Research
Science Diplomacy in Practice: Engaging the Next Generation at the Institut Pasteur
On Tuesday September 1, the Institut Pasteur hosted a seminar on “Addressing Global Challenges through Science Diplomacy”, bringing together students, early-career researchers, senior scientists and members of the diplomatic community.
Jointly organized by the Education, Diversity, Equity & Inclusion, and International Affairs departments, the event took place within the framework of the Amgen Scholars Program and provided an opportunity to explore the growing role of science diplomacy and the ways in which scientific expertise can contribute to addressing global challenges at the intersection of science, policy and international affairs.
The seminar was delivered by Dr. Marco Borra, Scientific Attaché at the Italian Embassy in Paris and a former molecular biologist. Drawing on his experience at the interface between science and diplomacy, he explored what science diplomacy means in practice, why it matters, and the role of Scientific Attachés in connecting scientific expertise with international policy.
Bridging science, policy and diplomacy
Dr. Borra highlighted the strategic importance of science diplomacy in addressing challenges that increasingly require international cooperation, from global health threats and climate change to emerging crises.
He also reflected on the specific role of Scientific Attachés, who work at the interface between two very different worlds: the evidence-based and long-term perspective of scientific research, and the faster-paced, policy-driven environment of diplomacy.
The discussion with the audience brought these questions to life. Participants explored the evolving relationship between scientific evidence and political decision-making, the importance of ensuring that scientific expertise is represented where decisions are made, and the challenges created by the different timescales of research and policymaking.
The conversation also addressed the skills needed to navigate these interfaces, including adaptability, open-mindedness and clear communication. Researchers interested in engaging with science diplomacy were encouraged to consider how political and international contexts can be integrated into their work, and to explore opportunities through multilateral organizations, international NGOs and institutional teams.
A strong interest from the Institut Pasteur community
The success of the seminar was reflected in the strong turnout: the Agnes Ullmann Auditorium was completely full. The particularly strong participation of young researchers highlighted the growing scientific interest in science diplomacy and in understanding how research can contribute to international decision-making.
At a time when global challenges increasingly require cooperation across borders and between scientific and political communities, the role of science diplomacy is becoming ever more important. The discussions during the conference demonstrated a clear appetite among researchers to better understand these connections and to explore how they can engage at the interface between science, policy and international affairs.
The presence of members of the Scientific Attaché community from foreign embassies in Paris further strengthened this dialogue, creating an opportunity for direct exchange between the scientific and diplomatic communities.
The strong response to the event also highlighted the value of creating opportunities for the Institut Pasteur community to engage with science diplomacy and its growing role in addressing global challenges.
See Dr. Marco Borra’s presentation
Amgen Scholars Program
The Amgen Scholars Program gives undergraduate students from European universities the opportunity to undertake an eight-week research experience within an Institut Pasteur research team.
In 2026, 12 students representing nine nationalities joined research units across five departments at the Institut Pasteur. Throughout the program, they gained hands-on research experience alongside Institut Pasteur scientists and took part in seminars, workshops and activities designed to broaden their understanding of scientific research and its wider environment.
As part of the 2026 edition, the Scholars also attended the seminar “Addressing Global Challenges through Science Diplomacy”, offering them an opportunity to explore the connections between scientific research, international cooperation and public policy.
The program concluded with an afternoon poster session, during which the Scholars presented their research projects to the Institut Pasteur community. Members of the Scientific Attaché community from foreign embassies in Paris also attended the session, including representatives of countries represented among this year’s cohort.
