Author: nilsolav

Gerd Faltings awarded the 2026 Abel Prize

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Gerd Faltings - Abel Prize Laureate 2026. Photo: Peter Badge/Typos1/The Abel Prize
Gerd Faltings – Abel Prize Laureate 2026. Photo: Peter Badge/Typos1/The Abel Prize

The Norwegian Academy of Science and Letters has decided
to award the Abel Prize for 2026 to Gerd Faltings of the
Max Planck Institute for Mathematics, Bonn, Germany
“for introducing powerful tools in arithmetic geometry and resolving long-standing diophantine conjectures of Mordell and Lang.”

Towering figure
Gerd Faltings is a towering figure in arithmetic geometry. His ideas and results have reshaped the field. Not only did he settle major long-standing conjectures, but he also established new frameworks that have guided decades of subsequent work. His exceptional achievements unite geometric and arithmetic perspectives and exemplify the power of deep structural insight.

Diophantine equations
One of the oldest and most central parts of mathematics is solving equations using only integers (a whole number which is either positive, negative or zero). These problems are called diophantine equations. One example is given by the Pythagorean theorem (x²+y²=z²). This equation has infinitely many solutions that are integers. 

Historical mathematical mysteries
A diophantine problem known as the Mordell conjecture (1922) had fascinated the mathematical world for 60 years. This conjecture says that a wide class of equations can only have finitely many rational solutions. Faltings did not start out with the goal to solve the conjecture but hoped something interesting would come out of the work. Suddenly cracking this riddle that had puzzled the mathematical world for so long, made him famous overnight in 1983. The proof amazed the experts. Thus, the Mordell conjecture became Faltings’ theorem.

In the following decades new problems were solved like mathematical pearls on a string for Faltings.

In 1989, another mathematician, Paul Vojta, found an alternative solution to the Mordell conjecture. Inspired by this, Faltings developed a new tool, known as Faltings’ product theorem. Using this tool, he cracked another enduring mathematical conundrum – the Mordell-Lang conjecture. This is also one of his great achievements.

Early years
Gerd Faltings was born in 1954 in West Germany. In secondary school he won a national prize for mathematics, and after his Ph.D. he spent a year as a research fellow at Harvard. “My first goal was to get tenure, so I could make a living out of mathematics”, Faltings said in 2024.

 At the age of 28, in 1982, he became a full professor at the University of Wuppertal, Germany. The following year he proved the Mordell conjecture and thus turned it into Faltings’ theorem.

While working at Wuppertal, he met fellow mathematician Angelika Tschimmel. The couple married in 1984. Sadly, Angelika passed away in 2011. In 1985 Faltings took up a full professorship at Princeton University, where their two daughters were born. He also was a visiting scholar at the Institute for Advanced Study in Princeton, New Jersey on several occasions.

Faltings and his family moved back to Germany in 1994, and he took a post at the Max Planck Institute for Mathematics in Bonn. Being a director there gave Faltings exceptional freedom to pursue his research. As one of the most prominent mathematicians in Germany, he attracted a lot of talent, and the institute in Bonn became a worldwide centre for arithmetic algebraic geometry.

Today, an emeritus director at the Max Planck since 2023, Faltings continues his research. “I’m still doing maths, but I don’t have to go to administrative meetings”, Faltings said in a previous interview.

Awards and honours
2026 – The Abel Prize
2024 – Pour le Mérite
2017 – Cantor Medal
2015 – Shaw Prize
2014 – King Faisal International Prize
2010 – Heinz Gumin Prize
2008 – von Staudt Prize
1996 – Leibniz Prize
1988 – Guggenheim Fellowship
1986, 1994 – ICM Speaker
1986 – Fields Medal
1983 – Dannie Heineman Prize

Member of

  • North Rhine-Westphalian Academy of Sciences, Humanities and the Arts
  • Deutsche Akademie der Naturforscher Leopoldina
  • Berlin-Brandenburgische Academie der Wissenschaften
  • Academia Europaea
  • The Göttingen Academy of Sciences and Humanities
  • The Royal Society (UK)
  • National Academy of Sciences (US)
  • The Norwegian Academy of Science and Letters

The Selfish Gene at 50 – A philosopher’s perspective

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In this lecture Samir Okasha, Professor of Philosophy of Science and Biology, will argue that Richard Dawkins’ book “The Selfish Gene” published 50 years ago left a lasting mark on evolutionary biology, and that many of his key insights still hold today. He will also briefly consider its relevance for understanding human behaviour.

About the lecture (held in english)
Richard Dawkins’ book The Selfish Gene, first published in 1976, had a powerful impact on the practice of evolutionary biology, on the popular understanding of evolutionary ideas, and on a number of other academic disciplines. In this talk Samir Okasha, Professor of Philosophy of Science and Biology offer some philosophical reflections on the intellectual context and legacy of Dawkins’ work. He will examine the core tenets of the “gene’s eye view of evolution” and consider their status in the light of modern biological knowledge. He will argue that despite the criticisms levelled against Dawkins’ views, and despite the scientific advances of the last fifty years, many of his insights are importantly correct and stand the test of time. Finally Okasa will reflect briefly on whether the doctrine of the selfish gene has any implications for understanding human behaviour.

The speaker
Samir Okasha is professor of philosophy of science and biology at University of Bristol, UK. He currently holds an ERC Advanced Grant on Representing evolution. He is the author of several books including Very Short Introductions to Philosophy of Science (2002) and Philosophy of Biology (2019), as well as Agents and Goals in Evolution (2018) and Evolution and the Levels of Selection (2006).The wonderfully concise A Very Short Introduction to the Philosphy of Science is used as curriculum in the first-semester intro course Ex. Phil. for students in Bergen.

Practical information
The lecture is intended for a wide audience, and is part of the Horizons seminar series of the Faculty of Science and Technology dedicated to big questions.

  • Everybody is welcome! 
  • The lecture starts at 16.15, on Tuesday 24th of March 2026 in Egget at Studentsenteret. 
  • Light refreshments will be served from 15.45.

Find the event on Facebook. See poster from Darwin Day 2026 in Bergen. 

Organisers
This lecture is a joint event organised by the Horizon Lecture Committee at the Faculty of Natural Sciences and Technology, the Darwin Day Committee at the Department of Biological Sciences, and Academia Europaea Bergen Hub. The lecture receives economic support from Selskapet til Vitenskapenes Fremme.

Noreg i ei ny tid

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Noreg i ei ny tid: Kva skjer med verda – og kva betyr det for Noreg? Med bl.a Iver B. Neumann

Litteraturhuset i Bergen ons. 25. mars kl 18 – 19

– «Vi har sidan andre verdskrigen hatt den såkalla liberale verdsordenen. No er han under avvikling. Det er dårleg for Noreg», seier Iver B. Neumann i samband med lanseringa av boka Hva skjer med verden.

Vi er i ei ny tid. Den liberale verdsordenen er i ferd med å bli erstatta av ei tid der maktpolitikk i aukande grad rår. Der vi inntil nyleg såg til USA som ein garantist for eit regelbasert internasjonalt system, ser vi no det som kanskje er det største trugsmålet mot det same systemet. Russland, vår nabo i aust som vi deler store havområde med, er ei aggressiv krigsmakt. Samstundes dominerer det autoritære Kina stadig større delar av global økonomi og teknologi. Europa står i eit strategisk vegskilje.

I det første arrangementet i samtaleserien Noreg i ei ny tid tek professor i statsvitskap ved Universitetet i Oslo og direktør ved Fridtjof Nansens Institutt, Iver B. Neumann utgangspunkt i si nye bok og gir eit overordna blikk på dei store geopolitiske endringane som formar samtida.

Kva skjer når det regelbaserte systemet blir svekka? Kva rolle kan og bør Europa spele? Og kva handlingsrom har Noreg i ei ny geopolitisk tid?

Etter innleiinga følgjer ein panelsamtale med inviterte ekspertar, før vi opnar for spørsmål frå salen.

Noreg i ei ny tid er ein ny debattserie i regi av Academia Europaea Bergen Hub, Universitetet i Bergen, og skal vere ein fast arena for samtale om dei store endringane som vil påverke Noregs tryggleik, autonomi og samfunn i tiåra som kjem.

Velkommen til ein kveld om verda i endring – og Noreg si rolle i dette.

​Billetter 150,–/120,–/60,–

Foto: Bård Gudim/FNI og Pax forlag

Arctic collaboration is not disappearing but transforming

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Rethinking Arctic Collaboration (2023–2025): Concluding Reflections

Arctic Circle panel
Panellists were Melody Burkins (Dartmouth College/UArctic), Heather Exner-Pirot (Macdonald-Laurier Institute), Anders Oskal, Executive Director of the International Centre for Reindeer Husbandry, Volker Rachold (German Arctic Office) and Lise Øvreås (University of Bergen/EASAC/AE-Bergen Hub) and to the right moderator Ole Øvretveit. Photo: Arctic Circle.

The Rethinking Arctic Collaboration project, coordinated by the Academia Europaea Bergen Hub at the University of Bergen and supported by UArctic funding (2023–2025), concluded in 2025 after two years of intensive dialogue, analysis, and international engagement. In its final year, the project shifted from mapping immediate geopolitical disruptions to articulating forward-looking scenarios for Arctic science diplomacy toward 2032, in anticipation of the Fifth International Polar Year. The initiative brought together partners from Europe, North America, and Indigenous institutions, creating a transatlantic arena for structured reflection on how Arctic cooperation can remain resilient under conditions of fragmentation and strategic uncertainty.


A central achievement in the concluding phase was the consolidation of a multidisciplinary consortium that bridged natural sciences, social sciences, policy expertise, and Indigenous knowledge systems. Workshops at Dartmouth College and sessions at the Arctic Circle Assembly in Reykjavík provided neutral platforms for strategic dialogue at a time when formal institutional cooperation—particularly within the Arctic Council framework—remained constrained. Rather than attempting to restore pre-2022 structures, the project focused on identifying adaptive cooperation models that combine scientific integrity, policy relevance, and inclusivity.

The Academia Europaea Bergen Hub has through this initiative reinforced its position as a convening arena for high-level reflection on Arctic science diplomacy


The project’s key analytical conclusion is that Arctic collaboration is not disappearing but transforming. While geopolitical tensions have weakened established institutional mechanisms, they have simultaneously underscored the strategic value of science as a channel for risk reduction, confidence-building, and long-term stability. The consortium emphasized three structural priorities for the coming decade: (1) safeguarding cross-border data sharing and scientific mobility; (2) embedding Indigenous leadership and knowledge co-production as a normative pillar rather than an add-on; and (3) developing complementary science diplomacy architectures aligned with global processes such as the UN Decade of Ocean Science and preparations for IPY 2032–33.

Equally important were the methodological and organizational lessons. The project demonstrated that flexibility in format and framing is essential in periods of rapid political change. In-kind institutional commitments—particularly from North American partners—enabled sustained engagement beyond the project’s financial scope. The integration of Indigenous perspectives, facilitated through collaboration with the International Centre for Reindeer Husbandry, proved not only ethically necessary but analytically transformative, broadening scenario-building exercises to include legitimacy, equity, and long-term governance resilience.


As the project concludes, its most durable outcome lies in the strengthened transnational network and the conceptual groundwork for a “next phase” of Arctic exceptionalism—one defined less by insulation from geopolitics and more by adaptive, knowledge-based cooperation under constraint. The Academia Europaea Bergen Hub has through this initiative reinforced its position as a convening arena for high-level reflection on Arctic science diplomacy, with long-term effects expected to unfold through forthcoming publications, policy contributions, and continued collaboration toward 2032.

Cyber operations and civil society (in norwegian)

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Digitale angrep kan i dag lamme kritisk infrastruktur, påvirke demokratiske prosesser og endre maktbalansen mellom nasjoner. På dette temamøtet utforsker vi hvordan konflikter utspiller seg i det digitale rommet – og hva det betyr for samfunn og beredskap, med foredrag av Ronny Windvik (FFI) og Jørgen Dyrhaug (NSM) .

Om møtet (holdes på norsk)

Arbeidsplasser, hjem, utdanninger og sosiale arenaer er i stor grad blitt avhengige av IKT-systemer og internett. Overalt i samfunnet er det derfor et økende behov for kompetanse innen digital sikkerhet.

I en tid der digitale angrep kan lamme kritisk infrastruktur, påvirke demokratiske prosesser og endre maktbalansen mellom nasjoner, har cyberangrep blitt en av vår tids mest alvorlige sikkerhetsutfordringer. På dette temamøtet ser vi nærmere på hvordan konflikter utspiller seg i det digitale rommet – og hva dette betyr for samfunn, virksomheter og nasjonal beredskap. 

To foredragsholdere vil belyse tematikken fra ulike vinkler. Til slutt blir det tid til spørsmål fra salen.

10.03.2026 – 16.30–18.00
Realfagbygget, Allegaten 41, Auditorium 2

Mer informasjon på UiBs nettsider.

Innlegg

  • Ronny Windvik, FFI: Cyberoperasjoner som et militært og sikkerhetspolitisk virkemiddel 
  • Jørgen Dyrhaug, NSM: For å takle datamaskiner, digitalisering og cyber space, må du starte med å forstå deg, ditt og dine! Og ditt eget beste…

Praktisk informasjon

  • Dato: Tirsdag 10. mars 2026
  • Sted: Realfagbygget, Auditorium 2 (underetasjen), Allegaten 41
  • Tid: Foredraget starter 16.30
  • Lett servering utenfor auditoriet fra kl. 16.00.  
  • Møtet er åpent for alle

Om foredragsholderne

Ronny Windvik har siden 1999 arbeidet med problemstillinger innen cybersikkerhet og cyberoperasjoner ved FFI. I dag er han forskningssjef for et område som omfatter risikoanalyser og forsvarlig sikkerhetsnivå, krypto, forebyggende sikkerhet i autonome systemer, deteksjon ved bruk av KI, hendelseshåndtering og cyberoperasjoner. Han har vært medforfatter for tre bøker; Datasikkerhet for ledere (2018), Barn på nett (2018) og Digital sikkerhet (2020). Foredraget vil omhandle bl.a.: Cyberoperasjoner som et sentralt militært og sikkerhetspolitisk virkemiddel. Han vil skissere en historisk utviklingslinje fra tidlige nettverksangrep til avanserte, statlige operasjoner og vise hvordan teknologiske endringer og økt avhengighet av private aktører har endret sårbarhetsbildet og staters handlingsrom. Presentasjonen belyser også hvordan ulike staters strategiske kultur og militære tenkning påvirker bruken av cyberoperasjoner, og hvordan den teknologiske utviklingen vil kunne forme fremtidens cyberoperasjoner.

Jørgen Dyrhaug arbeidet 14 år med sikkerhet i Forsvarsdepartementet innan han begynte i NSM i 2013. Han er utdannet sivilingeniør fra NTH og har også erfaring fra privat sektor. NSM er Norges fagorgan for forebyggende sikkerhet, og har som hovedoppgave å beskytte landet mot spionasje, sabotasje, terror og sammensatte trusler. Sammen med Etterretningstjenesten og PST utgjør NSM en av de tre sentrale sikkerhetstjenestene i Norge.

Arrangører 
NTVA, Tekna Bergen og Academia Europaea Bergen.

Film Screening: Trade Secret

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The Marine Strategic Area at the University of Bergen, in collaboration with the Polar Network and Academia Europea, is proud to host the Bergen premiere of the award-winning investigative documentary Trade Secret.

02.03.2026 – 18.00–20.30

Litteraturhuset Bergen, Østre Skostredet 5, 5017 Bergen

Trade Secrets

About the Film

Trade Secret is a powerful documentary that uncovers the little-known and controversial global commercial trade in polar bear skins — exploring how conservation, politics, and commercial interests intersect behind closed doors. Filmed over six years across nine countries, the film follows three central figures on a mission to reveal truths about wildlife trade that few have seen.

The film features:

  • Dr. Adam Cruise – investigative environmental journalist, author, and founder of Endangered Wildlife Investigations. Cruise has spent over two decades exposing the forces driving the global wildlife trade and is widely recognised for his impactful investigations.
  • Ole J. Liodden – Norwegian wildlife photographer, author, expedition leader and founder of the Polar Bears & Humans project. Liodden’s work has reshaped conversations around polar bear conservation and the ethics of commercial wildlife trade.

Together with wildlife advocate Iris Ho, their journey forms the core narrative of Trade Secret.

Free screening subject to registration. Link to register

02.03.2026 – 18.00–20.30

Litteraturhuset Bergen, Østre Skostredet 5, 5017 Bergen

Programme

  • 18:00 — Welcome and Introduction
  • 18:10 — Screening of Trade Secret
  • 19:45 — Panel Debate and Q&A

Following the screening, enjoy a live panel discussion with experts from academia and Adam Cruise. The debate will explore the themes of wildlife conservation, international trade, policy implications, and ethical responsibilities in safeguarding vulnerable species. Audience members will have the opportunity to ask questions and engage directly with the panel.

The event is co-organized by the University of Bergen and Academia Europaea Bergen Hub.

Lise Øvreås in several panels at Arctic Frontiers

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AE-Bergen Hub director Lise Øvreås at the Arctic Frontiers conference 2026.
AE-Bergen Hub director Lise Øvreås at the Arctic Frontiers conference 2026. Photo: Mathilde Sofie Henriksen/Arctic Frontiers

The Arctic Frontiers 2026 Conference in Tromsø marked a milestone this year, drawing more than 1,100 participants and over 120 international journalists—its highest attendance to date. Lise Øvreås, Academic Director of the Academia Europaea Bergen Hub, participated in in several panels at the conference.

Themed “Turn of the Tide,” the event captured global attention as leaders, researchers, and policymakers converged to discuss a rapidly changing Arctic, shaped by shifting geopolitical relations, increased defense considerations, and growing interest in the region’s strategic resources.

Recordings are available of both panels, organized by University of Bergen, where our Academic Director contributed:

Nature and Culture in the Anthropocene:

The panel addresses something fundamental in the way we think in the Anthropocene, formulated around the distinction between nature and culture. Is it possible to imagine knowledge that is no longer divided into social sciences, humanities and natural sciences?

Academia in Times of Geopolitical Change:

These are times of geopolitical change and uncertainty, including for the Arctic. How do academia and research institutions change, or not, with this? This side event addresses this challenge from several perspectives. On the one side there is the academic freedom and institutional autonomy which, when maintained, offer education and science-based knowledge beyond the urgency of the present. On the other hand, either by context, funding, or societal mandate, academia is constantly in flux, and thus also impacted by current geopolitical change.

In between there is the transition from academia and research institutes’ science-based advice to decision makers, rooted in the institutions’ independent research, to decision makers’ setting the research priorities and what to be advised on.

How do academic leaders manoeuvre this complicated terrain?

Innovasjonsdistrikt i Bergen?

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Hvordan kan vi utnytte våre fortrinn til å utvikle et internasjonalt ledende innovasjonsdistrikt i Bergen? I dette møtet ser vi nærmere på aktuell forskning på innovasjonsdistrikter og lokale betingelser for utvikling av slike “distrikt”.

  • Dato: Tirsdag 17. februar 2026
  • Sted: Realfagbygget, Auditorium 2 (underetasjen), Allegaten 41
  • Tid: Foredraget starter 16.30
  • Lett servering utenfor auditoriet fra kl. 16.00.  
  • Møtet er åpent for alle

Mer informasjon på UiBs nettsider.

Om møtet (holdes på norsk)

Hvordan kan vi utnytte våre fortrinn til å utvikle et internasjonalt ledende innovasjonsdistrikt i Bergen? Et innovasjonsdistrikt forstås gjerne som et geografiske byområder der kunnskapsinstitusjoner og kunnskapstunge virksomheter samler seg og samarbeider med gründere, inkubatorer, investorer og det offentlige for å fremme innovasjon og kommersialisering av idéer og kunnskap.

I Bergen har Marineholmen blitt omtalt som et slikt “distrikt”.

I dette møtet ser vi nærmere på aktuell forskning på innovasjonsdistrikter og lokale betingelser for utvikling av slike “distrikt”.

Til slutt blir det tid til spørsmål fra salen.

Om foredragsholderne
Lars Martel Antoine Coenen er professor i innovasjon og bærekraftige omstillinger ved Mohnsenteret for innovasjon og regional utvikling.  Han er er internasjonalt anerkjent for sin forskning på regional og urban innovasjon, spesielt innen miljøinnovasjon og bærekraftige omstillinger. Tidligere var han professor ved CIRCLE ved Lunds universitet, hvor han ledet en forskningsgruppe for innovasjon og bærekraft. Han har også vært vitenskapelig rådgiver for ulike innovasjonsprogrammer og satsinger ved VINNOVA. Fra 2017 til 2020 var han City of Melbourne Chair of Resilient Cities ved University of Melbourne.

Randi Elisabeth Taxt arbeider i VIS som Senior innovasjonsutvikler og har omfattende erfaring fra innovasjonsledelse, teknologiledelse, entreprenørskap og ledelse i høyere utdanning. Hun har en cand.scient.-grad i biologi, Master i Technology Management (MTM) fra Norges teknisk‑naturvitenskapelige universitet (NTNU) og ph.d. grad i økonomisk geografi fra Universitetet i Bergen, innen innovasjonsforskning.

Arrangører 
NTVA, Tekna Bergen og Academia Europaea Bergen.

Lise Øvreås is the new Academic Director of Academia Europaea Bergen Hub

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Lise Øvreås comes to the position as Academic Director of AE- Bergen hub with experience from prominent positions in Science Academies.
Lise Øvreås comes to the position as Academic Director of AE- Bergen hub with experience from prominent positions in Science Academies.

Academia Europaea Bergen Hub is welcoming Lise Øvreås as the new Academic Director from January 2026. She was president of The Norwegian Academy of Science and Letters from 2021 to 2024. She is also the newly elected President of EASAC (the European Academies Science Advisory Council). Her positions in EASAC and in AE-Bergen Hub will run parallel to her continued scientific research as an accomplished microbiologist.

– What roles do you see for Science Academies in academia and in society today?

I think that Science Academies play an utterly important role under the challenging global times we are experiencing today. Science Academies play a crucial role as trusted knowledge brokers. They provide independent, evidence-based advice to policymakers and society, ensuring that decisions are informed by the best available science at any time. Academies also foster international collaboration, connecting researchers across disciplines and borders to address global challenges such as climate change, biodiversity loss and public health issues. In addition, the global science communities are experiencing a mistrust in science, and we also see that there are ongoing threats to academic freedom. Science Academies can therefore also play a role beyond academia, and serve as guardians of scientific integrity, promoting transparency and trust in an era where misinformation can easily spread.

– How do authoritarian tendencies and anti-scientific sentiments that we see today influence the role of science academies?

These tendencies increase the importance of securing science independence and supporting democratic values, which are the responsibilities of Science Academies. When evidence-based approaches are questioned or sidelined, academies must act as strong advocates for open dialogue and critical thinking. They also have a role in science diplomacy—providing neutral and independent platforms for collaboration even in politically polarized environments. We therefore need to strengthen the public engagement and thus communication is essential to counter disinformation and emphasise the value of science in society.

– What challenges do you see in working both as an active researcher and scientist and in prominent positions in Science Academies?

Balancing these roles is demanding but also rewarding. Time management becomes critical when combining research and teaching with leadership responsibilities. There is also the challenge of maintaining scientific focus while contributing to policy and advisory work. In my own research I must zoom in and focus on detailed basic research questions, when we are discovering new organisms and functioning in rapid changing ecosystems due to climate change. When working towards science diplomacy I must zoom out and get a more holistic picture.  However, I feel these roles complement each other: active research provides firsthand insights into emerging scientific issues, which enriches the advisory work of academies. Conversely, academy leadership offers a broader perspective on how science can shape societal progress.

– What are your thoughts on the way forward for the hub?

The AE-Bergen Hub has a strong foundation, and I see great potential for growth through interdisciplinary collaboration. We should continue to position Bergen as a center for excellence in areas of global relevance, such as sustainability and Arctic research.

We should also continue to engage research and scholarship with policymaking in Europe with a specific focus on the Nordic and Baltic Regions, and work in close collaboration with national academies of the region. Increasing visibility through events, publications, and outreach will be key. I also believe in strengthening partnerships—both within Norway and internationally—to ensure that the hub remains a vibrant contributor to Academia Europaea’s mission.

–Can we expect a continuation of the hub’s engagement in Arctic issues?

Absolutely, personally I have dedicated much of my scientific research to various ecosystems in the Arctic. The Arctic is a region of immense scientific and societal importance, and its current changes have global implications. The hub will continue to promote excellent research from and about the Nordic and Baltic Region, its surrounding seas and the Arctic. We will continue to engage in Arctic research and policy discussions, leveraging Bergen’s strong expertise in marine and polar sciences. Our goal is to connect scientific knowledge with decision-making processes to support sustainable development in the Arctic, through scholarly workshops and public events.

– Science Academies are sometimes accused of lack of diversity. What’s your take on that?

It is true that diversity has historically been a challenge for many academies. However, diversity –whether in gender, geography, discipline, or perspective—is essential for robust science, productive dialogs and effective policy advice. Academia Europaea and its hubs are actively working to improve representation and inclusivity. This is not only a matter of fairness but also of quality: diverse voices are important to strengthen scientific dialogue and lead to better solutions for complex problems.

When evidence-based approaches are questioned or sidelined, academies must act as strong advocates for open dialogue and critical thinking. They also have a role in science diplomacy—providing neutral and independent platforms for collaboration even in politically polarized environments.

Lise Øvreås