Science Diplomacy

This strand of work focuses on how scientists —especially early-career researchers— are prepared to work at the interface of science, diplomacy, and international policy. It examines the emerging field of science diplomacy training and asks a simple but critical question: how do we equip scientists with the skills, structures, and career pathways they need to contribute effectively to global decision-making while remaining rooted in their research careers?

A first output in this line of work is a report for the Institut Pasteur in France, produced as part of the 2025 Science Diplomacy Team Fellowship with the National Science Policy Network (NSPN). That report maps current science diplomacy training opportunities for scientists and offers concrete recommendations for an introductory curriculum aimed at early-career researchers. It looks at what should be taught (content), how it should be taught (pedagogy), who can access it (accessibility), and how such programs can be sustained and coordinated over time (governance).

Building on this, a second publication (now under review) takes a broader, more academic view. It analyzes science diplomacy training across multiple programs and institutions, identifies systemic gaps in how scientists are prepared for these roles, and proposes a set of policy and institutional reforms to strengthen science diplomacy education as a career-enabling pathway. 

A third piece is shaping to be a practical guide to building careers at the intersection of science, policy, and diplomacy, focusing on real decision-making contexts where science is one factor among many. It distills core competencies, experience-building strategies, and sectoral career options to help scientists navigate non-linear trajectories in science for policy, policy for science, and science diplomacy.

Together, these three pieces contribute to a growing conversation about science diplomacy as a viable, rigorous career track for scientists and about the institutional changes needed to support that trajectory.

Publications

Planning a Career in Science Policy or Science Diplomacy. In Bridging Frontiers: Science Policy and Diplomacy in the 21st Century. CRC Press (Taylor & Francis). In preparation

Bridging Science and Diplomacy: Strengthening Early-Career Scientist Training for a Global Diplomatic Workforce (w/Emma-Rose Newmeyer, Mary McDonnell, Emma Kelsick, Sarah Shainker-Connelly, and Joy Bianchi. Under Review

Building capacity in science diplomacy: Designing a course framework for early-career scientists. Report prepared for Institut Pasteur as part of 2025 NSPN Science Diplomacy Team Fellowship. 2025