European Union Science Diplomacy Working Group 4 (WG4) on building capacity for European science diplomacy convened a two-day co-creation workshop during 6-7 March 2024, hosted by the International Institute for Applied Systems Analyses (IIASA) and the Diplomatic Academy in Vienna.
The initiative, announced by the European Commission in 2023, emerged from the Global Approach Implementation Report. The European Commission’s objective was to establish informal working groups that bring together experts from both the science and diplomacy communities to collaboratively shape a future European framework for science diplomacy.
IIASA was honored to co-host the first in-person meeting of Working Group 4 (WG4) – one of the five established working groups by the European Commission, specifically focusing on building capacity for European science diplomacy. The event brought together more than 20 experts in the area of science diplomacy from across Europe. Prof. Paul Arthur Berkman participated in person from North America, as a repatriated German citizen, was selected to serve as one of the WG4 members from over 570 applications received and contributed to the workshop’s success.
The WG4 Co-chairs are Martina Schubert (Deputy Director at the Diplomatic Academy in Vienna) and Jean-Christophe Mauduit (Associate Professor of Science Diplomacy at University College London). [Dr. Mauduit is an astrophysicist who received his Masters of Law and Diplomacy (MALD) in science diplomacy from the Fletcher School of Law and Diplomacy with Prof. Berkman as his advisor].
Subsequent sessions throughout the two-day WG4 workshop focused on strategies to strengthen science diplomacy through research as part of a 6-month process to formulate recommendations for the European Commission, Directorate-General for Research and Innovation.
