IIASA is taking a leading role in promoting science diplomacy and fostering debates about how science can help build trust between nations and support foreign policies.
IIASA was established in 1972 with the aim to use scientific cooperation to build bridges across the Cold War divide and to jointly confront growing problems on an international scale. This was the result of US President Lyndon B. Johnson initiative to create such an international research organization, which found support from Soviet Prime Minister Alexey Kosygin. Negotiations took several years and led to the signature of IIASA Charter in London in 1972 by twelve founding National Member Organizations from Bulgaria, Canada, Czechoslovakia, East Germany, France, Italy, Japan, Poland, UK, USA, USSR and West Germany.
When the Cold War ended, IIASA broadened its mandate to achieve a greater global mandate. Today it continues to successfully provide scientific insight to policymakers worldwide by finding solutions to global problems through applied systems analysis. Building on its strengths, and within its overall research framework, IIASA delivers impact globally and to its member countries by helping them to strengthen bilateral and multilateral relations through science diplomacy and through scientific input to international negotiations.
With global problems becoming more complex and the world more divided, the concept of science diplomacy gained new traction. Science diplomacy is seen as a tool to foster relations between nations and as scientific support to foreign policies. Science diplomacy helps to ensure that foreign policies, as well as global policy efforts, remain informed by scientific evidence.
News
14 June 2024
IIASA Leadership visits Washington DC
In May, IIASA Director General John Schellnhuber and Head of Communications and External Relations Barbara Kreissler traveled to Washington DC for a series of meetings with members of the US IIASA Committee and other key stakeholders. The trip aimed to strengthen relationships and explore new opportunities for collaboration.
23 April 2024
US Permanent Representative to International Organizations in Vienna visits IIASA
H.E. Ambassador Laura Holgate, US Permanent Representative to International Organizations in Vienna, met with IIASA Director General John Schellnhuber to discuss advancing collaboration on leveraging systems analysis for the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). The visit strengthened ties between IIASA and the US, emphasizing a commitment to interdisciplinary collaboration and knowledge exchange for informed decision making.
07 March 2024
Advancing European Science Diplomacy: Co-creation Workshop at IIASA
From 6-7 March, the European Union Science Diplomacy Working Group 4 on building capacity for European science diplomacy convened for a two-day co-creation workshop hosted by IIASA and the Diplomatic Academy in Vienna.
Events
Articles
27 June 2024
Improving national SDG reporting through citizen science
Working with IIASA researchers, Ghana pioneered the adoption of a citizen science approach to address the problem of plastic pollution in marine environments. Further analysis highlighted how a similar citizen science data validation and reporting process can benefit reporting on the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) in other countries.
27 June 2024
IIASA analysis underpins the European Commission’s 2040 climate target recommendation
IIASA researchers played a central role in the European Commission’s recommendation for the 2040 climate target, from delivering the scientific foundation and establishing dialogue with the community, to being among the renowned scientists selected as members of the European Scientific Advisory Board on Climate Change.
11 November 2023
The IIASA Flagship Report: Illuminating the path to sustainable wellbeing
Options Magazine, Winter 2023: Looking back and moving forward: Systems analysis for sustainable wellbeing. 50 years of IIASA research, 40 years after the Brundtland Commission, and contributing to the post‑2030 global agenda.
