In a world increasingly shaped by geopolitical tensions, technological competition, and complex global challenges, universities are emerging as key actors in international relations. Against this backdrop, the University of Turin is launching a new cycle of events entitled “Science Diplomacy and the Transformation of the International Order”, opening a critical debate on the role of science and higher education in today’s rapidly evolving global landscape.
The series, promoted through the UniTO Hub on Science Diplomacy in collaboration with the Scuola di Studi Superiori Ferdinando Rossi, is organised in partnership with the Centro Studi sul Federalismo, the Movimento Studentesco per l’Organizzazione Internazionale, and the European University Alliance UNITA – Universitas Montium, highlighting the importance of collaborative and interdisciplinary approaches to global challenges.
The programme includes three events, scheduled for 18 and 25 May and 8 June 2026, each addressing a different dimension of science diplomacy: the international role of universities, science diplomacy in practice, and the challenges of cooperation and decolonisation within global knowledge systems.
The initiative reflects a broader strategic vision recently adopted by the University of Turin, which has identified science diplomacy as a key institutional priority. Science diplomacy not only means using scientific evidence to support political and diplomatic decisions, but also strengthening international cooperation through research, academic exchange, and dialogue among institutions.
The launch of the cycle comes at a particularly significant moment for the University of Turin, which recently joined the European Science Diplomacy Alliance, reinforcing its international engagement in this field.
By bringing together experts from academia, national institutions, and international organisations, the initiative aims to create an open space for discussion involving especially the student community. More than a traditional academic event, the cycle seeks to encourage critical reflection on how science can contribute to shaping the contemporary international order and addressing shared global challenges.
At a time when trust between nations is increasingly fragile, UniTo’s initiative sends a strong message: science and universities can still serve as common languages capable of fostering dialogue, cooperation, and mutual understanding across borders.
Check the full programme:
https://www.unito.it/sites/default/files/2026-04/program_cicloincontriITA.pdf
All meetings will take place in person at the University of Turin. To ensure broader accessibility and encourage continued discussion beyond the live events, recordings of the sessions will also be made available online afterwards, including through the UNITA website.
