Fully Funded AAAS-TWAS Summer Course in Italy

The American Association for the Advancement of Science (AAAS), Washington DC, USA, and The World Academy of Sciences (TWAS), Trieste, Italy are seeking candidates to participate in the fifth course on science diplomacy to be held in Trieste, Italy, from 20 to 24 August 2018.

Two trends are becoming clear in the early part of this century; the majority of challenges facing society have a transboundary, international, or global context; and science, technology and their applications underpin the cause or the cure to these challenges. As a result, science and technology are becoming ever more embedded into the foreign policies and international relations of nations. At the same time, cooperation in science and technology is increasingly benefiting from both the technical and political interactions between states. For example, establishing large-scale infrastructure projects in physics or astronomy requires both scientific exchange and diplomatic agreements. In addition to facilitating cooperative multilateral projects, science cooperation can play an important role in establishing trust and building bridges between nations, even in instances when political relations are strained.

Given the growing role of science and technology in international relations, AAAS and TWAS established a partnership in 2011 focused on science diplomacy training and engagement between the North and the South, including our annual summer course on science diplomacy.

This course will expose participants to key contemporary international policy issues relating to science, technology, environment and health, while providing an overview of how technical information has contributed to different policy developments and international structures. Another focus of the course will be a better understanding of, and appreciation for, the roles of governments, international organizations and the private sector in complex science-based issues, and how different governance structures are developed to address the needs and involvement of these different stakeholders.

Benefits

• Travel, accommodation and visa expenses will be provided to the selected participants.

Eligibility

• young scientists (below the age of 40) living and working in developing countries whose research and wider engagement has brought them into the international policy-making arena,
• policymakers and diplomats interested in some of the central science-based themes that might influence their work,
• research institution administrators and research funders focused on identifying ways to build international networks, and
• representatives from NGOs and other sectors working at the science-diplomacy interface.

Alumni will join a global network of young leaders and innovators reaching across borders to address societal challenges and become agents of change in their countries and sectors.

• Spaces are reserved for a number of young scientists from developing countries (up to the age of 40), as well as scientists and/or government officials, etc, also from developing countries, with more experience in the international policymaking arena (‘science diplomacy ambassadors’).
• A limited number of spaces for self-funded candidates from any country will also be available.
• Women are especially encouraged to apply.