The ISC has a long and rich history of engagement in science diplomacy, including through its predecessor organizations ICSU (International Council for Science) and (International Social Science Council) ISSC.
Science has long shaped international relations, enabling cooperation and exploration, while also serving political and economic interests. Today, it is increasingly intertwined with diplomacy amid rapid technological change, global power shifts, and the securitization of science in an increasingly multipolar world.
As disparities in access to science grow, so do tensions driven by populism, misinformation, and conflict. Diplomacy is evolving, with more diverse actors – including cities, corporations, and scientific diasporas – and a growing role for scientists and science advisers in addressing global challenges.
Science diplomacy is multifaceted and the ISC’s multi-pronged approach to science diplomacy covers five key dimensions:
The ISC plays a major role in facilitating inclusive and equitable conversations on global issues, promoting knowledge sharing, fostering a shared understanding of the issues requiring global collective action, and helping to reduce knowledge asymmetries that can hamper the ability of countries to participate in and influence global governance. This is particularly acute around new and emerging issues – for example, in disruptive technologies, which introduce rapid changes and new risks and opportunities.
Example: Science inputs into the Biological Weapons Convention
The ISC champions openness, inclusivity and equity in science, especially in light of the unequal scientific capacities and opportunities between countries.
It also addresses the challenges posed by competing geostrategic interests and tensions, which often lead to heightened concerns over research security. This context undermines international scientific collaboration and the potential to leverage science to inform global responses and science as a global public good.
The ISC advocates for equitable access to scientific collaboration, knowledge and data sharing, while working to minimize misuse or politicization of research in a way that prioritizes equity, transparency, and fairness.
The ISC promotes the ethical governance of emerging technologies, such as artificial intelligence, synthetic biology, and geoengineering. By leveraging its global reach and expertise, the ISC can facilitate multilateral dialogues to address gaps in governance and support the development of regulatory frameworks to ensure that developments in science and technology support equitable sustainable development and minimize risks of misuse or unintended negative consequences.
Example: Assessing countries’ readiness to leverage AI in science
The ISC plays a crucial role in safeguarding the global commons, such as the atmosphere, oceans and polar regions, by stimulating research and scientific cooperation and promoting peace, security, equitable access and responsible use.
The ISC serves as a trusted scientific advisor to multilateral organizations and coalitions of actors by convening and providing multidisciplinary scientific inputs into intergovernmental deliberations and negotiations. It ensures that diverse perspectives contribute to the development of shared understanding and the shaping of solutions to critical global issues.
The ISC also draws on its experience in organizing scientific advice at the international level to support the design, creation and implementation of mechanisms of scientific advice.
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