Event Report. 2025 ALLEA General Assembly, ‘Europe and the Arctic: Science and Diplomacy’

©ALLEA, Andreas Raun

A summary of the scientific symposium ‘Europe and the Arctic: Science and Diplomacy’, held as part of the 2025 ALLEA General Assembly, which took place on 3-4 June in Copenhagen, Denmark, kindly hosted by the Royal Danish Academy of Sciences and Letters.

The scientific symposium ‘Europe and the Arctic: Science and Diplomacy’ took place on 3 June 2025. It brought together Prof. Lise Øvreås, professor in Geomicrobiology at University of Bergen, Norway, who delivered a lecture titled ‘Revitalizing Arctic Science Diplomacy: From Climate Change to Security and Resource Management’. The event featured a panel discussion titled ‘Research in the Arctic and the Need for Global Cooperation’, with Assoc. Prof. Aviâja Lyberth Hauptmann, Head of the SILA Department, Ilisimatusarfik – the University of Greenland, Prof. Lise Øvreås, and Prof. Minik Thorleif Rosing, professor of geology at the University of Copenhagen. Moderated by Dr Monika Szkarłat, specialist in international relations and a researcher at the Institute of Political Science and Administration, as well as the head of a research team at the Centre for Artificial Intelligence and Computer Modeling, Maria Curie-Skłodowska University in Lublin, Poland, the panel explored how research-based Arctic diplomacy can shape sustainable and collaborative futures.

At the heart of the discussion was the Arctic as a region of global significance, closely linked to pressing European and international challenges such as climate change, international security, resource conflicts, and sustainable development. The panel presented scientific findings and policy assessments, particularly in light of the shifting geopolitical landscape caused by Russia’s war of aggression against Ukraine, which severely impacted scientific collaboration in the Arctic. The symposium emphasised the importance of science diplomacy as a tool for fostering cooperation and conflict prevention. Tensions between national interests and the need for global collaboration were also discussed, alongside the EU’s role as an active yet legally non-voting observer in the Arctic Council.

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A particular focus was placed on the challenges posed by increasing security concerns within the scientific community. This affected both the natural sciences—reliant on climate and environmental monitoring data—and the social sciences, where anthropological research in the Russian Arctic was highly restricted. The panel discussion also highlighted the importance of indigenous knowledge systems and called for their stronger integration into political decision-making processes.

The discussion further explored the value and challenges of conducting research in and for the Arctic, underlining the need to balance global knowledge production with the local benefits for Arctic communities. Innovative technologies such as remote sensing and autonomous measuring systems were discussed as partial solutions to limited physical access and the environmental footprint of research activities—though physical presence remained essential for certain kinds of study.

Finally, the discussion addressed the need for better science communication and more effective engagement with the public, as a bridge between science and society.

From Physics of Complex Systems to Pandemic Preparedness. Prof. Viola Priesemann’s Lecture

The symposium concluded with the presentation of the Madame de Staël Prize to physicist Prof. Viola Priesemann, whose research linked complex neural networks with social systems like pandemic dynamics.

Prof. Viola Priesemann, who has been a member of Die Junge Akademie since 2021 and is a member of the current Board, was honoured with the 2024 Madame de Staël Prize for her scientific achievements in the field of physics, her leadership qualities and her strong commitment to European cooperation in the context of the Covid-19 pandemic.

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Following the laudatory speech by ALLEA Vice-President Prof. Annette Grüters-Kieslich, Prof. Viola Priesemann’s lecture, ‘From Physics of Complex Systems to Pandemic Preparedness,’ investigated not only information processing in the brain, but also how the SARS-CoV-2 virus and (mis)information spread. Her lecture exemplified the integration of basic research, applied science, and policy advising during the COVID-19 pandemic. She underscored the need for a professional culture of science journalism and urged for better navigation of the tensions between science, politics, and society.

“Her work reflects the very values embodied in the Prize – of promoting science as a global public good, facilitating scientific collaboration across borders and disciplines, and strengthening the impact of science in society,” said Prof. Paweł Rowiński, President of ALLEA and chair of the Madame de Staël Prize Jury.

Beyond Metrics: Challenges and Opportunities for Research Assessment Reform in Europe

This side event addressed the impact of research assessment models on research quality, funding priorities, researchers’ careers, and well-being. It highlighted concerns over the heavy reliance on bibliometric metrics like impact factor and h-index, which contribute to a ‘publish or perish’ culture that undermines research quality. The discussion emphasized growing calls to reimagine research evaluation to include broader criteria that better reflect diverse researcher contributions.

Key developments such as open science, impact-driven research, and new technologies like generative AI were recognized as drivers for reforming research assessment. The Agreement on Reforming Research Assessment (ARRA), published in July 2022, was presented as a collaborative roadmap, supported by over 800 organisations worldwide, promoting a bottom-up approach through the Coalition for Advancing Research Assessment (CoARA).

Jointly organised by CoARA, ALLEA, and the Royal Danish Academy of Sciences and Letters, the event gathered diverse European research community members, including early ARRA adopters, academy representatives, funding organisations, and Danish stakeholders. Through keynotes, an interactive panel, and roundtable discussions, participants explored challenges and opportunities in implementing reform. Key questions discussed included managing qualitative assessment without increasing reviewer burden, safeguarding against bias, funders’ roles, institutional adaptation to new models, and combating perceptions that qualitative assessment lowers standards.

The event featured contributions from Erzsébet Tóth-Czifra, Programme Manager of CoARA, Mira Söderman, coordinator on Responsible Assessment at the Federation of Finnish Learned Societies, Olivia Denk (Swiss Academies of Arts and Sciences), specialist in Open Science and lead of the open research data unit at the Swiss Academies of Arts and Sciences in Bern, Matthias Kiesselbach, director of the division “Research Culture” in the German Research Foundation (Deutsche Forschungsgemeinschaft, DFG), Birger Larsen (Aalborg University), and Søren Serritzlew, chair of the Board of Independent Research Fund Denmark (DFF). The panel discussion was moderated by Alan Irwin, professor in the Danish Centre for Studies in Research and Research Policy, Aarhus University, and in the Department of Organization, Copenhagen Business School.

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Member Academy Exchange Forum, chaired by the ALLEA Presidency

The session began with a welcome by Prof. Susanne Ditlevsen, President of the Royal Danish Academy of Sciences and Letters, followed by introductory remarks from Prof. Marie Louise Nosch, ALLEA Vice-President. Ewa Dębska, Chargé d’affaires a.i. at the Embassy of the Republic of Poland in Copenhagen, and Nils Agerhus, Director at the Ministry of Higher Education and Science of Denmark, outlined the science and innovation priorities of the Polish and Danish EU Council Presidencies. The segment concluded with an open discussion and Q&A.

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Business Meeting

During the annual business meeting on 4 June, delegates from ALLEA’s Member Academies convened to address matters concerning the organisation’s governance and policy direction. Notably, the meeting discussed the newly established science-policy standing committee and task forces, the adoption of the ALLEA Strategic Plan 2025 – 2030, and topical breakout sessions on implementing the strategic priorities. For further insights into ALLEA’s recent activities and future endeavors, the ALLEA Activities Report 2024–2025 provides comprehensive details on the organisation’s initiatives, working groups, projects, and events aligned with its strategic priorities.

About the ALLEA General Assembly

The General Assembly annually convenes academies of sciences and humanities from almost 40 countries across the Council of Europe region. General Assemblies are hosted by ALLEA Member Academies and the programme typically consists of the internal business meeting of academy delegates, and a scientific symposium that is open to the public. The symposium explores pressing topics from the fields of science, society, and policy, and provides a platform for international, interdisciplinary, and cross-sectoral debate. The business meeting addresses governance, strategy, and policy matters and is restricted to Member Academies’ delegates.

Photos of the 2025 ALLEA General Assembly are available on this page.