Science Diplomacy in Times of Global Crises – Opening Event
September 14 | 7 pm
Sold out.
Science Diplomacy in Times of Global Crises is a two-day event. On this page you will find general information on the event and the program for the opening session on Thursday, September 14th, 2023. Find the details for the Symposium on Friday, September 15th, 2023 here.
About the Event
Science diplomacy is an often-promulgated concept in light of tackling global challenges in an increasingly interconnected and competitive world order. Science diplomacy is believed to foster peace and understanding between nations and has often been utilized to argue for more cooperation and openness among adverse states. Can science diplomacy keep up with its promise in an ever-more fragmented multipolar world? Does the concept and its basic tenets need to be revised or has science diplomacy never been more valid and important?
This event explores science diplomacy in current global affairs from at least two perspectives in times of multiple crises: the need for openness and collaboration in tackling global challenges and the need for safe-guarding indisputable values, principles and interests. The first perspective will be addressed with a focus on Artificial Intelligence (Session 1: “Open science diplomacy for an ethical and trustworthy global AI”), the second perspective will be covered by attending to the risks of foreign interference, intellectual property right, misinformation and manipulation in international science cooperation (Session 2: “Science diplomacy in a fragmented, multipolar world”). Both sessions will take place on Friday morning, September 15th (see details here).
The opening session on Thursday night (September 14th) will also invite artistic perspectives and approaches to the otherwise highly conceptual debate, thereby broadening the range of perspectives on science diplomacy in times of global crises.
The panel sessions on Friday have been registered as an official side event of the Science Summit at the 78th United Nations General Assembly taking place on September 12th-29th, 2023.
Program for Thursday, 14 September 2023
7 pm Welcome address
Dr. Susanne Keppler-Schlesinger, Director of the Austrian Cultural Forum New York
Prof. Dr. Gerald Steiner, University Professor of Organization, Communication, and Innovation,
University for Continuing Education Krems
7.15 pm Opening Speeches I & II
Prof. Dr. Gerald Steiner, University Professor of Organization, Communication, and Innovation,
University for Continuing Education Krems
Prof. Dr. Eva Schernhammer, Professor of Epidemiology, Head of Department of Epidemiology, Medical University Vienna;
Adjunct Professor of Epidemiology, Harvard T.H. Chan School of Public Health
Gediminas Urbonas, Professor in Art, Culture and Technology, School of Architecture+Planning,
Massachusetts Institute of Technology
8.15 pm Panel Discussion and Q&A
with Prof. Dr. Eva Schernhammer, Prof. Dr. Gerald Steiner, Prof. Gediminas Urbonas
Moderated by Dr. Katja Mayer, University of Vienna
8.45 pm Evening Reception