Briefings for diplomats
Scientific and technological developments are reshaping societies, economies and ecosystems, increasing the need for access to scientific expertise for decision makers who are shaping policy frameworks at the multilateral level. Diplomats also need spaces where they can exchange with trusted experts, particularly on frontier developments such as artificial intelligence, synthetic biology and deep-sea mining, before they shape the rules being negotiated around them.
The Geneva Science-Policy Interface (GSPI) and the United Nations University Centre for Policy Research (UNU-CPR) respond to this need through Trusted Spaces for Science, Technology and Diplomacy. This joint initiative brings Geneva-based diplomats, international scientists and UN staff together in carefully curated, informal briefings that foster mutual understanding and prepare multilateral actors for the future.
Our approach
- Identifying issues: Building on the work of the UN Secretary-General’s Scientific Advisory Board, particularly its Science Briefs, to identify scientific issues of relevance to the Geneva diplomatic agenda
- Preparing experts: Identifying experts and helping them present complex science in ways a policy audience can use
- Convening diplomats: Bringing diplomats together in a neutral and trusted space for informal dialogue on how the latest scientific and technological innovations may affect their policy area
- Connecting science and diplomacy: Offering scientists a direct pathway into diplomatic processes
- Fostering mutual learning: Creating an opportunity for researchers to gain experience presenting to diplomats and for diplomats to gain early insight into developments that may affect their work
Our partnership
The initiative combines UNU-CPR’s engagement with UN processes and the UN Scientific Advisory Board with the GSPI’s expertise in science-policy dialogue. By connecting this expertise with the UN system in Geneva, the initiative supports the integration of evidence into multilateral problem-solving and strengthens Geneva’s role as a hub for science-policy collaboration, drawing on the city’s ecosystem of international organisations, academic institutions, NGOs and diplomatic missions.
Events
Participation is by invitation only. Member State representatives interested in participating are invited to contact melissa.gomis@unige.ch
Upcoming briefings
11 November 2026, Green Chemistry and the Future of Sustainable Industry (link not yet available)
Past briefings
8 October 2026, Environmental and Resource Implications of Deep-Sea Mining
23 June 2026, Guardrailing AI: What Verification Entails for Frontier AI Models
9 June 2026, When AI Misleads: Managing Deceptive Capabilities in Advanced Systems
16 March 2026, Carbon Dioxide Removal in the Post COP30 Landscape
4 December 2025, The Quantum Leap and What It Means for Health Systems
21 November 2025, Neurotechnology and Its Implications for Health and Human Rights
29 October 2025, Synthetic Biology In the lead up to COP30: Synthetic Biology for Low-Carbon Fuels and Industrial Materials
24 June 2025, Health and Security Implications of Synthetic Biology
Community gatherings
In addition to the science-policy briefings for diplomats, the GSPI and UNU-CPR convene Geneva’s broader science-policy community, bringing together practitioners from international organisations, research institutions and civil society. These gatherings are informal, off-the-record spaces to connect, share current work and identify opportunities for collaboration across Geneva’s science-policy ecosystem.