How Science and Innovation Accelerate the Achievement of the Sustainable Development Goals
Session I: Women in Science diplomacy and policy making: perspective from science diplomacy practitioners
WiSDA was founded with the mission to foster global collaboration through science diplomacy, promoting dialogue and partnerships across borders to address sharedscientific challenges. Science diplomacy practitioners, particularly science counsellors, play a pivotal role in advancing science by facilitating international research collaborations, advising governments on science and technology policy, and representing their countries’ scientific interests abroad. Countries should invest in science diplomacy as it strengthens their global influence, fosters innovation, and builds collaborative networks that drive scientific progress. WiSDA provides a platform to support emerging and low-to middle-income countries (LMICs) inestablishing international collaborations, ensuring inclusivity in global scientific endeavors.
Session II: Health and Ocean a fundamental but unresolved paradigm requiring urgent actions
The session explores the essential and intricate relationships between human health and oceans, presenting innovative research approaches and advocating for collaborative, health-driven actions to address this unresolved paradigm.
A novel model for systemic, long-standing, multisectoral, and interdisciplinary research is introduced through the “Sea Care Project,” coordinated by the National Institute of Health in collaboration with the Italian Navy. This project mobilizes multiple sectors around Planetary Health and One Water approaches to address human-induced persistent chemical contamination and microbiological changes in marine ecosystems. Results from the first year are presented to raise intriguing concerns related to health perspectives.
Current national monitoring systems encompass virtually all environmental compartments, including soil, air, wastewater, inland waters, drinking water, bathing water, coastal waters, items, chemicals, and food. Despite the growing recognition that environmental health impacts human health, the medical and public health communities still tend to allocate inadequate attention to the health of seas and oceans– historical repositories of pollution from human civilization and main player in climate changes and biodiversity. It is time for the scientific community to advocate for an international legislative framework for the routine monitoring of the high seas, with legally binding national commitments and an interdisciplinary approach.
Session III: Science Diplomacy – a vehicle to engage multi sectors for socio-economic development
Science diplomacy should involve a broad range of stakeholders, including researchers, policymakers, diplomats, administrators, and industry leaders, to effectively address global scientific challenges. Higher Education Institutions play a crucial role in advancing science diplomacy by fostering research, education, and innovation while serving as hubs for international collaboration and knowledge exchange. Building a global community that includes these diverse stakeholders is essential to achieve the shared goal of ensuring that science benefits all, promoting inclusivity, equity, and global cooperation in scientific advancements.
Session IV
As a community, we can support emerging countries in their science diplomacy efforts by providing mentorship, resources, and platforms that empower their scientific communities, with a special focus on encouraging and supporting women in science diplomacy. Engaging with a diverse range of stakeholders, including governments, international organizations, academic institutions, and private sector partners, is key to ensuring that science diplomacy leads to meaningful collaborations. By fostering inclusive networks and offering tailored support, we can help translate diplomatic initiatives into tangible, impactful scientific partnerships.
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