The Ministry of Science seeks to develop scientific cooperation beyond political tensions

The head of the Center for International Scientific Cooperation of the Ministry of Science emphasized the development of scientific cooperation beyond political tensions and utilizing the capacity of Iranian experts abroad.

According to the report of Ambassador Arjan, quoted by the Ministry of Science, Ehsan Ghubol, the head of the International Scientific Cooperation Center of the Ministry of Science, Research and Technology, began his speech by distinguishing between "principles" and "lines" in scientific diplomacy.

To explain this distinction, he pointed to Saadi's two works, Golestan and Bostan, and said that Bostan can be seen as the desirable and ideal world and Golestan as a reflection of the world of realities with all its limitations and inconsistencies.

According to Guval, the meaning of principles are strategies that do not undergo fundamental changes with the change of governments and governments and even in different ecological conditions of countries; While the lines refer to the real conditions and considerations that must be taken into account in the path of achieving the goals of scientific diplomacy.

Using the introduction of Nasrallah Manshi's translation of the book "Kalilah and Damneh", he pointed to the narrative of the journey of Barzoye Tabib to India during the Anoushirvan period and considered this narrative to be a historical model for explaining some principles of scientific diplomacy. In this narrative, the king, aware of the existence of a valuable book in India, assigns an expert and fluent in the target country's language to acquire it and transfer knowledge and scientific works to Iran.

Gubool explained by quoting parts of this narrative in which scientific knowledge and experience are considered as a valuable asset for managing society, expanding wisdom and meeting the needs of the country. According to him, this story shows that the scientific relationship between Iran and India has a historical background and that acquiring the knowledge of other societies can serve the scientific and social needs of the country.

He further considered scientific needs assessment as one of the important functions of policy making and said that the policy making apparatus should be able to identify the needs of the academic community, industrialists, professionals and even the general public in the field of knowledge and technology and based on that, define the necessary plans and strategies.

Affirming the importance of the point raised by Farastkhah about the need for knowledge to flow at the international level, Ghaval stated that if knowledge remains confined within the borders of a country, it will be subject to deterioration. To explain this issue, he mentioned a verse with the theme of reduction and waste of water as a result of staying in the marsh and said that professors and students need to connect with the global flow of knowledge to continue their scientific activities.

Referring to the experience of international activities of universities, he believed that in the current situation there are opportunities for scientific diplomacy for universities and scientific institutions, and taking advantage of these opportunities requires creativity, networking and continuous follow-up.

Teacher-centered, one of the basic principles of scientific diplomacy

The head of the International Scientific Cooperation Center of the Ministry of Science, emphasizing the necessity of professor-centeredness in scientific diplomacy, said that professors and researchers should be at the center of interactions for the sustainability of scientific communication. According to him, relationships that are formed based on the direct communication of professors can provide the basis for continuous and long-term scientific cooperation.

In the explanation of this principle, Ghaval pointed out the necessity of paying attention to the scientific and specialized characteristics of professors who work in the international arena. Reciting the story of a doctor in Kalileh and Demeneh, he said that in this story, the officer is selected based on knowledge, expertise, language proficiency, ability to communicate, and scientific credibility.

By generalizing these features to today's scientific diplomacy, he considered mastery of Persian language and the language of the destination country, familiarity with the international language of science, having expertise in the field of activity and having scientific credibility as effective features in the success of international interactions. According to him, the international scientific communication is not achieved only by carrying out administrative correspondence or establishing formal communication and it requires the presence of people who have the necessary scientific and communication ability.

Also, referring to another part of Kalileh and Demeneh's narrative, Gubool emphasized the importance of providing financial resources for international activities. He reminded that in the story of Barzoye, significant financial resources are allocated to carry out the scientific mission, and this shows that financial support is part of the requirements for the realization of scientific programs.

Referring to his experiences of international cooperation, including scientific trips to Japan and Russia, he said that it is not possible to define joint research cooperation without considering the financial contribution of the parties and providing the required expenses. From his point of view, universities and researchers need appropriate support mechanisms and financial resources to develop scientific cooperation.

Iranian experts abroad; A capacity to expand scientific communication

Acceptance of another principle emphasized by him was the use of the capacity of Iranian experts living abroad. Referring to the presence of Iranians in universities, research centers and technological companies in different countries, he said that this group can play an effective role in the development of scientific and technological cooperation in the country.

Referring to the activity of the commission of expert Iranians residing abroad in the field of education, culture and technology, he emphasized the necessity of identifying and using the capacities of this group. According to Gubool, many of these people have achieved scientific and professional positions in their specialized fields and can participate in the transfer of knowledge and the development of cooperation through communication with Iranian universities and scientific institutions.

In the same context, he spoke about a plan called "5000" which, according to his explanation, includes a series of programs to develop communication with Iranian experts abroad; Including a thousand parsa, a thousand classes, a thousand technology events, a thousand cultural events and a thousand scholarships. The purpose of this program was to create various opportunities to communicate with Iranian experts and use their scientific and professional abilities.

Gubool also mentioned the desire of some Iranian experts abroad to return to Iran and continue their research activities and said that communication with these people can be pursued through various paths such as scientific cooperation, participation in research programs and creating suitable opportunities to continue their activities in the country.

Emphasizing the importance of networking in international activities, he considered scientific networks as a window for communication with the global scientific community and said that many collaborations are formed through these networks. Referring to study opportunity programs and academic communication, he stated that part of these activities are carried out in the form of international networks and regional and international cooperation mechanisms.

scientific diplomacy; An opportunity to continue university relations in different political conditions

The head of the Center for International Scientific Cooperation of the Ministry of Science considered another of his desired principles to be the prevention of disruption in scientific relations due to the ups and downs of public and political diplomacy. He said that the relations of professors, educational groups, colleges and universities should not be affected by tensions and changes in political relations as much as possible.

Referring to the experience of scientific cooperation between the United States and the Soviet Union at the height of the Cold War, including cooperation in some space and research projects, Guval explained that even in the conditions of competition and political tension, it was possible to maintain some scientific cooperation. According to him, scientific communication based on university collaborations can be the foundation of stable and mutually beneficial relationships.

Further, he emphasized the importance of networking instead of short-term communication and ceremonial meetings, he considered it necessary to allocate resources and focus on effective scientific capacities. Referring to the 80 to 20 rule, Ghabul stated that an important part of time, energy and resources should be allocated to capacities that have the possibility of achieving greater scientific efficiency; At the same time, other universities can also benefit from cooperation and experience transfer opportunities in connection with the main universities.

To explain this approach, he distinguished between "championship diplomacy" and "universal diplomacy" and emphasized the necessity of simultaneously paying attention to universities with outstanding capacity and expanding the participation of other universities.

Gubool also mentioned the scientific cooperation between Iran and Iraq and informed about the planning to compile the joint scientific ecosystem of the two countries; A program that, according to him, can provide a basis for defining theses and joint research activities based on common issues. Referring to the presence of Iraqi students in Iran, he considered this cooperation as an opportunity to strengthen the scientific ties between the two countries.

In the end, he emphasized that scientific diplomacy requires expertise, knowledge and planning, and noted that the presence of Iranian experts in universities and scientific centers abroad should not be considered simply as the departure of human resources. According to him, mechanisms should be provided so that the capacity of these people can serve the scientific development of the country through joint theses, publication of joint articles and technology transfer.

Pointing to the experience of countries like China in using their experts abroad, Ghoval emphasized the importance of maintaining contact with these capacities and using their knowledge and experience for the development of technology.