Science Diplomacy and Environmental Peacebuilding: Prospects and Challenges in the Mediterranean (First Webinar in a Series on Science Diplomacy)

Apr 15, 2019 | Environmental Peacebuilding Association
online
View Original

The role of science in environmental diplomacy, whether it is in terms of fostering research collaborations between countries or communities, or in terms of its role in environmental treaty-making, has been under deliberation for a long time. However, how can science contribute to peacebuilding between nations and communities that are at war with each other or are simply hostile with each other through environmental cooperation? This is a question that needs to be addressed more seriously and urgently at a time when environmental security challenges and climate-fragility risks are posing threat to peace and stability in many parts of the world. In this context, this webinar series will strive to build bridges between two concepts – “environmental peacebuilding” and “science diplomacy” – through empirical observations from different regions.

The objectives of the webinar series are the following:

  • To explore the role of science in environmental peacebuilding
  • To dissect the interlinkages between science diplomacy and environmental peacebuilding through empirical cases
  • To analyse the interplay between science diplomacy and issues such as conflict sensitivity and conflict prevention; and
  • To identify the institutions and stakeholders at international, regional and local levels that could operationalise science diplomacy-environmental peacebuilding interface.

Moderator

Dr. Dhanasree Jayaram, Assistant Professor. Department of Geopolitics and International Relations, Manipal Academy of Higher Education (MAHE), Manipal, Karnataka, India

Speakers

Dr. Simge Davulcu, Assistant Professor in Organic Chemistry, Girne American University, Girne/Kyrenia, Cyprus

Dr. Myrtani Pieri, Assistant Professor, School of Sciences and Engineering, Department of Life and Health Sciences, University of Nicosia, Cyprus

Dr. Davulcu is the founder of the Science for Peace Initiative Cyprus, and together with Dr. Pieri they have been undertaking a number of initiatives to overcome political boundaries in their country by leveraging science.

Agenda

  • Welcome (5 mins)
  • Speaker presentations (30 minutes total, 15 minutes each)
  • Discussion (25 minutes, led by moderator, questions fed through YouTube Live platform)

We will be holding a total of 3 webinars focusing on many different areas. The next will be held on May 2, 2019 15:30-16:30 CEST, 9:30-10:30 EDT here, with Dr. Klaus Dodds and Dr. Cassandra Brooks on science diplomacy contextualised in the polar regions with Future Earth Partners.

When: 12 April 2019, 16:00-17:00 CEST, 10:00 AM-11:00 AM EDT

Where: Online

Organizers: Environmental Peacebuilding Association with support from, Centre for Climate Studies, Manipal Academy of Higher Education, Earth System Governance Project, Early Career Researchers Network of Networks (Future Earth), Intergovernmental Science-Policy Platform on Biodiversity and Ecosystem Services, International Consortium of Research Staff Associations, Network of Early-Career Sustainable Scientists & Engineers, Responsible Research and Innovation Networking Globally, Young Ecosystem Services Specialists

To join the video conference, click here.