Event
Global Ministerial Dialogue on Science Diplomacy
About
At a time when geopolitical tensions and technological advancements are reshaping our world, the Global Ministerial Dialogue on science diplomacy, as part of the , aims to advance international dialogue on creating a new global framework for science diplomacy that addresses the current needs of society.
Results and outputs
Encapsulating the spirit of the event, a statement was issued by the Co-chairs of the ministerial segment, Lidia Brito, Assistant Director General for Natural Sciences UNESCO; H.E. Azzedine El Midaoui, Morocco’s Minister of Higher Education, Scientific Research, and Innovation; H.E. Blade Nzimande, South Africa’s Minister of Science technology and Innovation; and H.E. Chang Lih Kang, Malaysia’s Minister of Science, Technology and Innovation.
Learn more about UNESCO milestones in science diplomacy
Objectives
The dialogue aims to:
- Foster high-level commitment to science diplomacy as an instrument for promoting dialogue and peace;
- Explore innovative science diplomacy initiatives through exchanges between ministers, scientists, diplomats, and experts to contribute to peace building and human rights protection;
- Agree on a common framework to advance shared goals through science diplomacy; and
- Highlight ongoing initiatives and opportunities in science diplomacy.
Registration
In-person registration for the general public is now closed. Speakers and Member State delegations who have not yet registered should send an e-mail to sciencepolicy@unesco.org as soon as possible.
Please click below to register to attend online.
Online participation
In addition to in-person attendance, the event will also be accessible online via Zoom. Kindly note that registration is required for all online participants.
25 March | Programme and speakers
Multistakeholder high-level conference
This segment brings together experts, scientists, and diplomats to explore and assess innovative science diplomacy frameworks and approaches in today’s complex global context.
The programme is provided in Central European Time (CET). Click on the sessions below to view the speakers.
Master of ceremony: Shaofeng Hu, UNESCO
Lidia Brito, Assistant Director General, Natural Sciences, UNESCO
Yesenia Olaya Requene, Minister of Science, Technology and Innovation, Colombia
Ekaterina Zaharieva, European Union Commissioner for Start-ups, Research and Innovation
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Tshilidzi Marwala, Rector of the United Nations University and Representative of the UN’s Secretary General’s Science Advisory Board
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Moderator: Ezra Clark, Chief of Section for Science, Technology and Innovation Policy, UNESCO
Peter Gluckman, President of the International Science Council (ISC)
Ana Maria Cetto, UNESCO Chair on Science Diplomacy and Heritage, Professor at Universidad Nacional
Autónoma de México
Jan Marco Müller, Team Leader Global Approach, Multilateral Dialogue and Science Diplomacy at the European Commission
Daan du Toit, Deputy Director-General of International Cooperation and Resources at the South African Department of Science, Technology and Innovation
Zakri Abdul Hamid, Founding Director of the International Institute for Science Diplomacy and Sustainability, Malaysia
Kimberly Montgomery, Director of the International Affairs and Science Diplomacy of American Association for the Advancement of Science (AAAS)
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Moderator: Ana Persic, Programme Specialist for Science, Technology and Innovation Policy Section, UNESCO
Rémi Quirion, Chair of the International Network for Government Science Advice (INGSA), Chief Scientist of Québec
Jeremy Farrar, Chief Scientist, World Health Organization
Geneviève Almouzni, Member of the Human Cel Atlas Coordinating Committee, Research Director, CNRS and Institut Curie
Tateo Arimoto, Visiting Professor at National Graduate Institute for Policy Studies (GRIPS), Japan
Side event, 13:30-14:15 | Science policy and diplomacy: The experience of the Guaranà Aquifer medium-sized project (PPM) and the proposal of the strategic action plan.
Moderator: Amal Kasry, Chief of Section Basic Sciences, Research, Innovation and Engineering, UNESCO
Amandeep Singh Gill, UN Under-Secretary-General and Special Envoy for Digital and Emerging Technologies
Maricela Muñoz, Director, External Affairs, Geneva Science and Diplomacy Anticipator (GESDA)
Ayumi Moore Aoki, Founder and CEO of Tech Diplomacy Forum, Founder and CEO of Women in Tech Global
Sandro Scandolo, Head of Research and Partnerships at Abdus Salam International Centre for Theoretical Physics (ICTP)
Izumi Nakamitsu, UN Under-Secretary-General and High Representative for Disarmament Affairs
Jiaofeng Pan, President of Institutes of Science and Development, Chinese Academy of Sciences
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Moderator: Abou Amani, Director, Division of Water Sciences; Secretary, Intergovernmental Hydrological Programme (IHP), UNESCO
András Szöllősi-Nagy, UNESCO Chair on Water Conflict Management, Professor at Ludovika University of Public Service, Hungary
Nestor Ambuy-A-Tam Musambi, Advisor to the Minister of the Environment and Sustainable Development of the Democratic Republic of the Congo, FRIEND-NILE Project
Aarti Holla-Maini, Director of UN Office for Outer Space Affairs
Rolf-Dieter Heuer, President of the Council, Synchrotron-light for Experimental Science and Applications in the Middle East
Olivier Rukundo, Head of the Peoples and Biodiversity Unit at the Secretariat of the Convention on Biological Diversity
Chair: Lidia Brito, Assistant Director General, Natural Sciences, UNESCO
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Lidia Brito, Assistant Director General, Natural Sciences, UNESCO
26 March | Programme and Speakers
Global Ministerial Segment
This segment brings together Ministers responsible for Science and External Relations to discuss science diplomacy priorities and identify concrete areas of collaboration. The discussions will conclude with the adoption of a Co-chairs' Statement on Science Diplomacy in a Rapidly Changing World: Building Peace in the Minds of Men and Women, along with announcements of specific science diplomacy initiatives.
Due to a high volume of interest in the event, please be aware that during the Global Ministerial Segment, priority access will be granted to country delegations. If a session fills up, a webcast will be provided in an adjacent auditorium.
The programme is provided in Central European Time (CET).
Lidia Brito, Assistant Director General for Natural Sciences, UNESCO
Xing Qu, Deputy Director-General, UNESCO
H.E. Karin Herrera, Vice-President, Guatemala
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H.E. Philippe Baptiste, Minister of Higher Education and Research, France
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Co-chaired by H.E. Azzedine El Midaoui, Minister of Higher Education, Scientific Research, and Innovation, Morocco, and Lidia Brito, Assistant Director General for Natural Sciences, UNESCO
The roundtable will include statements from Ministers and Heads of Delegations on how science diplomacy can contribute to the effective management of shared natural resources and scientific infrastructures.
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Please note that the ministerial lunch is by invitation only.
Moderated by Lidia Brito, Assistant Director General for Natural Sciences, UNESCO.
Setting the scene by Gabriela Ramos, Assistant Director General for Social and Human Sciences, UNESCO
The lunch will include interventions on protection of scientific institutions, infrastructure, and international collaborations from the disruptive impacts of emergencies such as pandemics, natural disasters, or conflicts.
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Co-chaired by H.E. Blade Nzimande, Minister of Science technology and Innovation, South Africa, and
Lidia Brito, Assistant Director General for Natural Sciences, UNESCO.
Short setting the scene remarks by Tawfik Jelassi, Assistant Director-General for Communication and Information, UNESCO.
The roundtable will include interventions from Ministers and Heads of Delegations on leveraging science diplomacy to navigate the complexities of emerging technologies
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Co-chaired by H.E. Chang Lih Kang, Minister of Science, Technology and Innovation, Malaysia and Lidia Brito, Assistant Director General for Natural Sciences, UNESCO.
This roundtable will include interventions about the role of science diplomacy in promoting openness in scientific research while safeguarding research security.
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Lidia Brito, Assistant Director General for Natural Sciences, UNESCO
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UNESCO Restaurant 7th Floor
Open to all event participant.
Resources
Please click on the below documents to view the event's concept note in full, official programme and background notes for the roundtables of the Global Ministerial segment.
Please note that the Ministerial lunch session is a closed event.
Practical information
Access and registration
- Access to the conference is via the UNESCO entrance at 125 avenue de Suffren, 75007 Paris
- The registration desk will be open from 8:30 on 25 March and from 8:00 on 26 March
- You must present a proof of identity and the QR code received by email upon registering on Indico.UN.
Interpretation
- The official languages of the conference are English and French. Simultaneous interpretation will be provided during all sessions, except the events taking place during lunch, which will be in English only.
Information for ministers and delegations
- Please find below additional documents containing practical for participating ministers and delegations.
Contact us
For any further information, please do not hesitate to contact the UNESCO Science, Technology and Innovation Policy team at sciencepolicy@unesco.org.