The Arctic: Challenges for Science Diplomacy
2nd Edition of the International School of Science Diplomacy
Ettore Majorana Foundation and Centre for Scientific Culture,
Erice (TP) – Italy, 4th – 10th October 2026
Programme
(Vers. 9 April 2026 subject to change)
Sunday, 4th October 2026
| PM | Participants Arrival | |
| 19:00 | 21:30 |
Course presentation/Ice breaker and Welcome Dinner A memory of Prof. Antonio Zichichi, practitioner of Science diplomacy |
Monday, 5th October 2026
Science Diplomacy: History, Visions and Perspectives
| 09:00 | 09:45 |
Welcome from School Directors:
Prof. David Burigana (University of Padua), Dr. Virginia Coda Nunziante (National Research Council of Italy),
Prof. Pascal Griset (Sorbonne University and University of Ottawa), Lieutenant General Stefano Mannino
(Centre for Defense Higher Studies), Ambassador Umberto Vattani (Venice International University)
Institutional welcome greetings: Prof. Andrea Lenzi (President of National Research Council), Ambassador Mauro Battocchi (Director General-Directorate General for Growth and Export Promotion – MAECI) TBC |
| 09:45 | 10:30 | The dual nature of science diplomacy, Pierre-Bruno Ruffini (Université Nord La Havre-Normandie) |
| 10:30 | 11:00 | Coffee Break |
| 11:00 | 11:45 |
Science diplomacy in History,
Léonard Laborie (CNRS – Paris)
Focus on Arctic and Italy: an operational History, David Burigana (University of Padua) |
| 11:45 | 12:15 | Discussion |
| 12:15 | 13:00 |
Round Table: Europe-Canada and Science diplomacy
Currently being organized Moderator: Pascal Griset (Sorbonne University and University of Ottawa) Speakers: Costanza Conti (Italian Scientific Attaché in Canada) |
| 13:00 | 13:30 | Discussion |
| 13:30 | 15:30 | Lunch and break |
| 15:30 | 18:30 | Wargaming activities: “Science & Diplomacy in the Arctic” |
| 20:00 | Dinner | |
| 21:30 | 22:30 | Book Nook: Embrangled Science Diplomacy. A history of challenges and failures. Actors, dynamics, arenas, diplomatic objects since the 1960s, edited by D. Burigana and L. Laborie, discussed by Daniele Pasquinucci (University of Siena) President of SiSi (Società italiana di Storia internazionale) |
Tuesday, 6th October 2026
Arctic: Science, Geopolitics and Cooperation
| 09:00 | 10:05 | Space and the Arctic Region, Roberto Battiston (University of Trento) |
| 10:05 | 11:10 | The Italian model of civil-military cooperation in the poles, Carlo Di Somma (Italian Join Steering Committee for the Arctic, Sub Arctic and Antarctic Environment) |
| 11:10 | 11:40 | Coffee Break |
| 11:40 | 12:45 | Borealis mud volcano in the Arctic: when science demands diplomacy, Giuliana Panieri (Institute of Polar Science – CNR) |
| 13:30 | 15:30 | Lunch and break |
| 15:30 | 18:30 | Wargaming activities: “Science & Diplomacy in the Arctic” |
| 20:00 | Dinner |
Wednesday, 7th October 2026
| 08:30 | 15:00 | Excursion: Archeological Site, Segesta |
| 15:30 | 18:30 | Wargaming activities: “Science & Diplomacy in the Arctic” |
| 20:00 | Dinner |
Thursday, 8th October 2026
Polar Region and Strategic Routes
| 09:00 | 10:05 | Italian Navy High North program, Maurizio Demarte (Marine Geophysics and Geometoc Dept., Italian Navy), Roberta Ivaldi (Italian Hydrographic Institute) |
| 10:05 | 11:10 | Research programmes and national strategy documents for the Arctic policies of the Nordic countries, Augusto Marcelli (Italian Scientific Attaché in Sweden) |
| 11:10 | 11:40 | Coffee Break |
| 11:40 | 12:45 | Greenland’s mineral resources and the semiconductor industry’s materials supply chain. A problem for science, technology and diplomacy, Alessandro Paccagnella (University of Padua) |
| 13:30 | 15:30 | Lunch and break |
| 15:30 | 18:30 | Wargaming activities: “Science & Diplomacy in the Arctic” |
| 20:00 | Dinner |
Friday, 9th October 2026
Global Science Diplomacy and Future Challenges
| 09:00 | 10:05 | The Arctic in the Era of Global Change, Florian Vidal (The Arctic University of Norway) |
| 10:05 | 11:10 | Building a European Union framework for science diplomacy, Jan Marco Mueller (Science Diplomacy and Multilateral Relations, EC, DG Research and Innovation) |
| 11:10 | 11:40 | Coffee Break |
| 11:40 | 13:15 |
Round Table: Schools and International Projects on Science Diplomacy in Dialogue Moderator: Francesca Tolve (National Research Council of Italy) Speakers: Marcel Knobel (The World Academy of Sciences – TWAS), Emanuela Colombo (Politecnico di Milano), Elke Dall (Centre for Social Innovation – ZSI, Austria), Alessandro Lombardo (Executive Secretariat of the Central European Initiative – CEI) |
| 13:30 | 15:30 | Lunch and break |
| 15:30 | 18:00 | Round Table among Students – Coordinator: Marco Ferrazzoli (Press Office – Italian Presidency of the Council of Ministers) |
| 18:00 | 18:45 | Closing Ceremony (Attendance certificate, Group photo, Course evaluation form) |
| 20:00 | Gala Dinner |
Saturday, 10th October 2026
| 9:00 | 9:30 | Departure (leave the room by 9.30 am) |
