Science Diplomacy: Building Global Cooperation in a Contested Landscape
About this Event
The Institute for Advanced Studies at University Mohammed VI Polytechnic is pleased to announce the inaugural lecture of Dr. Mounia Benalil, Research Fellow in Residence at IAS UM6P.
Entitled Science Diplomacy: Building Global Cooperation in a Contested Landscape, the lecture will explore the evolving role of science diplomacy at the intersection of scientific collaboration and international relations, in a world increasingly shaped by geopolitical competition, technological sovereignty, and global challenges.
About the Lecture
Dr. Benalil will examine the transition from an earlier vision of science as a politically neutral enterprise to a post-naïve era in which scientific cooperation is increasingly influenced by strategic interests, security concerns, and geopolitical rivalry.
The lecture will address the tensions that shape today’s science diplomacy ecosystem, including cooperation versus competition, openness versus security, and excellence versus equity. It will also consider persistent challenges posed by North-South asymmetries, digital colonialism, gender inequality, and the dominance of Western knowledge systems.
Drawing on international case studies, the lecture advocates for a more inclusive and decolonized approach to science diplomacy grounded in cognitive justice and the recognition of diverse epistemologies. It concludes with practical recommendations for strengthening science-informed policymaking and fostering more equitable and sustainable international scientific cooperation, with particular relevance to Morocco and the African continent.
About the Speaker
Dr. Mounia Benalil is a Research and Development Advisor and Research Associate at the Observatoire de la francophonie économique at the Université de Montréal. She holds a Ph.D. in Intercultural Studies and Postcolonial Theory from the University of British Columbia and brings more than two decades of experience in fundamental and applied research on major societal issues.
Her residency at IAS UM6P aims to design and test an innovative science diplomacy framework tailored to Moroccan and African contexts, reinforcing the connection between scientific knowledge, public policy, and international cooperation.
Event Details
- Format: Inaugural Lecture / IAS Weekly Seminar
- Speaker: Dr. Mounia Benalil, Research Fellow in Residence, IAS UM6P
- Date: Wednesday, July 8, 2026
- Time: 11:00 AM
- Venue: Laâyoune Hall, Riad Center, UM6P Benguerir Campus