Applications for the course are no longer accepted.
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 eighth annual summer course on science diplomacy to be held from 25 July to 3 August 2022. Due to the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic, this is the third year the workshop will be held virtually.
The workshop will take place as follows:
- 22 July (Friday): Social ‘Meet & greet’ session (optional)
- 25-29 July (Monday-Friday) and 1-3 August (Monday-Wednesday): workshop sessions*
* Exact times of the workshop sessions are subject to change. Currently, they are tentatively scheduled from 8:00 am to 10:00 am EST.
The AAAS-TWAS Science Diplomacy training program 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. Over the past years, we have trained over two hundred emerging leaders from more than 50 countries to address science diplomacy from global and regional perspectives.
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: an Early-Career Scientist (ECS) (40 years or below) whose research and wider engagement has international policymaking implications or applications, and
- Participant 2: a 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.
- Staff at an academy of sciences at supervisory level.
- 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, early-career 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.
In applying, the two participants in the participant pair must 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
- There is one single online application form for the participant pair. To apply, visit TWAS online forms, where you will be asked to create an account.
- NOTE: It is responsibility of the Early-Career Scientist (ECS) to fill out and submit the application form for himself/herself/themselves and also on behalf of the co-applicant.
- The online application is divided in two parts:
a) The first is for Participant 1 (the Early-Career Scientist - ECS).
b) The second part is for Participant 2 (the Co-Applicant Policymaker - PM), from the policymaking arena as indicated above. -
IMPORTANT: The Early-Career Scientist (ECS) is responsible for filling out BOTH parts and submit the application on behalf of the participant pair.
To facilitate this, the early-career scientist must download the "Co-Applicant Policymaker Information and Consent form" (see Word file available for download in the online form), and pass it to the Co-applicant Policymaker to fill out, sign and return to the early-career scientist, who is asked to include that information in the second part of this online application. The early-career scientist will also need to upload this signed form where requested, together with the Co-applicant Policymaker's CV and passport. - 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. 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 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 15 April 2022.
- Successful candidates will be informed by the end of May 2022.
- For more information on collaboration between TWAS and AAAS in science diplomacy, please visit https://www.aaas.org/program/center-science-diplomacy/training
- For any queries, please contact: sciencediplomacy@twas.org