Academic Freedom and Science Diplomacy: How to deal with new risks in international cooperation and global inequalities in academia?

The English-language event will focus on the role of science diplomacy in international academic and political cooperation and its potential to protect academic freedom - which is a particular challenge in times of conflict and political tension.

08 October 2024, 5pm - 7pm | Staatsbibliothek zu Berlin, 
Wilhelm von Humboldt-Saal, Unter den Linden 8, 10117 Berlin

THE TOPIC Science Diplomacy is a key element in international cooperation dealing with the global challenges of 21st Century – be it climate change, global health crises, growing nationalism set against multilateral cooperation, war, migration, or security. By establishing international networks, by facilitating communication or by providing scientific advice for decision-making in foreign policy, science diplomacy contributes to finding solutions.

Academic freedom is a major factor in these international settings – and ensuring it in times of conflicts and political tensions is challenging. With our guests, we will talk about the possibilities that science diplomacy offers for fostering academic freedom, as well as the competences necessary for doing so successfully.

THE GUESTS

The panel discussion will feature:

  • Dr. Sandra Dahlke (Director, Max Weber Network Eastern Europe)
  • Prof. Dr. Katrin Kinzelbach (Professor of International Politics of Human Rights, Friedrich-Alexander-Universität Erlangen-Nürnberg)
  • Prof. Dr. Kristin Shi-Kupfer (Professor of Sinology, Trier University, and Senior Associate Fellow at MERICS)

hosted by

  • Anja Wehler-Schöck (Der Tagesspiegel)

Afterwards, we invite you to exchange ideas in lounge corners with the panel guests, as well as

  • Till Eckert (China Science Investigation, Correctiv)
  • Dr. Tim Flink (Science Diplomacy Researcher, Head of Strategy at Max Delbrück Center for Molecular Medicine, Berlin)
  • Dr. Isabelle Harbrecht (Coordinator, China Competence Training Center, Humboldt-Universität zu Berlin)
  • Christiane Wolf Suzuki (Forum Diplomatic Resilience, Berlin University Alliance)

The event is part of the series “Protecting academic freedom”, organized by ZEIT STIFTUNG BUCERIUS and VolkswagenStiftung.