Science seen as key to tackling global challenges

Science and technology are immensely important for addressing shared global challenges and achieving the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals, especially in a world where geopolitical tensions are rising, said experts at a global forum in Beijing on Monday.

"Humanity's most pressing challenges — whether it's climate change, biodiversity loss, a pandemic, the health of our oceans and polar regions, or the regulation of technology for humanity's benefit — all demand worldwide cooperation," said Robbert Dijkgraaf, president-elect of the International Science Council, a nongovernmental international organization that provides scientific assessments and policy advice to the UN and global policymaking.

"Without access to global data and expertise, we cannot understand these problems, let alone address them seriously," he said, noting that science is a global public good from which all people can benefit.

Converging force

Dijkgraaf stressed that science is one of the few converging forces in a fragmented world. "Scientists occupy what I might call the second ring of geopolitics — close enough to influence decisions, yet sufficiently independent to maintain relationships. When formal diplomacy becomes difficult, we might have less political power, but we have more freedom to act," he added.

The remarks were made at the opening ceremony of the 2026 International Science Council Midterm Members' Meeting and Beijing Science Dialogue. Themed "Science in a Complex World, Science for a Better Future", the five-day event has attracted more than 1,200 delegates from over 80 countries and regions.

Irina Bokova, former director-general of UNESCO, echoed Dijkgraaf's views, highlighting that scientific collaboration is "one of the conditions for making multilateralism work".

"China is emerging as a strong supporter of the UN and multilateralism. China is promoting the equally important role science plays in the global governance agenda," she said, praising China's ambition to tackle core technologies and accelerate industrial application of results in basic research over the next five years.

Brian Schmidt, a 2011 Nobel Laureate in Physics and former president of the Australian National University, mentioned that the astronomy link between Australian and Chinese scientists began in 1963, when there were no diplomatic ties between the two countries. "This act was permitted by both sides and ended up opening the door to Sino-Australian collaboration that has blossomed ever since," he said.

"We should responsibly work together on science wherever we can. This cooperation might focus on global sustainability issues, but bottom-up work in any area of science also needs to be encouraged," he added.

Pan Jianwei, a professor at the University of Science and Technology of China, said that "international academic exchange and cooperation are important drivers of scientific development", encouraging all parties to proactively integrate into the global innovation network and deepen international exchanges and cooperation in basic research.

"China's economic strength and scientific research capabilities have risen significantly thanks to reform and opening-up over the past five decades. The country has both the responsibility and capacity to make its own important contributions to human scientific progress," he added.