Students as Stakeholders in Science Diplomacy: Outlook for Today and Tomorrow

As an entirely student run organization, the central aim of Science & Policy Exchange is to bring a student voice to science policy matters at the provincial, federal, and international levels. To shed light on the role of students in science diplomacy, we have organized a two-day event in collaboration with the Fonds de Recherche du Québec (FRQ) and the Center for Science Diplomacy at the American Association for the Advancement of Science(AAAS).

Diplomacy and international collaborations are key components of public policy, and grand challenges such as global health, climate change, and the changing geography of the arctic, outline a need for science and evidence in diplomatic discussions. This series of panel discussions directed at government and diplomacy institutions seeks to explore how to bolster students and early career researcher’s participation in science diplomacy. A series of experts will participate in panel discussions to explain how students and young scientists fit into the framework of science diplomacy, including its various sectors, participating agencies, challenges, and its future and potential for action. This event will provide a unique opportunity bringing together early career researchers with experts from a wide variety of disciplines and institutions. Specifically, we hope to discuss:

• The role of student diaspora and internationalization of research in science diplomacy
• How to train scientists to communicate with policy makers and promote/value their policy/diplomacy engagement

Program 

12:15 - 13:15 Registration 13:05 - 13:15 Welcome remarks by Science & Policy Exchange 13:15 - 13:30 Welcome remarks by Mona Nemer, Chief Science Advisor of Canada (Video) 13:30-14:30 Panel 1: The role of student diaspora and internationalization of research in science diplomacy 

Moderator: Véronique Morin, Science Communicator 

Panelists: Paul Berkman, Professor of Practice in Science Diplomacy, Tufts University Jan Marco Mueller, Science to Policy and Diplomacy Coordinator, IIASA Nicole Arbour, Senior International Advisor, Government and International Relations at NRC Canada Dimah Mahmoud, Program Manager, EURAXESS North America 

14:30 - 14:45 Questions 14:45 - 15:15 Coffee break 15:15 - 16:15 Panel 2: How to train students and favour their engagement in science policy and science diplomacy? 

Moderator: Véronique Morin, Science Communicator 

Panelists: Masha Cemma, Policy Advisor at the Office of Canada’s Chief Science Advisor Martha Crago, Vice Principal Research & Innovation, McGill University Rees Kassen, Research Chair in Experimental Evolution, University of Ottawa Rémi Quirion, Chief Scientist of Quebec, Fonds de recherche du Québec Tom Wang, Director, Centre for Science Diplomacy, AAAS 

16:15 - 16:30 Questions 

16:30 - 16:40 Closing remarks by Rémi Quirion, Chief Scientist of Quebec, Fonds de Recherche du Québec 1

6:50 - 17:00 Acknowledgments by Science & Policy Exchange 

17:00 - 19:00 Reception and networking 

Advance registration by invitation only

To request an invitation, please send an email to sciencediplomacy@sp-exchange.ca.

Students can apply to the full “Students & Science Diplomacy” event

To download our conference summary report