Interview featuring Barbara Ribeiro
Barbara Ribeiro, Associate Professor of Sociology of Innovation at SKEMA Business School, has been awarded a €136,200 grant from the French National Research Agency (ANR) through the Trans-Atlantic Platform call on Democracy, Governance, and Trust (DGT) initiative. The funding supports the IMSO4DIPLO project, a two-year study investigating how science diplomacy can enhance democratic governance and trust on a global scale. At the core of this initiative is the role of inclusive metascience observatories in shaping political structures and decision-making processes.
Barbara’s research focuses on the relationship between science, technology, innovation and society, with a particular attention to responsible innovation, ethics and sustainability. In this interview, she shares insights on the project’s objectives, expected outcomes, and its broader impact on academia, policy, and society.
Understanding IMSO4DIPLO’s Objectives and Challenges
What are the key objectives and challenges of IMSO4DIPLO?
The IMSO4DIPLO project seeks to investigate the role of evidence-informed science diplomacy as a strategic tool for strengthening democracy, governance, and trust. Science diplomacy involves practices by various actors—science attachés, policymakers, scientists, businesses, and civil society representatives—in shaping international relations using scientific evidence and expertise.
To achieve this, we will examine the global landscape of metascience observatories—organisations that study the science system itself—and analyse how both science and metascience contribute to diplomatic efforts. This research will be carried out through case studies led by partner institutions across Africa, Europe, North America, and South America. Key themes include science diplomacy in artificial intelligence (AI), nuclear science diplomacy, and sustainability diplomacy. SKEMA’s team, within the Centre for Sustainability Studies, will lead AI-focused research.
However, given the international scale of this project and the diverse expertise of our partners, ensuring effective coordination and complementarity remains a key challenge. Additionally, gathering and analysing high-level data from key decision-makers in science diplomacy is complex. Finally, ensuring our findings translate into real-world policy impact is another critical goal.
Delivering Tangible Outcomes
What are the expected outputs and outcomes?
The IMSO4DIPLO project is set to produce a range of impactful outcomes, each designed to advance the field of science diplomacy. One of its major initiatives is the creation of a comprehensive mapping of metascience observatories across the globe. This effort will not only redefine the concept of these observatories but also establish a dynamic, evolving registry to assess emerging organisations in the field.
To deepen understanding, IMSO4DIPLO will conduct a series of case studies exploring science diplomacy in key areas, such as AI governance. These insights will feed into policy reports tailored for science diplomacy practitioners, offering concrete recommendations to enhance their work. Additionally, IMSO4DIPLO will provide training opportunities for early-career researchers, equipping the next generation with the skills needed to navigate this interdisciplinary space.
Within this broader effort, SKEMA will take the lead in examining science diplomacy in AI governance. This contribution will be grounded in qualitative research, drawing on interviews and ethnographic observations with scientists, diplomats, and policymakers. SKEMA will also conduct a thorough documentary analysis of policies, agreements, and institutional reports related to AI governance, ensuring a comprehensive understanding of the landscape.
Through these combined efforts, IMSO4DIPLO seeks to bridge the gap between academia, diplomacy, and policy. By fostering collaboration and knowledge exchange, the project aims to ensure that science diplomacy is not only better understood but also more effectively integrated into global governance frameworks.
The Strength of Trans-Atlantic Collaboration
How does the Trans-Atlantic partnership add value to this initiative?
The Trans-Atlantic collaboration within IMSO4DIPLO is essential for fostering a diverse and inclusive understanding of science diplomacy. Our research teams across Africa, Europe, North America, and South America bring unique perspectives and disciplinary expertise. This allows us to develop innovative research approaches and respond to pressing global challenges, such as AI governance, which demand international cooperation across government, academia, and industry.
Additionally, the partnership promotes equity, diversity, and inclusion in science diplomacy, ensuring that best practices are shared across continents. By working together, we can enhance science diplomacy’s role as a tool for global problem-solving and collaboration.
Long-Term Impact: A Vision for the Future
What will be the impact on stakeholders and society over the next 5 to 10 years?
The IMSO4DIPLO project is set to make a meaningful impact by fostering capacity building through international collaborations, knowledge exchange, and interdisciplinary partnerships. Over time, it aims to become an essential resource for science attachés, policymakers, and government officials, providing them with valuable insights into the evolving role of science diplomacy. By bridging the gap between the scientific, diplomatic, and policy-making communities, the project seeks to strengthen collaboration across these spheres. At its core, IMSO4DIPLO promotes inclusive and participatory governance models to build public trust in institutions. Ultimately, it envisions a future where science diplomacy extends beyond experts, inviting broader civil society to take an active role in shaping global discourse.
A Personal Perspective
What is the added value of securing this project for you?
Co-Leading the IMSO4DIPLO project is an exciting opportunity for me to engage in international and interdisciplinary collaborations. The project spans multiple fields, including science and technology studies (STS), innovation policy, and organisational studies, all of which align with my research interests.
This initiative also strengthens SKEMA’s capacities, expanding its global academic presence and opening avenues for future research and funding. Furthermore, I appreciate that IMSO4DIPLO is not just about academic knowledge—it aims to impact real-world policy and innovation challenges, which resonates with SKEMA’s broader mission of academic and societal impact.
Who is involved in IMSO4DIPLO?
The IMSO4DIPLO consortium is composed of:
- Coordinator: Centre for the Sociology of Innovation – French National Centre for Scientific Research, France
- Co-applicant: SKEMA Business School, France
- Lead PI: Georgia Institute of Technology, USA
- Co-PI: SciSTIP – University of Stellenbosch, South Africa
Partners:
- University of São Paulo, Brazil
- University of Campinas, Brazil
- Université de Montréal, Canada
- Adam Mickiewicz University, Poland
- University of Manchester, UK
- Université Laval, Canada
- George Washington University, USA
- CWTS – Leiden University, Netherlands
- University of the Western Cape, South Africa