The Dynamics of Science Diplomacy: Bridging Pragmatism and Idealism
A new seminar series, "The Dynamics of Science Diplomacy: Bridging Pragmatism and Idealism," began in the fall of 2025. According to the seminar's coordinators, Irek Suleymanov (HSE University, Russia) and Parsifal Islas -Morales (UNAM, Mexico), these sessions are intended not only to serve as a meeting place for emerging researchers in science diplomacy with authoritative experts in the field, but also as a learning and research laboratory for the vibrant research initiatives of undergraduate and graduate students from around the world.
The seminar sessions demonstrated unequivocal support for the initiative from eminent international scholars. The first meeting, on October 22, 2025, opened the series with a presentation by Professor Ana María Cetto (UNAM), President of the UNESCO Chair on Science Diplomacy and Scientific Heritage.
This seminar is becoming a unique space where voices from academic communities converge to critically examine the role and scope of science diplomacy in history and the present day. Let us congratulate its founders on their initiative and encourage them to build on its early success
The highlight of the second seminar on December 10, 2025, was the impetus report by Professor Karen Hallberg, Secretary General of the Pugwash Conference of Scientists, co-laureate of the Nobel Peace Prize (1995). Professor K. Hallberg noted:
Emerging technologies that transcend national borders—such as artificial intelligence, automated decision-making systems, ICTs, synthetic biology, and quantum technologies—require coordinated global action rooted in science and technology. At the same time, existential challenges including nuclear weapons risks, climate change, biodiversity loss, pandemics, and environmental degradation demand diplomatic, interdisciplinary, and collective responses
General secretary Pugwash movements believes that “in an era of heightened geopolitical tensions and declining trust in both politics and science, science diplomacy has become more essential than ever. In this context, this course and seminar series on science diplomacy is both timely and highly relevant. I am grateful to Dr. Irek Suleymanov and Dr. Parsifal Islas-Morales for organizing this important initiative."
During the sessions, undergraduate and graduate students from HSE and UNAM had a unique opportunity to present their research findings (term papers, Master theses, and dissertations) and receive feedback from leading experts in the field of science diplomacy. During the first session, Anna Glebova (HSE Master's degree alumna) presented the results of her research on models and approaches to integrating science diplomacy into science and technology policy, while Lucas Adrian Garcia, a research intern at the ISSEK Centre for Science, Technology, Innovation and Information Policy (HSE University), discussed the potential of non-governmental organizations in science diplomacy.
I deeply enjoyed the seminar for it was replete with outstanding speakers and was directly dedicated to the ambit of my research. Also, a stand-alone ovation should be dedicated to Dr. Ana María Cetto due to her speech full of wisdom. Overall, it would be insightful to see more professional researchers sharing their results of Science Diplomacy projects
Центр научно-технической, инновационной и информационной политики: Стажер-исследователь
Participating in the Science Diplomacy seminar series, first as a speaker and later as a participant, was a truly enriching experience. I highly valued the opportunity to engage with speakers with outstanding international trajectories and a strong commitment to building bridges between regions through science diplomacy. I hope the seminar continues to grow as a platform for dialogue, collaboration, and the development of a global community of young researchers in the field
The core theme of the seminar series is an examination of the metamorphosis of pragmatism and idealism as the inherent "potential difference" of the concept of science diplomacy. The application of science diplomacy can range widely, from megascience to ecology. For example, UNAM PhD student Ernesto Carmona's presentation at the second session of the seminar was devoted to the "Geopolitical Panorama of Environmental Science Diplomacy."
The phenomenon of pragmatism and idealism in the DNA of the concept of science diplomacy formed the thematic framework for the presentations by the seminar coordinators. At the first session, Irek Suleymanov presented a paper entitled "The Theory of Science Diplomacy: Integrating the Contradictions of Pragmatism and Idealism." Parsifal Islas -Morales (UNAM) delivered an expert paper entitled " “Utopianism in Science Diplomacy: A Critical Review of Its Origins."
This seminar is the first of its kind, proposing a debate space for critical voices from academic communities on the theory and praxis of science diplomacy. Critical voices are historically and politically informed. Grounded on the premise that science is not neutral but, on the contrary, highly significant to geopolitics, our seminar allows for a deeper understanding of science diplomacy, its historical ideals and its current scope
Except that, Mexican researcher emphasized that "the seminar enhances academic collaboration between Mexico and Russia within the framework of UNESCO 's objectives."
The seminar coordinators are working on continuing the series: regular online sessions featuring international experts and presentations of undergraduate and graduate work will resume in 2026. If you are preparing a research article, coursework, or master thesis on science diplomacy and would like to receive expert feedback, please join the upcoming meetings and participate in the call for proposals (submission deadline: March 6, 2026).
