Multilateralism in Crisis: The Role of Science Diplomacy in Turbulent Times

12–14 January 2026 — Campus Biotech, Geneva, Switzerland

The University of Geneva, together with its Triangle Azur partners—the University of Lausanne and the University of Neuchâtel—is pleased to announce the upcoming World Knowledge Dialogue (WKD) 2026. Jointly organized by the Science in Diplomacy Lab (SiDLab) and the Geneva Transformative Governance Lab (GTGLab), in collaboration with GESDA, the Geneva Science-Policy Interface (GSPI), and the UN University Centre for Policy Research, this threeday event will bring together researchers, diplomats, and practitioners to explore how science diplomacy can strengthen multilateralism in a turbulent geopolitical context.

This edition of the WKD will examine the evolving relationship between scientific knowledge, data, and global cooperation. Through panel discussions, methodological sessions, and collaborative writing, participants will address how scientific evidence, computational approaches, and complexsystems thinking can support more resilient and anticipatory global governance.

This program includes:

  • Day 1: Science for multilateralism – knowledge, foresight, and institutional resilience

  • Day 2: Multilateralism as a complex adaptive system – dynamics, modelling, and resilience

  • Day 3: Governance design – co-production of a GSPI Policy Brief and an academic perspective article outlining pathways for strengthening multilateral cooperation through science and data.

By fostering open dialogue across disciplines and institutions, the WKD aims to generate innovative approaches to evidence–informed policymaking and contribute to strengthening global cooperation.