International research cooperation has led to some of the most important scientific discoveries and technical advances from the Higgs particle to a vaccine for COVID-19. However, increasing barriers to international partnerships in science and technology due to geopolitical tensions threaten to dismantle one of the most significant achievements of the postwar era – our ability to bring scientific communities together across geopolitical lines – at a time when collaboration is most urgently needed.

The second edition of the Transatlantic Big Science Conference will be held in Berlin, Germany from 27-28 June 2024 and will bring together scientists, policy makers, and thought leaders from across the globe to enhance transatlantic cooperation in research and technology and set the groundwork for common research policies.

Panel discussions and thematic tables during the conference will focus on the most pressing issues facing the scientific community such as the impact climate change, governance of Artificial Intelligence (AI) and the use of laser fusion and novel accelerators. Renowned experts will also discuss science diplomacy, fostering cooperation with the Global South, and the importance of open science.

The African Academy of Sciences will participate in The Transatlantic Big Science Conference and will highlight the importance of empowering research collaborations across national boundaries. AAS President Professor Lise Korsten will be a panellist in the Science, Society and International Collaborations Session which focuses on four key areas:
1.    Need for transatlantic science diplomacy.
2.    Fostering global collaborations.
3.    Empowering the future generations; Diversity, equity and inclusion.
4.    Communications challenges; public engagement.

Prof Korsten will delve into the importance of fostering global collaborations and highlight the unique challenges and opportunities that exist in Africa. This includes investing in infrastructure, strengthening research capacity, and promoting equitable partnerships that recognize and value African knowledge systems and contributions.

For more information on the Transatlantic Big Science Conference 2024  click here..