAS (Federation of American Scientists) team in “Ask a Scientist”, an interactive tool to help answer the public’s questions on the COVID-19 virus.
However, I was not satisfied. I wanted to reach out to a larger audience as I believe that science plays a pivotal role in solving global challenges pertaining to global health, loss in biodiversity, social injustice, and health injustice through better policy decisions based on sound scientific knowledge. So, when I got to know of this Diplo initiative, I was excited. Diplo’s online course on Science Diplomacy was an ideal opportunity for me to contribute to creating scientific resources, while at the same time learning about Science Diplomacy and cooperation.
I was also enthused by the aim of the course, which is to bridge the gap between scientists, diplomats, staff of international organizations and solve global issues through the practice of Science Diplomacy. I was subsequently selected to write a module on how Science Diplomacy can be put into the service of sustainable development goal (SDG) 3 on good health and well-being. This, I realized, was one of the means for me as a scientist to make a difference on a larger scale.
My expertise in infectious diseases and vaccinology was an added bonus in designing the module and generating content for it. Incidentally, the importance of SDG 3 became more relevant in the midst of a global pandemic. The significance of prioritizing health at an individual, local, state and global level could not have been more apparent. This made the module dynamic as participants were seeing firsthand the intersection between health and diplomacy.
In such a scenario, SDG 3, quite appropriately, was at the forefront of the UN sustainable goals. The course participants got to understand in real time the importance of COVAX (COVID-19 Vaccines Global Access), and how governments and non-profit organizations interact. By assiduously tracking current developments and global news, participants could see science and diplomacy in action, such as negotiations between the World Trade Organization, and countries of the Global North and South regarding COVID-19 patent waivers.
One of the most memorable moments was during our online class discussion, regarding vaccine nationalism and vaccine inequity. We heard that less than 0.9% of the population in Uganda was fully vaccinated, while people in the USA were receiving booster shots. In the same class discussion, we also heard how Taiwan was getting vaccines from different sources to overcome the difficulty of obtaining vaccines. Discussing these examples brought home to the group the enormous inequity in vaccine availability.
Although humanity is at this juncture confronted with a double crisis, a global pandemic exacerbated by the war in Ukraine, I am still optimistic. It has been heartwarming to see Ukrainian scientists being invited by scientists from other countries so that they can continue their research.
I am hopeful in the face of adversity, as I have come across like-minded people who want to use their skills in science policy to mitigate global challenges to benefit humanity.
You may also be interested in
Beyond diplomatic – the unravelling of history
In his paper, Robert Alston travels through time to rekindle an important highlight – as well as a personal highlight – in the history of knowledge management. His journey takes him back to the 1850s, which saw Antonio Panizzi’s efforts in creating a universal repository of knowledge in the British Museum; and to the 1990s, a time in which he acquired first-hand experience at the same museum, drawing conclusions on the various available ways of navigating large bibliographical and archival databases.
Science & Diplomacy: How countries interact with the Boston innovation ecosystem
Crucial global topics are becoming increasingly dependent on the world’s rapidly changing scientific knowledge and technological capabilities: from global health to digital society, sustainability to development, and beyond. To tackle this growing complexity, countries increasingly seek to engage with international science and technology hubs like Boston, so as to accelerate their ability to innovate and spark collaborative efforts with other nations.
Knowledge management and international development – the role of diplomacy
In this chapter, Walter Fust talks about the role of knowledge management, and knowledge for development, in diplomacy. He describes various methods to assess what knowledge should be stocked, and explains the need for managers who are assigned the task of deciding what should be stocked. These decisions need to be guided by principles, or guidelines - referred to as value management.
The role of knowledge in the cyber-age of globalisation
In his paper, Richard Falk reflects on the application of information technology on diplomacy, and discusses the challenge of converting information technology to ‘knowledge technology’, and subsequently to ‘wisdom technology’. Yet, the ‘crossroads in human experience’ brings many challenges and dangers which the author analyses.
DiploDialogue – Metaphors for Diplomats
On Diplo’s blog, in Diplo’s classrooms, and at Diplo’s events, dialogues stretch over a series of entries, comments, and exchanges and may even linger. DiploDialogue summarises. It’s like in sports events: DiploDialogue aims to bring focus by deleting what, in hindsight, is less relevant. In this first DiploDialogue, Katharina Höne and Aldo Matteucci discuss the usefulness of analogies and metaphors for understanding international relations and diplomacy.
Knowledge management in the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Malta
In this paper, Maltese diplomat Gaetan Naudi explains how the Maltese MFA embraced the changes introduced by the informatics era. He looks at such changes from a business management perspective, to show how ICTs were introduced to such a fairly large organisation, the concerns raised by the changes, and the progress on computerised knowledge management. He concludes that despite the positive changes introduced thanks to ICTs, this would not have been possible without human involvement.
Knowledge management and change in international organisations: Learning from the private sector
In this paper, John Harper and Jennifer Cassingena Harper talk about knowledge as a vital resource, and the necessity of building competencies and establishing new skills. Analysing the theories by Ernst B. Haas in When Knowledge is Power: Three Models of Change in International Organisation, the authors trace the development of knowledge-oriented activities in the private sector, and its implications for organisations in the public and international domain.
Knowledge management and diplomacy
In this paper we aim to provide a comprehensive introduction to the topic of knowledge management in diplomacy. First we provide working definitions of knowledge and knowledge management, and examine the evolution of the concepts. Next, we consider specific features of diplomacy that affect and limit the way knowledge management can be implemented. Then we look at specific techniques which diplomacy can adapt from the business sector in the field of knowledge management. Finally, we consider some important questions related to human resources and knowledge management.
Knowledge and Diplomacy
Knowledge and Diplomacy presents papers on knowledge and knowledge management from the January 1999 Conference on Knowledge and Diplomacy in Malta. The papers in this book, examining the topic from a variety of backgrounds, academic interests and orientations, reflect the multidisciplinary character of knowledge management. This publication is only available online.
Knowledge management: experience from international organisations
In this chapter, John Pace decribes the three-phase evolution of knowledge management in the human rights program of the United Nations. The realisation that knowledge management is a necessity came during the third phase. The author also describes the complex system of monitoring bodies and ad hoc mechanisms, and the developments that took place following four decisions taken in the mid-eighties.
Knowledge and Diplomacy – Alex Sceberras Trigona
In his paper, Alex Sceberras Trigona stresses the importance of the diplomatic document as a primary source of diplomatic knowledge, in the light of the distinction between ‘information’ (can be recorded) and knowledge (not easily recorded), the flow of knowledge as information. He then explains the need for dissecting diplomatic documents, and the various level of analysis which are possible, and the effects of digitalisation on knowledge, information and diplomacy.
Science diplomacy capacity development
Diplo has a track record of more than 20 years of capacity development in diplomacy. Given the increasing relevance of science diplomacy, expanding our program to include aspects of its theory and practice felt like an organic development. We offered our ten-week Science Diplomacy course for the first time in October 2021.
How do you know what you think you know?
In his paper, J. Thomas Converse focuses on four records-related areas where the issues of knowledge management and diplomacy come together and provide the greatest challenges to archivists, diplomats, historians and technology providers: validation, trustworthiness, context and longevity. He also explores some of the changes and challenges brought about by technology, and urges for a continued embrace of technology, while at the same time demanding the validating and relational functions which give archives their trustworthiness.
Knowledge management and diplomatic training – new approaches for training institutions
Dietrich Kappeler analyses the new approaches for training institutions in knowledge management and diplomatic training, departing from the premise that a distinction is important between personal characteristics and qualities of the diplomat on one hand, and the knowledge and skills he needs to do his job on the other.
