COVID-19 is a global health issue and while it continues to plague the world, it underscores the need for getting countries together as well as bringing science and diplomacy. The importance of science in making decisions on our shared concerns as a global community cannot be underestimated as we have more chances of addressing our common challenges if we amplify the scientific voices when we engage with our neighbors and as we deal with the pandemic in the country. Science diplomacy, during the Madrid Declaration on Science Diplomacy facilitated by S4D4C, is taken “as a series of practices at the intersection of science, technology and foreign policy.” While there is no single definition for this concept and is not new, it is important to recognize the increasing role and relevance of science in world politics. Scientists provide critical contributions in ensuring decisions are data-driven and evidence-based as we tackle dilemmas across countries. Moreover, scientists have the ability to monitor and provide advice to policy actions in the international arena.

My former Professor Luk Van Langenhove, former Director of the United Nations University (UNU-CRIS) in Bruges, stated that we are in a new era of multilateralism where we have indicators of success in meeting global goals against global problems and where the science and tech community fully participate in. The synergy of science and diplomacy is indispensable in order for an informed and coordinated strategy to reach, for example, the Sustainable Development Goals.

H.E. Ambassador Driesmans, EU Ambassador to ASEAN remarked that, “COVID-19 has shown us that international collaboration in the field of research is now more crucial than ever. No country, no region can tackle these challenges alone. This is a principle that the research community has always known.” He said this during the launch of the EU’s Research & Innovation Programme ‘Horizon Europe’ in ASEAN held virtually last July. Horizon Europe is the EU’s key research and innovation program which aims for the creation and improvement of sharing excellent knowledge and technologies. The event organized by the EURAXESS ASEAN and supported by the European Commission attracted over 600 researchers from 47 countries in ASEAN, the European Union and beyond. The program, with an overall budget of €95.5 billion will run from 2021-2027, is designed to focus on some of the world’s biggest challenges, from cancer and climate change, food security,green and digital transformation, etc. The program offers researchers in ASEAN the possibility to collaborate with large European projects, as well as to apply for generous grants available to researchers who wish to conduct their work in Europe. It also presents opportunities for entrepreneurs and innovators.

Speaking in the same event, H.E. Ambassador Singh, Deputy Secretary-General for ASEAN Economic Community shared that, “the future of ASEAN depends on how effectively we marshal our collective knowledge, our expertise and our resources to deal with all these challenges moving forward.”

In her Keynote Speech, Ms Nienke BUISMAN, Head of Unit, Directorate-General for Research and Innovation, Global Approach & International Partnerships, European Commission emphasized that “closer global collaboration in research and innovation means that we will be stronger in jointly finding solutions to societal challenges such as climate change, pandemics, the digital transition and aging societies. For the EU international collaboration in research and innovation is a key priority.”

Partnerships and multinational cooperation especially on areas of great interest to foreign policy such as global health, the environment, security would benefit greatly from scientists and researchers. The convergence of science and diplomacy needs to be strengthened as we collectively respond to end the crisis we are in and as we move forward to build a stronger, healthier and better world together.

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Dr. Jenny Lind Elmaco is Regional Coordinator of EURAXESS Worldwide, an initiative supported by the European Commission to promote international research collaboration. She is the Vice Chair for Asia Pacific of the Global Women Inventors and Innovators Network and received the Marie Curie Social Impact Award recently.

Full details of the Horizon Europe event including agenda, speakers’ details and event recordings are available on the EURAXESS ASEAN website.

https://euraxess.ec.europa.eu/worldwide/asean/horizon-europe-launch-event-asean-information-partnering-brokerage and https://euraxess.ec.europa.eu/worldwide/asean/horizon-europe-launch-event-virtual-partnering-brokerage-asean-draws-600-people

By Victoria “NIKE” De Dios

Once again, the Filipino’s ingenuity will always shine wherever he or she will be and this has been recently proven when a Filipina scientist-researcher made her mark along with other intelligent, innovative, and co-creative fellows in the Marie Curie Alumni Association.

Dr. Jenny Lind Elmaco, Scientist-Researcher was awarded by the Marie Curie Alumni Association with Marie Curie Social Impact Award.

Speaking to THEPHILBIZNEWS, Dr. Jenny Lind Elmaco underscored that the recognition she received goes beyond herself.

“This (award) is just not for me or about me. But also an honor for our country and fellow Filipinos around the world. I hope that amidst the negative news we read every day, this will inspire our Kababayans,” Dr. Elmaco said.

The unassuming Scientist-Researcher is very optimistic that many Filipinos will also make their marks in these challenging times.

“The pandemic is here, and that does not mean we will fall into a trap of being helpless and embrace a defeatist attitude. We are blessed because we are still alive. This means we have a mission to fulfill. It doesn’t matter if it is a small accomplishment, what matters if we keep on trying and never give. Making a difference doesn’t mean doing great things, but doing our share to make a positive impact in our small ways,” Dr. Elmaco shared.

Dr. Elmaco has an impressive academic records. She not only a Marie Curie Scholar but also a scholar of the prestigious Erasmus Mundus Scholarship Program. She completed her Ph.D. at Spain’s Universidad Complutense de Madrid and one of the oldest universities in the world. She graduated with a ‘Sobresaliente Cum Laude” grade (excellent with honors).

Recently Dr. Elmaco was appointed as Vice-Chair of the Asia Pacific Women Inventors and Innovators Network. Apart from Marie Curie Scholarship, she is also an alumna of the Erasmus Mundus Scholarship.

“I hope that this will encourage more Filipinas to pursue scientific careers and to also intertwine their work with societal impact,” she continued.

“The Marie Curie Alumni Association is a community of some of the best scientific minds from all over the world and I am truly honored and grateful for giving me this recognition — the Marie Curie Social Impact Award,” Elmaco said.

“As background, the Marie Curie Social Impact Award is given to reward a fellow/former awardee whose activity has a positive social impact. The Marie Skłodowska-Curie Actions is Europe’s most competitive and prestigious research and innovation fellowships. This is in honor of Marie Skłodowska-Curie is the Polish-French namesake of the programme and was the first female Nobel prize winner. The only person to win a Nobel Prize for contributions in two different sciences (physics and chemistry), she was also the first — and the only woman to have been awarded a Nobel Prize twice,” she explained.

“For me, to get to how I am now and how I value intertwining passion and purpose and principle-centered leadership is not something I did on my own. I am a product of great mentors and amazing friends from all over the world, and a supportive family. I am also a result of learnings and unlearnings, of sometimes bitter lessons, of loss, of honest conversations of my limitations and several battles with my inner thoughts, of searching and longing to find my place in this vast world. I’ve been caught in ditches and brushed myself off from tumbles and stumbles,” Dr. Lind added.