Robbert Dijkgraaf's Vision for Science: Challenges and Priorities

At the conclusion of the interim meeting of the members of the International Council for Science (ICS) in Beijing, following the Beijing Scientific Dialogue, the new President of the Council, Robbert Dijkgraaf, presented the vision that will shape his presidency.

A speaker presenting at the 2020 ISC Midterm Members' Meeting, standing behind a podium with a blue background.

In this inaugural address marking the start of his term as President of the International Council for Science (ICS) at the Mid-Term Meeting of Members in Beijing, Robbert Dijkgraaf reflects on the pressures facing science in an increasingly fragmented world. He sets out his priorities: defending science as a global public good, strengthening international cooperation, integrating science into global politics, preparing the scientific community for future changes, including the rise of artificial intelligence, and building a scientific enterprise that makes room for everyone.

“Technology is making a big breakthrough. It’s exponential, and that can be scary. But we’ve never had so much insight or so much opportunity for science. When we look at global challenges, from the Sustainable Development Goals to climate change, oceans, inequality, poverty, and technology regulation, all of these need science to contribute.”

This is a remarkable time to be a scientist.

But it is also a difficult time. Political and societal pressures, from outside science and sometimes from within, limit academic freedom in many ways. Governments are increasingly focused on economic competitiveness and immediate results, often overlooking the transformative power of long-term research.

Much of scientific discovery takes place behind the walls of private companies, especially in the field of artificial intelligence (AI), but also in quantum technologies and biology. We talk about science as a public good, but a growing part of science is no longer public.

The social sciences and humanities are often overlooked, despite being vital to understanding how society absorbs and relates to technology.

The scientific cooperation we value so much is increasingly viewed through the lens of economic and national security threats. We are seeing increasing difficulties with visas and security protocols, and even standard research partnerships are being called into question.

The multilateral system itself is under pressure. Science is facing resistance, as is international cooperation.