Deadline: 8-Aug-23
The Bibliotheca Alexandrina (BA) through the Center for Special Studies and Programs (CSSP), the World Academy of Sciences for the Advancement of Science in Developing Countries’ Arab Regional Partner (TWAS–AREP) are seeking candidates to participate in the Regional Workshop on Science Diplomacy for the Arab Region that will be held hybrid from 24–26 October 2023.
Science diplomacy is the use of scientific collaborations among nations to address common problems facing humanity and to build constructive, knowledge based international partnerships.
Many of the challenges faced today are international and whether it is tackling climate change or fighting disease, these global problems require global solutions. That is why it is important to create a new role for science in international policymaking and diplomacy to place science at the heart of the progressive international agenda.
Science diplomacy needs support and encouragement at all levels of the science community. Younger scientists need opportunities and career incentives to engage with policy debates from the earliest stage of their careers. There is much to learn from related debates over science communication and public engagement by scientists, where there has been a culture change within science over the past ten years.
Eligible Countries
- Algeria
- Bahrain
- Djibouti
- Egypt
- Iraq
- Jordan
- Kuwait
- Lebanon
- Libya
- Mauritania
- Morocco
- Oman
- Palestine (West Bank and Gaza Strip)
- Qatar
- Saudi Arabia
- Somalia
- Sudan
- Syrian Arab Republic
- Tunisia
- United Arab Emirates
- Yemen
Eligibility Criteria
- To strengthen the connection between scientists and governmental officials, policymakers and diplomats, applications to attend the workshop are being invited from ‘pair application’. Both should be living and/or working in the same country.
- Applicants should be Arab scientists and policy/decision makers who are living and working in developing countries.
- The applicants in the ‘pair application’ 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 ‘pair application’ will include:
- Applicant: A Young Scientist (40 years or below) whose research and wider engagement has international policymaking implications or applications, and
- Co-applicant: 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.
- A civil servant.
- A representative of a research funding institution.
- A staff or an 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.
- Please note: 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.
- Alumni of this hybrid workshop 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.
- Applications are invited from young Arab scientists (up to the age 40) as well as researchers/scientists, diplomats, representatives from NGOs, industry, and other sectors working at the science diplomacy nexus.
- Applicants from Science and Technology Lagging Countries (STLCs) and Least Developed Countries (LDCs) from the Arab region are especially encouraged to apply.
- Women are particularly encouraged to apply.
- Workshop Format: Hybrid
- Language: English
- Location of the event: Egypt
For more information, visit World Academy of Sciences (TWAS).