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 AAAS-TWAS Course on Science Diplomacy to be held online from 30 August to 3 September 2021.
The event includes:
- 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.
PARTICIPANTS
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. 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 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.
APPLICATION AND SELECTION PROCESS
- Twin applications must be submitted online as follows:
- Participant 1 in the participant pair (Young Scientist) must apply with the online form accessible through the following link: https://forms.office.com/r/dbNWqg6dfZ
- Participant 2 in the participant pair (from the policymaking arena as indicated above) must apply with the online form accessible through the following link: https://forms.office.com/r/1drUmpTnAe
NB. Please note that the two online forms and related links are different. Applicants are requested to please use the correct online form and link to apply.
- Applications that do not specify their participant partner will be considered incomplete and will not be considered.
- As part of the application, some accompanying documents must be submitted by email to sciencediplomacy@twas.org. These required documents are specified in the online application form.
- Candidates should not have participated in any previous AAAS-TWAS course on science diplomacy, including regional workshops.
- Women are especially encouraged to apply, as are refugee or displaced scientists.
- Applicants from any nationality are welcome but priority is given to developing countries.
- Applicants from the 66 Science & Technology Lagging Countries (STLCs) https://twas.org/66-countries and – within this group – the 47 Least Developed Countries (LDCs) https://twas.org/least-developed-countries-ldcs are especially encouraged to apply and will be given priority.
- The course will be held online (Zoom) and therefore, applicants need to have access to a fast and reliable internet connection and a computer to participate, in a private and quiet space (e.g. home or office).
- It is recommended to participate in the event with a PC/laptop and not a mobile phone nor a tablet.
- Upon request, a small contribution can be provided to help ensure good connectivity (e.g. internet connection fee, rental of a modem, equipped computer space room). The purchase of PC/laptops or other equipment cannot be supported.
- An expert committee will be established by TWAS and AAAS to review the applications.
- The deadline for submitting applications is 31 May 2021.
- Successful candidates will be informed by the end of June 2021.
- For more information on the science and diplomacy programme, please see http://twas.org/science-diplomacy.
- For any queries, please contact: sciencediplomacy@twas.org
