Science Diplomacy

The most interesting ideas happen at the edges. I analyze how, where and why people collaborate across borders.

What | How | My work

Images: @sdaultrey, Tajikistan, 2015

What is 'Science Diplomacy'?

The language of science and the cross-border relationships created through scientific exchange are a core feature of international relations, since at least the 3rd Century BC. The laws of physics and mathematics work equally well, everywhere. Scientific values of transparency and logic are shared worldwide — irrespective of different views about the role for science in society.

Sharing scientific discovery has contributed to building better communications and relationships between countries, even during times of conflict. For example, the collaboration between British, Russian and American geophysicists that laid the foundation for the theory of plate tectonics continued throughout the Cold War.

Evidence from decades of research informs global political discussions and cooperation on climate science, infectious disease and energy security.

How it's done

Science diplomacy describes broadly three activities:

  • Science in diplomacy – Providing scientific advice and evidence to inform foreign policy (e.g. a decision to render aid to a another country dealing with a disease outbreak, monitoring movement of nuclear materials);
  • Diplomacy for science – Facilitating international science cooperation (e.g. managing and funding research partnerships between two or more nations, negotiating access to research facilities in another country);
  • Science for diplomacy – Navigating and enhancing relationships between two or more countries (e.g. the International Maritime Organization; the Arctic Council Task Force for Enhancing Scientific Cooperation in the Arctic).

My contributions

Since 2003 I have worked on research projects, conferences and in-field analysis in the US, UK, Central Asia, India and Singapore. I've worked in Central Asia since 2008, mostly in Kyrgyzstan (2012-13; 2015; 2017) and Tajikistan (2012; 2015).

Most of my writing and analyses are not in the public domain; following is a selection of my published contributions, most of which are available online:

Writing

My participation at conferences and seminars

06-2015 Presented a paper, 'Technology at the edges: border places as living laboratories', at the 15th International Technology Policy and Innovation conference, UK
06-2015 Writer and analyst at an international summit convened by the UN, in Dushanbe, Tajikistan, on regional water security and climate science
10-2013 Gave a presentation on knowledge networks in High Asia at the Yale Himalaya research group, Yale University
07-2011 Presented a paper at 'Climate science and climate variability', an international conference at the Indian Institute of Science, Bangalore
10-2009 Facilitated working groups and wrote the conference declaration (with J. Falk) at 'Climate science - assess regionally, act locally', an international conference in Srinagar, Kashmir
10-2009 Facilitated working groups and wrote the conference declaration (with J. Falk) at 'Climate science - assess regionally, act locally', an international conference in Srinagar, Kashmir
02-2009 Facilitated working group and wrote the meeting report for 'Russia, Energy and the Rule of Law', an expert working group at the University of Cambridge
12-2008 Observor to an international seminar, 'Azerbaijan in 2020', Azerbaijan Diplomatic Academy, Baku