Science diplomacy operates at the intersections of scientific collaboration, foreign policy and changing global world orders, and increasingly emphasizes not only expert-driven science, but also broader societal engagement in research.

Given the global societal challenges and current changing geo-political contexts, science diplomacy is crucial for fostering cooperation and bridging understanding between institutions, countries and regions.

Science Diplomacy is on the agenda at AIAS from 1 September, when the new Science Diplomacy Theme Group fellowship programme starts. Professor Casper Andersen from the School of Culture and Society at Aarhus University has been selected as group leader, together with three researchers.

In individual projects, the selected AIAS-Science Diplomacy Fellows will address different issues of science diplomacy: from research security, the idea of ‘dual use’, and the role of universities in science diplomacy to how AI and science diplomacy may reinforce inequalities between societies.

The selected AIAS-SD Fellows commencing on 1 September 2025 are:

• Anna-Lena Rüland, Global Business School for Health, University College London, UK
  Project at AIAS: ‘Research Collaborations Amid Geopolitical Tensions: Between Research Security and Science Diplomacy’
• Maria Rentetzi, Science Technology and Gender Studies, Professor, Friedrich-Alexander Universität Erlangen-Nürnberg, Germany
  Project at AIAS: ‘Tracking Diamonds: How AI and Science Diplomacy Save Colonialism’
• Rachel Fishberg, The Danish Centre for Studies in Research and Research Policy, Department of Political Science, Aarhus University
  ‘The Role of Universities in Science Diplomacy: Institutional Dimensions and Academic Practices’

    Group leader:

• Casper Andersen, School of Culture and Society, History of Ideas, Aarhus University

“Amid geopolitical instability and evolving roles for the sciences across all faculties, it’s crucial that our strategies for science diplomacy are based on strong research foundations. As a theme group, we can play a vital role in this,” notes Casper Andersen, Professor at Aarhus University and incoming group leader form 1 September.

The AIAS-SD Fellows will be based at AIAS and be a part of the international, interdisciplinary fellow community at AIAS. During their year at AIAS, they will take actively part in organizing workshops and conferences on Science Diplomacy at AIAS and other locations in Denmark, specifically when Denmark holds the Presidency of the Council of the European Union (from 1 July 2025).

More about the AIAS-Science Diplomacy Fellowship programme

https://aias.au.dk/opportunities-at-aias/aias-science-diplomacy-fellowships 

Contact

Andreas Roepstorff, Director
andreas.roepstorff@aias.au.dk 
Aarhus Institute of Advanced Studies, AIAS
Høegh-Guldbergs Gade 6B
DK-8000 Aarhus C