Tuesday 13 April 2021 (Day one) 

13:30 – 14:45 (Moscow time)

High-Level Session: Science Diplomacy and Systems Analysis

This session will explore how science diplomacy and systems analysis combined at the international research institute, IIASA, and went on to deliver significant impact in advancing scientific knowledge and applying it to address growing global problems on an international scale. IIASA was founded in 1972 by the Soviet Union, the United States and 10 other countries from the Eastern and Western blocs to use scientific cooperation to build bridges across the Cold War divide. Teams of researchers from multiple countries came together at IIASA to find solutions to complex global problems that cross international boundaries, including tackling air pollution, meeting global energy demand, and water resource management. This session will analyze what can be learned from the IIASA experience in using science as an alternative channel for diplomacy, current science diplomacy activities at IIASA and more broadly what science can give to diplomacy. 

Moderator

Anatoly Torkunov, Rector, Moscow State Institute of International Relations (MGIMO-University); Member, Collegium of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the Russian Federation; Full Member, Russian Academy of Sciences 

Panelists

Alexander Pankin, Deputy Minister of Foreign Affairs of the Russian Federation 

Roger Levien, the second Director of IIASA (1975-1981); President, Strategy and Innovation Consulting, USA

Alexei Gvishiani, Chief Scientist, Geophysical Center of the Russian Academy of Sciences; Full Member, Russian Academy of Sciences

Albert van Jaarsveld, IIASA Director General and Chief Executive Officer

Sir Peter Gluckman, Chair, International Network for Government Science Advice; President-Elect, International Science Council; Director, Koi Tū: The Centre for Informed Futures at the University of Auckland, New Zealand

Last edited: 14 April 2021