Block I.
Online
26 to 30 October 2026
Lectures and debates with international experts: the EU and the MENA region, decolonial perspectives, science advice, evidence in negotiations, research security, AI governance.
Institute for Advanced Studies, University Mohammed VI Polytechnic
Ref. IAS/FS/2026-01
Benguerir, October 2026
Benguerir, October 2026
The Fall School of
ScienceDiplomacy
2026
Preamble.
Science and scientific diplomacy in Africa: rethinking sovereignty. A training programme of the Institute for Advanced Studies, University Mohammed VI Polytechnic, led by Dr. Mounia Benalil. Two online blocks with 20 international experts, then five days in Benguerir to negotiate an African Charter for Open Science.
- 20
- experts from Africa, Europe and the Americas
- 2
- online blocks, 26 to 30 Oct. and 9 to 13 Nov.
- 5
- days of simulation in person at UM6P Benguerir
- 15 to 20
- participants, open to every UM6P department
The programme.
Three parts, one question: how can science help Africa govern its own knowledge?
Block II.
Online
9 to 13 November 2026
Emerging countries, scientific sovereignty, the Global South and AI, ocean governance, public diplomacy and soft power, coercive and science diplomacy.
Simulation.
In person
30 November to 4 December 2026
At UM6P Benguerir, delegations negotiate an African Charter for Open Science, led by Prof. Marie Fall (UQAC).
Who can apply.
Every department
Apply by 20 October 2026
UM6P doctoral students, researchers and early-career staff of every department, and a few external participants. No diplomacy background required. Working languages: English and French.
Each session pairs a 30 to 40 minute talk with 30 to 45 minutes of discussion. All times are Morocco time (UTC, Casablanca). Participants are invited to submit a written contribution by 30 January 2027 for the Impact Summary Report, published by UM6P Press in spring 2027.
Speakers.
20 experts from Africa, Europe and the Americas
From the European Commission, UNITAR, CSIR, CINVESTAV, Université Laval, HEC Montréal, the Fonds de recherche du Québec and more.
Schedule.
Ten days online, session by session
26 October10:00-10:30 Morocco
Welcoming remarks
Dr. Mounia BenalilResearch Fellow in Residence & Lead of the Science Diplomacy Programme at IAS UM6P
26 October11:00-13:00 Morocco
European Union Science Diplomacy and Research Cooperation with the MENA Region
A panel on the EU's Global Approach, research and innovation priorities for the MENA region, and practical science-policy cooperation.
Dr. Jan Marco MüllerTeam Leader, Global Approach, Multilateral Dialogue and Science Diplomacy, European Commission
Alessandro CalabròMENA Policy Officer, European Commission
26 October14:00-15:30 Morocco
De la sécurité humaine à la décolonisation : inflation conceptuelle et résistances structurelles dans les organisations internationales
Prof. François AudetProfessor and Director, Institut d’études internationales de Montréal (IEIM); Canadian Observatory on Crises and Humanitarian Action (OCCAH)
26 October17:00-18:30 Morocco
Building local capacities at the science-policy interface: training programmes, fellowship schemes, and transferable practices for the Global South
Prof. Alma Cristal Hernandez MondragonCo-founder, Asociación Mexicana para el Avance de la Ciencia (AMEXAC); Professor, CINVESTAV
27 October12:00-13:30 Morocco
Science Diplomacy: Imperialist Pasts, Enduring Asymmetries, and Decolonial Possibilities
Dr. Daniel Gamito-MarquesAssistant Professor, NOVA School of Science and Technology; Vice-President, Commission on Science, Technology, and Diplomacy (STAND)
27 October15:00-16:30 Morocco
La science et l’utilisation de données probantes dans les négociations internationales
Prof. Stéphane PaquinProfessor, Jarislowsky Chair in Trust and Political Leadership, École nationale d’administration publique (ENAP), Montréal
28 October15:00-16:30 Morocco
Two sides of the same coin? On the relationship between science diplomacy and research security
Prof. Anna-Lena RülandProfessor, Research Chair in Science Diplomacy, Université Laval, Faculty of Social Sciences
29 October15:00-16:30 Morocco
Education-Research-Leadership Triangulation: Insights for Science Diplomacy
Prof. Paul Arthur BerkmanProfessor and Founding Director, Science Diplomacy Center; Fellow, International Science Council; Faculty Associate, Harvard Law School
30 October10:00-11:30 Morocco
From Projects to Partnerships: A Practitioner’s View on EU-Funded Scientific Diplomacy
Emilia SanninoInternational Relations and Crowdfunding Specialist, Università degli Studi di Torino
30 October14:00-15:30 Morocco
Gouverner l’intelligence artificielle par la diplomatie scientifique : émergence, déploiement et perspectives
Dr. Gaëlle FoucaultIVADO Postdoctoral Researcher and Lecturer, Chair in Science Diplomacy and Global AI Governance, Université de Montréal
30 October16:00-17:30 Morocco
La diplomatie à l’ère du retour de la souveraineté : entre économie, sécurité et science
Dr. Laurent BorzilloPostdoctoral Researcher in Political Science, Network for Strategic Analysis (RAS/NSA); Founder, Forum de Défense et de Stratégie
9 November13:00-14:30 Morocco
La diplomatie scientifique dans les pays émergents : politiques de science, technologie et innovation et stratégies de développement au Brésil et en Afrique du Sud
Amabilly BonacinaDoctoral Candidate, Department of Political Science, Université de Montréal
9 November15:00-16:30 Morocco
Le fragile équilibre entre coopération scientifique et souveraineté scientifique
Prof. Michel AudetProfessor, HEC Montréal; Centre for International Studies and Research (CÉRIUM)
10 November13:00-14:30 Morocco
AI Governance, Science Diplomacy, and the Global South: Power, Participation, and Emerging Technologies
Dr. Bupe ChikumbiScience Director, The Science Diplomat; Genius Education Zambia
10 November15:00-16:30 Morocco
Diplomatie scientifique et gouvernance des océans : entre innovations juridiques et défis de mise en œuvre des régimes internationaux
Valériane Thool, LL.DCoordinator, Research Chair on Sustainable, Responsible & Inclusive Trade Law, Université de Sherbrooke
11 November15:00-16:30 Morocco
Shaping Inclusive Global Futures: Africa, Science Diplomacy, and Emerging Technologies
Hunadi MokgalakaSteering Committee Member, Science Diplomacy Capital for Africa; Specialist, CSIR
12 November13:00-14:30 Morocco
Public Diplomacy, Soft Power, and Influence: Rethinking Strategy in the Age of Global Media
Prof. Elizabeth ColtonDiplomat and Professor of Diplomacy & Communications, UNITAR and International Universities & Diplomatic Institutes
12 November15:00-16:30 Morocco
Le Réseau en diplomatie scientifique : une initiative du Québec
Laurent CorbeilStrategic Advisor for International Affairs, Fonds de recherche du Québec (FRQ)
13 November14:00-15:30 Morocco
Between Pressure and Persuasion: Recalibrating Coercive and Science Diplomacy for Sovereign Knowledge
Hind MouslimJurist, Laboratory of Constitutional Studies and Analysis of Crises and Policies, Faculty of Legal, Economic and Social Sciences of Marrakech
13 November17:00-17:30 Morocco
Closing remarks
Dr. Mounia BenalilResearch Fellow in Residence & Lead of the Science Diplomacy Programme at IAS UM6P
The simulation.
Negotiate an African Charter for Open Science.
30 November to 4 December 2026, in person at UM6P Benguerir
For five days, participants become national delegations. Scientific evidence shapes their positions; negotiation turns it into text. The exercise is led by Prof. Marie Fall (Université du Québec à Chicoutimi), lead facilitator of the immersive diplomatic simulation.
How to apply.
Applications close on 20 October 2026
- Fill in the online form. About ten minutes: your background, your motivation and your availability.
- Attach your academic CV. PDF or Word, two pages at most.
- Hear back from the IAS team. Selected participants are contacted after the deadline. Limited places: 15 to 20 participants.
Selected participants take part in all three parts: Block I, Block II and the simulation in Benguerir. A certificate of participation is awarded at the end of the programme. Questions: ias@um6p.ma.
Where it started.
The Science Diplomacy Learning Lab, 8 July to 30 September 2026
The first Science Diplomacy Learning Lab hosted at a Moroccan university brought a cohort of UM6P doctoral students and early-career researchers into direct dialogue with practitioners and scholars of science diplomacy. Select any session to read what was presented and discussed.
A shared vocabulary
Participants worked with the reference frameworks of the field (science in diplomacy, diplomacy for science, science for diplomacy, diplomacy in science) and with a critical reading of who defines them, from a Global South and African perspective.
Real cases, from Rabat to the UN
Morocco's evidence-based diplomacy at the UN, Canada's Science Meets Parliament, the UN Secretary-General's Scientific Advisory Board, ICESCO's South-South computing initiative, Sri Lanka's national approach and African women's scientific leadership in times of crisis.
Skills for the science-policy interface
Translating evidence for decision-makers, communicating research in plain language, understanding how governments and international organisations work, and building relationships before they are needed.
Next: the Fall School
The full cohort continues into the Fall School on 26 October, where these foundations are deepened around science, sovereignty and knowledge governance in Africa, before being put into practice in the immersive diplomatic simulation at UM6P Benguerir. The Learning Lab presentations also feed the Impact Summary Report published by UM6P Press in Spring 2027.
8 July · 11:00-12:30 · In-person
Dr Mounia Benalil
Science Diplomacy Research Fellow in Residence, Institute for Advanced Studies (IAS), UM6P Benguerir
La diplomatie scientifique : Construire la collaboration mondiale dans un champ contesté
View session recap
9 July · 14:00-15:30 · Online
Dr. Lesley Masters
Nottingham Trent University / UJ / Loughborough London
The International Geopolitics of Science Diplomacy
View session recap
23 July · 11:00-13:00 · In-person
Prof. Yasmine Hasnaoui
ESEF, Hassan I University, Settat-Morocco
Science, Evidence, and Diplomacy: Morocco at the UN
View session recap
29 July · 15:00-16:30 · Online
Mr. Mehrdad Hariri
Founder, CEO & President, Canadian Science Policy Centre | Senior Fellow, Institute for Science, Society and Policy, University of Ottawa
Lessons from Science Meets Parliament for Africa and the Global South
View session recap
12 August · 14:00-15:30 · Online
Mme Madeleine Hamel
Project Lead - Science & Technology, UNU-CPR
La science dans les processus de prise de décision mondiaux
View session recap
11 September · 15:00-16:30 · Online
Prof. Stéphane Paquin
Chaire Jarislowsky sur la confiance et le leadership politique, ENAP | UQTR | Directeur GERIQ & CEIM
Fondements et pratique de la diplomatie
View session recap
14 September · 11:00-13:00 · Online
Prof. Khalid R. Temsamani
University Abdelmalek Essaadi | Vice-Chair IFBA
Rôle des universités dans la diplomatie scientifique
View session recap
14 September · 15:00-16:30 · In-person
Prof. Mahmoud El Hassouni
Head of EGDI Research Team at SUP MTI Rabat
Diplomatie, soft power et proximité culturelle
View session recap
16 September · 11:00-13:00 · In-person
Dr. Issam Krimi
Head of Innovation and Creativity Dept and Science Diplomat ICESCO
Beyond Borders: Science Diplomacy as a Mechanism for More Effective South-South Cooperation
View session recap
17 September · 13:00-14:30 · Online
Dr. Dikabo Mogopodi
Vice President OWSD Botswana Chapter | Aphrike Research President
African women scientists drive science diplomacy
View session recap
24 September · 11:00-12:30 · Online
Mme Thilinakumari Kandanamulla
National Science Foundation, Sri Lanka
Science Diplomacy: national & regional approaches
View session recap30 September · 13:00-15:00 · Online
Masterclass: African Women Scientists Driving Science Diplomacy in Times of Crisis
Dr. Jackie Kado
Executive Director, NASAC
Prof. Françoise Driver
Chair of African Studies, UoM
Masterclass: African Women Scientists Driving Science Diplomacy in Times of Crisis
View session recapKey dates.
From the first session to the publication
- 8 July 2026Learning Lab, opening session
- 30 September 2026Learning Lab, final session
- 20 October 2026Applications close Apply
- 26 to 30 October 2026Fall School, Block I, online
- 9 to 13 November 2026Fall School, Block II, online
- 30 November to 4 December 2026Immersive diplomatic simulation at UM6P Benguerir
- 30 January 2027Written contributions due
- Spring 2027Impact Summary Report, UM6P Press
Programme Lead.
Dr. Mounia Benalil
Research Fellow in Residence & Lead of the Science Diplomacy Programme at IAS UM6P
Dr. Mounia Benalil is a scholar-practitioner based in Montréal (Canada), working at the intersection of science diplomacy, research governance and the politics of knowledge. She holds a doctorate in Intercultural Studies and brings more than twenty years of experience spanning academic research, public administration and multi-stakeholder consultation. The programme she leads is a pan-African initiative organised around the question of how sovereignty is exercised in the governance of knowledge, and the first of its kind within a Moroccan university.
In the Fall School, she opens Block I on 26 October and closes Block II on 13 November. She led the Learning Lab from July to September. Prof. Marie Fall (UQAC) leads the simulation.
Fall School of Science Diplomacy 2026: applications close on 20 October
Apply
Session recap