Science diplomacy is the use of scientific collaborations among nations to address common problems and to build constructive international partnerships. Many experts and groups use a variety of definitions for science diplomacy. However, science diplomacy has become an umbrella term to describe a number of formal or informal technical, research-based, academic or engineering exchanges.
“science diplomacy” refers to three main types of activities:
Science as a tool for diplomacy has been used for several decades and by many countries around the world.
In 1931, the emergence of the International Council of Scientific Unions (ICSU) that focuses resources and tools towards the further development of scientific solutions to the world’s challenges such as climate change, sustainable development, polar research through partnerships with international science unions and national science members is the early example of a joint scientific cooperation.
The civilian scientific exchanges between the United States and the Soviet Union on the International Space Station throughout the Cold War provide the other example of science diplomacy when official diplomatic connections were frozen.
Another example is the European Organization for Nuclear Research (CERN) that was first created by 12 member nations including Belgium, Denmark, France, the Federal Republic of Germany, Greece, Italy, the Netherlands, Norway, Sweden, Switzerland, the United Kingdom and Yugoslavia and now run by 20 European member states with the involvement in different ways of many non-European countries. CERN’s facilities are also used by Scientists from some 608 institutes and universities around the world.
Individuals have also practiced science diplomacy. For example, the first Pugwash conference on the treat of thermonuclear weapons was held in 1957 by 22 scientists coming from United States, Soviet Union, Japan, United Kingdom, Canada, Australia, Austria, China, France, and Poland.
A science and technology cooperation agreement that helped round out a tenuous relationship at the time rooted only in security concerns between United States and Japan was established in 1961 following appeals to repair the “broken dialogue” between the two countries’ intellectual communities after World War II or Shanghai Communiqués with several science initiatives focusing on areas in which both countries could participate made in 1971 between United States and China are the other examples of Science diplomacy.
In United States, before the term science diplomacy was used, such initiatives were often called “smart power” or “soft power” by those in the field. The term “smart power” became popular within the Clinton administration while the term science diplomacy become more popular in the Obama Administration.
Several Government agencies, including the White House, the State Department, and USAID have science and technology offices and advisors to aid with developing and creating S&T outreach policy. These advisors are regular speakers at meetings of the Science Diplomats Club of Washington, to strengthen links with foreign “science diplomats”.
CEO of VISTIP visited the Office of Science and Technology, US State Department in 2014
In 2008, the American Association for the Advancement of Science (AAAS) established the Center for Science Diplomacy whose goal is to use science and scientific cooperation to promote international understanding. “It approaches this goal by providing a forum for scientists, policy analysts, and policy-makers through whom they can share information and explore collaborative opportunities”.
Additionally, several non-profit organizations in the United States have continued science diplomacy practices in their work. the U.S. Civilian Research & Development Foundation, later CRDF Global, in partnership with the U.S. Department of State, launched the Global Innovation through Science and Technology (GIST) initiative in 2010 in Egypt. In addition to the GIST Initiative, CRDF Global has been active in both the United States and in the Middle East on promoting science diplomacy through conferences, panel discussions and programs.
In 2010, science diplomacy in the United States has become a “hot issue” when a bill cited as “the Global Science Program for Security, Competitiveness, and Diplomacy Act of 2010” which proposed an increase in the application of science and scientific engagement in America’s foreign policy was first introduced in the House.
In Japan, the concept of science and technology diplomacy first became public in 2008 in a report titled “Toward the Reinforcement of Science and Technology Diplomacy” made by the Council for Science and Technology Policy –CSTP. In the report, science and technology diplomacy was defined as any steps taken “to link S&T with foreign policy so as to achieve their mutual development” and “to utilize diplomacy for the further development of S&T and promote efforts to utilize S&T for diplomatic purpose.”And in 2011, the Japanese government issued the 4th Science and Technology Basic Plan, a five-year national strategy on science, technology, and innovation with the outlook for the coming decade. This is a notable step as it was the first basic plan that designated S&T diplomacy as an issue of national importance.
In United Kingdom, in 2009, a position as a Chief Scientific Adviser (FSA) at the Foreign and Commonwealth Office was announced by UK Prime Minister. The CSA is responsible for providing advice to the Foreign Secretary, Ministers and officials on science, technology and innovation. His role is to ensure that our work on key issues undergoes proper scientific challenge, and to strengthen the scientific and engineering capacity within the Foreign Office. The CSA works closely with the cross-government community of Chief Scientific Advisers and the wider UK and international academic science community.
Many international organizations, for example, the United Nations Conference on Trade and Development (UNCTAD) has also developed a program named “the Science and Technology Diplomacy Initiative” since 2001. The program ‘s focus is to build capacity in developing countries to address more effectively issues related to the role of science and technology in international diplomacy.
In parallel to traditional diplomatic practice, there has been increasing recognition of the ability of science to create a coalition of support, to lay foundations for conflict resolution, or to build trust between nations. This trust is derived from the ‘universality’ of science where the values of transparency and rationality can transcend borders, politics, culture, and religion. Science in its true form delivers information that is evidence-based, not emanating from personal opinion or suspicion, nor swayed by authority. The concept of science diplomacy has developed to encompass interactions on various levels from state-based to those including international and non-state actors. Science diplomacy is the use of “international scientific cooperation to foster communication and cooperation among the peoples of diverse nations and to promote greater global peace, prosperity and stability”.
With the function entrusted by Minister of Science and technology to act as a bridge in connecting the overseas scientist and businesscommunity with domestic one for technology transfer/innovation and commercialization, the Centre for Vietnam Science and Technology Internationalization Promotion-VISTIP has been leading in science diplomacy activities.
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