As part of the Eurostrings 2025 conference Nordita had the honor of organizing a set of public lectures featuring COST director Dr. Ronald de Bruin, Professor Robbert Dijkgraaf (President-Elect of the International Science Council) and Mikael Fogelström (Nordita). The topic was “The Role of Science in Times of Geopolitical Uncertainties”. The lectures highlighted how research networks and international collaboration can promote societal progress.
Professor Mikael Fogelström, started out by reflecting on Nordita’s unique position during the Cold War as a hub where scientists from East and West could collaborate despite political tensions. Today, after 50 years of peace, we are again are faced with multifaceted dark clouds where geopolitical tensions are challenging scientific collaboration.
Dr. Ronald de Bruin gave an interesting and informative speech about the COST Association’s mission: creating bottom-up, inclusive, and excellence-driven networks to handle the European science and technology challenges and to promote science diplomacy. He also gave concrete examples of how COST actions have had immediate impact in different situations where politics affect science, such as the invasion of Ukraine, EU sanctions against Hungary, and Brexit.
Finally, Professor Robbert Dijkgraaf gave an inspiring and thought-provoking lecture on the interplay between science and politics. He started out by noting that collaboration is crucial in advancing science and technology, and that there are indications that the lack of collaboration between countries currently is worse than in the 1950’s and 1960’s. There is less sharing of crucial data, for instance when it comes to topics like the state of our oceans. In different ways, society is pushing against science, for instance by accusing science of being politized, and a strong message that Dijkgraaf delivered was that “science needs to push back against the pushing back”.
As a way forward, Dijkgraaf mentioned the need to renew the social contract between science and society. “The social contract between science and society that has been there for the last 80 years where citizens pay tax money to science and scientists share benefits, that contract needs to be renewed” says Dijkgraaf, and mentions that there are many things scientists can do:
• Organizing forces to defend science and stand together against attacks.
• Encouraging interdisciplinarity and transdisciplinary research.
• Promoting open science and data sharing.
• Supporting global collaboration, particularly bridging the north–south divide.
• Ensuring Europe steps up to continue funding vital research where other donors reduce support.
“In these times of geopolitical stress, scientific institutes like Nordita have an important role to play. Where policies divide, science unites. History shows us that building research connections can bring nations together” comments Professor Dijkgraaf.
The lectures were well attended and followed by a lively panel debate and so many questions from the curious and involved audience, that there was not even time to address them all; a clear indication of how relevant and urgent the topic is today. In sum, it was a timely and important discussion on the future of science in an uncertain world.
The panel debate led by Prof. Niels Obers
Dr. Ronald De Bruin
The panel engaged in discussion.
