International academic pep in three acts – Young Academy of Sweden present in Copenhagen and Bern

ALLEA General Assembly – Copenhagen 3–4 June

ALLEA, which brings together Europe’s academies, held its annual general assembly hosted by the The Royal Danish Academy of Sciences and Letters. The theme for this year’s scientific symposium was Europe and the Arctic: Science and Diplomacy, focusing on the Arctic as an arena for climate research, security policy, and international cooperation. Our delegate Adel Daoud participated along with member Sara Tanderup Linkis and CEO Sverker Lundin. The discussions included the role of science in a changing geopolitical landscape – not least considering Russia’s war against Ukraine. Academic freedom and reforming research evaluation were also high on the agenda.

YASAS General Assembly – Bern 5 June (morning)

After the meeting in Copenhagen, it was off to Switzerland for some other members, where YASAS – the European network for young academies’ policy advice – held its general assembly. YASAS has, in just five years, become an important player in the European science-for-policy landscape and is now one of six partners in SAPEA, the EU Commission’s scientific advisory structure. Young Academy of Sweden’s delegation consisted of Yaffa Epstein (delegate), Janina Seubert, and Sverker Lundin. During the meeting, Noel de Miranda from the Young Academy in the Netherlands, De Jonge Akademie, was elected as the new chair. There is a strong interest in broadening participation in scientific advice for policy, and YASAS is growing in size and influence.

ENYA Meeting – Bern 5–6 June

On the same day, 5 June, the ENYA meeting kicked off – an annual networking meeting for Europe’s young academies. The Swiss young academy hosted, and the theme was science diplomacy. 24 young academies participated, and the Young Academy of Sweden contributed in several ways. Yaffa Epstein and Janina Seubert led a workshop on how Stockholm Charter for Academic Freedom (developed at the ENYA meeting in Stockholm 2023) can become more than a declaration. What could implementation look like in practice? The workshop sparked significant interest, and the charter was mentioned in other workshops as well. The presentation of our experiences in science diplomacy also provided perspectives for the subsequent panel discussion on what science diplomacy is and isn’t. And as always, ENYA offered plenty of meetings, idea exchanges, and future plans – from climate workshops to discussions about academic headwinds in Europe.

International collaboration among young researchers is not only inspiring – it is absolutely vital. Young Academy of Sweden is proud to be an active part of these European communities that are shaping the future of research and its role in society.

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