On June 12, 2025, Obs took part in the webinar “Science Diplomacy at Universities: The What, How and Why of Connecting Universities and Governments“, organised by the League of European Research Universities (LERU).
The session brought together academics, policymakers, and institutional leaders to explore the evolving role of universities as active agents in the field of science diplomacy. Professor Jean-Christophe Mauduit (UCL STEaPP) opened the panel by framing science diplomacy as a powerful tool for international cooperation and policy shaping, especially when rooted in the academic sphere.
Speakers such as Jan Marco Müller (European Commission), Nataša Kos (Ministry of Higher Education, Slovenia), and Sally Smith (Trinity College Dublin) shared practical strategies for how universities can position themselves as partners in foreign policy and global problem-solving. Their interventions highlighted the importance of interdisciplinary dialogue, institutional coordination, and public engagement.
The Observatory intern Kira Neumann welcomed these reflections, especially in light of our own commitment to intercultural and inter-religious dialogue. While the term “science diplomacy” may initially suggest natural sciences and international negotiations, the panelists stressed the need for a broader understanding—one that includes communication, ethics, and culture.
This conversation invites us to imagine new roles for university-based research centres, such as the Observatory itself, in contributing to global public discourse, fostering peace, and collaborating with policy actors. Universities are not only sites of knowledge production: they are bridges between peoples, communities, and governments. This webinar was a reminder that diplomacy begins with dialogue.