Deadline: 31 May 2021
Open to: young scientists (40 years or below) whose research and wider engagement has international policymaking implications or applications / participants from the policymaking arena, working on science, technology, and innovation-related matters
Benefits: joining a global network of young leaders and innovators reaching across borders to address societal challenges and becoming agents of change in their countries and sectors
DESCRIPTION
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 seventh annual summer course on science diplomacy to be held from 30 August to 3 September 2021. Due to the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic, this is the second year the workshop will be held virtually.
The workshop will take place as follows:
- 27 August (Friday): Social ‘Meet & greet’ session (optional)
- 30-31 August (Monday-Tuesday) and 2-3 September (Thursday – Friday): workshop sessions
- 1 September (Wednesday): offline breakout sessions
The AAAS-TWAS Science Diplomacy training programme was established in 2014 to expose scientists, policymakers, diplomats and other interested stakeholders and institutions to science diplomacy concepts, explore key contemporary international policy issues relating to science, technology, environment and health, and build a skillset to allow for careers at the intersection of science and diplomacy. Over the past years, it has trained over two hundred emerging leaders from more than 50 countries to address science diplomacy from global and regional perspectives.
ELIGIBILITY
To strengthen the connection between scientists and governmental officials, policymakers and diplomats, applications to attend the course are being invited from ‘participant pairs’. Both participants in the participant pair should be living and/or working in the same country. However, if a co-applicant is from a different country, this will be considered if suitable justification is provided. Priority will be given to developing countries.
The applicants in the ‘participant pair’ should share some common interest in the areas of science, technology and innovation. However, it is not necessary that they work or have been working together in the past.
The ‘participant pair’ will include:
- Participant 1: a Young Scientist (40 years or below) whose research and wider engagement has international policymaking implications or applications, and
- Participant 2: from the policymaking arena, working on science, technology, and innovation-related matters. This person should belong to one of the following categories:
– A local or national government official.
– A policymaker.
– A diplomat.
– A representative of an academy of sciences.
– Civil servant.
– A representative of a research funding institution.
– Staff or expert working for and/or with an international (e.g. UN) organization.
If necessary, young scientists applicants are encouraged to check with the head of their home institute for suggestions on a possible suitable co-applicant from the policymaking arena.
The two participants in the participant pair will apply individually, but must confirm their participant pair partner on their application and explain why it is a good partnership. Thus, participant pairs must have agreed in advance about their ‘twinned’ applications.
Applications that do not identify a participant partner will not be considered. Therefore, it is highly recommended to find a partner co-applicant BEFORE applying.
BENEFITS
Alumni of the course 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.
HOW TO APPLY
For more information, visit the official website.