When science builds bridges: European and Jordanian diplomats jointly learn science diplomacy
Science diplomacy means using research partnerships to bring countries closer together and to create opportunities for their people. Yet most diplomats are trained in economics, trade or consular work, and science rarely features. The seminar aimed to close that gap. By learning side by side, Jordanian and European diplomats built a shared vocabulary and aligned expectations.
Participants included officials from Jordan’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Expatriates and diplomats from European embassies in Jordan. They were joined by representatives from the EU Science Diplomacy Alliance, UNESCO, the Higher Council for Science and Technology, the Royal Scientific Society, Princess Sumaya University for Technology and the National Cyber Security Center, as well as alumni of the EU-Jordan programme with the College of Europe.
“Science diplomacy is a necessity to address all global challenges, from epidemic threats to climate change. It is the foundation of international scientific cooperation. Today's seminar aimed at informing Jordanian and European diplomats will bring answers to fundamental questions: when to debate but also when to step back and let science speak, just as scientists from 50 countries do every day at SESAME, a regional model for science diplomacy hosted by Jordan.” said H.E. Pierre-Christophe Chatzisavas, Ambassador of the European Union to Jordan.
“The pandemic showed that scientific breakthroughs alone cannot solve global challenges. It takes diplomacy to turn knowledge into collective action, and cooperation into real impact. At the Jordan Institute of Diplomacy, we equip diplomats with the insight and expertise to navigate the international questions raised by science and technology, to advance Jordan’s national interests, and to build the strategic partnerships that shape global solutions. In a world where scientific progress keeps redefining both our challenges and our possibilities, science diplomacy has never been more essential,” said H.E. Haifa Al-Khraisha, Director of the Jordan Institute of Diplomacy.
The seminar was built as a conversation between the two shores of the Mediterranean, with one real example from each side.
H.E. Dr. Khaled Toukan, Director of SESAME, presented the international laboratory hosted by Jordan near Allan. Operating like a super-microscope, SESAME emits intense synchrotron light to enable advanced research across diverse fields, from biomedical discoveries and new pharmaceuticals to cultural heritage preservation. “SESAME stands as a living testament to what science diplomacy can achieve when nations unite around a shared vision of knowledge and peace. Hosting this international centre in Jordan demonstrates how scientific excellence can transcend borders, foster mutual trust, and pave the way for sustainable innovation across the region and beyond”, he said.
Dr. Ursula Bassler, Director for Stakeholder Relations at CERN, described how Europe’s physics laboratory near Geneva, founded in 1954, brings researchers from many countries together. SESAME was built on a similar model, making the two a natural pair. ” “CERN was created to bring European countries together through science, and scientific collaboration became one of the cornerstones of building Europe. CERN and SESAME show what science diplomacy can achieve: countries building together what none could achieve alone, and sustaining that collaboration across borders and generations.”
A central focus of the discussions was expanding Jordan’s participation in Horizon Europe, the EU’s flagship framework programme for research and innovation. Horizon Europe enables universities, research institutions, and industrial partners across borders to jointly solve key global challenges in energy, health, climate resilience, and digital technologies.
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Jordan Supports Science Diplomacy with New PSUT Diploma for Future Leaders in Science and International Relations
Jordan has greatly enhanced its role in science diplomacy with the announcement of a new Diploma in Science Diplomacy to be taught at Princess Sumaya University for Technology (PSUT), during an orientation seminar bringing together Jordanian and European diplomats at the Landmark Conference Centre in Amman on 29 October 2026. The seminar explored how scientific knowledge, research partnerships and shared technological capabilities can strengthen international relations, support evidence-based policymaking and contribute to peace.