2020-11-17
With "Science in a Multilateral World" as the theme, a circle table panel initiated by the Falling Walls Foundation was held online on November 8, 2020.
A circle table panel with "Science in a Multilateral World" as the theme is held online on November 8, 2020.
Four panelists including Wan Gang, vice chairman of the 13th National Committee of the Chinese People's Political Consultative Conference (CPPCC) and president of the China Association for Science and Technology (CAST), Annette Schavan, former federal minister of education and research of Germany, John Holdren, former assistant to the President for science and technology and director of the White House Office of Science and Technology Policy of the U.S., Andrei Fursenko, aide to the President of the Russian Federation and former minister of education and science conducted in-depth exchanges focusing on topics of how to promote international cooperation in science and technology and how can science better play its role in a multilateral world.
The panel was moderated by Jan-Martin Wiarda, a Berlin-based freelance journalist, political scientist and economist.
While stressing that science and science policy have always been internationally oriented, Wan advocated national and cultural borders are secondary to the global search for knowledge and scientific breakthroughs.
Politicians and scientists must respect each other and pursue common goals, said Wan, adding that politicians should help create favorable conditions for exchanges and cooperation among scientists which can promote mutual trust and bridging diversity among countries.
Wan said that facing public crisis such as the COVID-19 pandemic and climate change, joint efforts and active actions are needed to sustain future development.
He believed that unilateralism cannot prevent scientists from connecting each other, adding that scientists still keep communicating through Internet despite of the inconvenience caused by the COVID-19 pandemic.
Highlighting that CAST has carried out more than 300 international exchange activities of different professions and disciplines, he introduced that at least 80% of the activities involved participation of scientists from China, Germany, the U. S. and Russia.
He suggested government to increase financial inputs to support long-term basic scientific research, strengthen fiscal and taxation policies to encourage enterprises to invest more R&D funds, stimulate social welfare funds to invest in scientific research, and apply the R&D transformation benefits to support the cultivation of scientific and technological professionals.
Wan Gang, vice chairman of the 13th National Committee of the CPPCC and president of CAST participates in an online circle table panel on November 8, 2020.
Schavan said that what makes science policy different from other sciences is that science policy is international. Science policy is a very good way to build bridges and a very good strategy to work in a way like diplomacy for trust. She advocated global exchanges and cooperation among young scientists.
Holdren said that policy makers should respect knowledge and understand that the crucial insights of science and technology are needed to drive away problems facing human society including public health, environment challenges and climate change. He stressed that soft decisions are based on evidence and research.
Fursenko said that the circle table communication helped get support from scientists from the EU and around the world as well at crucial moments that researchers, scientists and politicians need to work together to find scientific resolutions.
The panel also have discussions on topics including science policies help solve global challenges, communication among scientists, science strategists and policy-makers, evidence-based innovative solutions, international cooperation promotion, and young talents mobility.
Leading officials of the Department of International Affairs and the China Center for International Science and Technology Exchange (CISTE) of CAST attended the panel.
Tag: International affairs