Non-state actors --- This is a great point, Tereza! I agree with you and I's sure we'll discuss that during the course. Non-state actors can and should play an important role in science diplomacy. Non-governmental organizations can take advantage of their status to connect with scientists and diplomats of other countries, regardless of the country's foreign policy. Not without challenges though! in many countries, universities and scientific associations are not fully independent from their national governments due to funding or the way they're structured in general.

Source author: Brenda Estefania Ortiz Calva eortizcalva@aaas.org