Applications for the 2017 workshop are now closed.
Course dates: September 10 - September 16, 2017.
Application deadline: May 30, 2017.
Young science diplomats visit the Einstein Memorial outside the U.S. Department of State | Courtesy of Marga Gual Soler
This first-of-its-kind course is designed as an immersion experience in the science diplomacy ecosystem of Washington D.C., combining academic lectures, field visits, professional development workshops, networking opportunities and leadership training. Alumni 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.
During the workshop: participants will:
- Engage directly with leaders and practitioners in the field of science diplomacy
- Understand the role of science, technology and innovation in foreign policy and international relations
- Develop skills and practical tools to navigate the complex interplay between science and diplomacy
- Become part of the AAAS Science Diplomacy Education Network, launched at the Science Diplomacy Conference 2017
This intensive week-long training fosters the next generation of boundary-spanning, globally-connected scientists and diplomats reaching across borders to address societal challenges and become agents of change in their countries and sectors.
Curriculum and Activities
The program is divided in three modules:
Academic: includes lectures by international leaders in the different fields of science diplomacy (energy, environment, climate, water, global health, nuclear nonproliferation, space, etc.), exclusive online learning tools, interactive case studies, and experiential learning through role-playing exercises and simulations.
Leadership: personal and professional development in communication, teamwork, negotiation, and entrepreneurship across cultures and disciplines.
Networking: visits to federal agencies (including NASA and the U.S. Department of State), embassies, non-profits, multilateral organizations and think tanks, career orientation sessions and access to a global network of young leaders and innovators reaching across borders to impact society.
Confirmed Speakers
Deputy Executive Director and Director for Capacity Building, Inter-American Institute for Global Change Research
Chief of Section, Science Policy and Partnerships, UNESCO
Director, Americas Office, Office of Global Affairs
U.S. Department of Health and Human Services
Costa Rican Ambassador to the United States
Sr. Physical Scientist, NASA Goddard Space Flight Center
U.S. Ambassador, retired
U.S. Ambassador, retired
Visiting Scholar, AAAS Center for Science Diplomacy
Visiting Assistant Professor in Film, Dance and Theatre
Arizona State University
Director, Sabin Vaccine Institute
U.S. Science Envoy
Founder, World Central Kitchen
Associate Professor, Hunter College
Research Associate, American Museum of Natural History
Former CEO, CRDF Global
Senior Fellow, Canadian Global Affairs Institute
Author of Guerrilla Diplomacy: Rethinking International Relations
CEO and Co-Founder, Conservation X Labs
Director, Center for Science Diplomacy, AAAS
Project Director, Center for Science Diplomacy, AAAS
Editor-in-Chief, Science & Diplomacy, AAAS
Deputy Director, Center for Science Diplomacy, AAAS
Deputy Applied Sciences Manager, NASA Goddard Space Flight Center
Associate Professor, School of Public Health, University of Cape Town, and Co-Chair, Global Young Academy
Research Scholar, AAAS Center for Science Diplomacy
Executive Director, Inter-American Institute for Global Change Research
International News Editor, Science Magazine
Assistant Professor, Bren School of Environmental Science & Management, University of California Santa Barbara
Distinguished Professor Emeritus, Georgetown University | Visiting Scholar, AAAS Center for Science Diplomacy
Co-organizer of the course “Science Diplomacy: The Role of Science in International Relations and Global Development” at New York University
Co-founder of the Science Diplomacy Club at The Fletcher School of Law and Diplomacy
Deputy Science and Technology Adviser to the Secretary, acting U.S. Department of State
East Coast Director, UK Science & Innovation Network | British Consulate-General, Boston
Who should attend?
We welcome applicants from a diverse range of backgrounds, including:
- Graduate students, scholars and faculty in science, engineering or international relations
- Policymakers, diplomats, and international organizations staff and interns
- Representatives of non-profit and non-governmental organizations
- Other participants as deemed appropriate by the selection committee.
There is no nationality restriction or age limit; however, participants should be early- to mid-career. Current graduate students are also encouraged to apply. The AAAS Center for Science Diplomacy will establish an expert committee to identify qualified applicants. Preference will be given to those who are:
- members of the scientific community whose research and wider engagement has brought them into the international policy-making arena;
- members the policy and diplomacy communities interested in exploring the central science-based themes that might influence their work.
How much does it cost?
Registration includes:
- Tuition and all materials
- Scheduled meals
- Hotel accommodation for 6 nights (single and double options available; see below for pricing)
- Local transportation
- 1 year of AAAS membership
Fees:
- Registration with Double Occupancy Hotel Accommodation: $2,300
- Registration with Single Occupancy Hotel Accommodation: $3,300
AAAS Members will receive a $100 discount.
All prices are given in U.S. dollars. Limited spaces are available for a no-lodging option ($1,500 for non-members; $1,400 for AAAS members): includes tuition, all materials, and most meals. Please note that hotels in Washington, D.C. average $300 per night around workshop dates.
Please direct any application questions here.
Download a template justification letter for requesting institutional funding.
Letters of invitation will be issued to international participants upon request.
If you are interested in becoming an institutional scholarship sponsor, please contact Dr. Marga Gual Soler .
Applications close May 30, 2017.