On 20 May 2024, the European Academy of Religion hosted the Scientific Diplomacy Forum at the historic Palazzo Steri in Palermo, Italy. The event, co-sponsored by RESILIENCE Research Infrastructure and FSCIRE – Fondazione per le Scienze Religiose, gathered diplomats, politicians, and scholars to discuss the critical role of research infrastructures and scientific programmes in enhancing diplomacy.

The forum aimed to foster an exchange of experiences and best practices at the highest level. It sought to explore how diplomacy is bolstered by research infrastructures and scientific initiatives, particularly in addressing the four EU priorities: protecting citizens and freedoms, developing a strong and vibrant economic base, building a climate-neutral, green, fair, and social Europe, and promoting European interests and values on the global stage.

The forum featured two sessions: the first focused on promoting tolerance and mutual understanding in scientific diplomacy and the second addressed the opportunities and challenges of European scientific diplomacy, emphasising inclusive practices and effective science communication. The consensus was that stronger collaboration between science and diplomacy is vital for societal understanding and addressing global challenges.

In the photo, from left to right: Monique Bossi, Infrastructure Manager of the Einstein Telescope Infrastructure Consortium; Francesca Cadeddu, General Director of Resilience; Alessandro Capra, Professor at the Department of Engineering "Enzo Ferrari" University of Modena; Asher Maoz, Professor at the Peres Academic Center Law School; Herman Selderhuis Professor of church history and church polity at the Theological University of Apeldoorn, H.H. S.E. Ahmed Saleh Al-Rashdi, Undersecretary of the Sultanate of Oman; Evarist Bartalo, former Minister of Foreign Affairs of Malta, Bonnie Wolff-Boenisch, CEO of CESSDA ERIC, Lidia Borrel-Damián, Secretary General of Science Europe and Alberto Melloni, Professor at Università di Bologna and secretary of FSCIRE.