America and the International Future of Science - A Report on the Challenges for International Scientific Partnerships

Sep 11, 2026

Uploaded by Bintang

America and the International Future of Science examines how international scientific partnerships shape U.S. and global progress amid major disruptions. The report frames science as inherently collaborative and international, then analyzes key drivers and imperatives for cross-border research. It highlights funding realities, ethical and safety guidelines, and structural challenges, while also addressing the pandemic context and the effects of strained diplomacy and policy constraints on collaboration.

LanguageEnglish

CategoryPresentations

FormatPDF

Pages68

Reading Time24 min

AccessFree to download

From the President of the American Academy

Project Takeaways

Prologue

Executive Summary

Introduction

Defining International Scientific Partnerships

Imperatives for International Collaborations

The Global Nature of Scientific Questions

Advancing Knowledge Often Requires International Engagement

Einstein’s Universe: Exploring Spacetime

Preventing Death: Developing a Rotavirus Vaccine

Special Section: A Persistent Global Challenge

The Threat of Pandemics

Leveraging International Talent: Sustaining a Strong STEM Workforce

Human Cell Atlas: Making a Map of the Building Blocks of Life

U.S. Economic Competitiveness: Strengthening America and Boosting Prosperity

International Rice Research Institute: Agricultural Research for Global Food Security

Spinal Muscular Atrophy: Developing Treatments for Childhood Disease

U.S. National Security: Bolstering Security with Knowledgeable Engagement and Science Diplomacy

SESAME: Bringing Middle East Countries Together Through Science

Funding Realities and Ethical Guidelines

Requirements for Successful Participation in Large-Scale Science

Contributing to Development and Application of Ethical Norms and Scientific Guidelines

Asilomar Conference on Recombinant DNA: Promoting Ethical and Safe Research

Challenges and Aftermath

Challenges of International Scientific Partnerships

What Happens After COVID-19?

Special Section: Diplomatic Relations

Mitigating the Effects of Strained Diplomatic Relations on Scientific Partnerships

Conclusions

Appendix

America and the International Future of Science A REPORT FROM THE CHALLENGES FOR INTERNATIONAL SCIENTIFIC PARTNERSHIPS INITIATIVE Science is a field which grows continuously with ever expanding frontiers. Further, it is truly international in scope. Any particular advance has been preceded by the contributions of those from many lands who have set firm foundations for further developments. . . . Further, science is a collaborative effort. The combined results of several people working together is often much more effective than could be that of an individual scientist working alone. —John Bardeen, speech at Nobel Prize Banquet, December 10, 1972 A REPORT FROM THE CHALLENGES FOR INTERNATIONAL SCIENTIFIC PARTNERSHIPS INITIATIVE America and the International Future of Science american academy of arts & sciences Cambridge, Massachusetts © 2020 by the American Academy of Arts & Sciences All rights reserved. ISBN: 0-87724-137-6 [This publication is available online at www.amacad.org/project/](This publication is available online at www.amacad.org/project/CISP)[CISP](This publication is available online at www.amacad.org/project/CISP). Suggested citation: American Academy of Arts and Sciences, America and the International Future of Science (Cambridge, Mass.: American Academy of Arts and Sciences, 2020) . COVER PHOTO CREDIT Artistic view of the Brout-Englert-Higgs Field by Daniel Dominguez. © 2013 by CERN. The views expressed in this report are those held by the contributors and are not necessarily those of the Officers and Members of the American Academy of Arts and Sciences. Comments on the data and conclusions presented herein may be directed to the following project staff: Amanda Vernon, [avernon@amacad.org](avernon@amacad.org); Rebecca Tiernan, [rtiernan@amacad.org](rtiernan@amacad.org). Please direct inquiries to: American Academy of Arts and Sciences 136 Irving Street Cambridge, Massachusetts 02138-1996 Telephone: (617) 576-5000 Facsimile: (617) 576-5050 Email: [aaas@amacad.org](aaas@amacad.org) [Visit our website at www.amacad.org](Visit our website at www.amacad.org) Contents From the President of the American Academy v Project Takeaways vii Prologue viii Executive Summary ix Introduction 1 Defining International Scientific Partnerships 2 Imperatives for International Collaborations 3 The Global Nature of Scientific Questions: Advancing Knowledge Often Requires International Engagement 4 Einstein’s Universe: Exploring Spacetime 4 Preventing Death: Developing a Rotavirus Vaccine 8 Special Section A Persistent Global Challenge: The Threat of Pandemics 9 Leveraging International Talent: Sustaining a Strong STEM Workforce 11 Human Cell Atlas: Making a Map of the Building Blocks of Life 13 U.S. Economic Competitiveness: Strengthening America and Boosting Prosperity 15 International Rice Research Institute: Agricultural Research for Global Food Security 16 Spinal Muscular Atrophy: Developing Treatments for Childhood Disease 18 U.S. National Security: Bolstering Security with Knowledgeable Engagement and Science Diplomacy 19 SESAME: Bringing Middle East Countries Together Through Science 21 CONTENTS Funding Realities: Requirements for Successful Participation in Large-Scale Science 23 CERN: Seeking Answers to Fundamental Questions about Our Universe 24 Contributing to Development and Application of Ethical Normsand Scientific Guidelines 27 Asilomar Conference on Recombinant DNA: Promoting Ethical and Safe Research 28 Challenges of International Scientific Partnerships 29 What Happens After COVID-19? 30 Special Section Mitigating the Effects of Strained Diplomatic Relations on Scientific Partnerships 31 Conclusions 36 Appendix: Steering Committee and Working Group Members 37 Endnotes 40 From the President of the American Academy A merica and the International Future of Science, a report from the Americ

FAQs

What is the main focus of America and the International Future of Science?

The report focuses on the challenges and benefits of international scientific partnerships and how they affect U.S. science and global research engagement.

Why does the report emphasize international collaboration for scientific progress?

It argues that scientific advancement depends on contributions from many countries and that collaborative work often achieves stronger combined results than individual efforts.

What issues does the report connect to international scientific partnerships during turbulent times?

It addresses the impacts of the COVID-19 pandemic, strained diplomatic and economic tensions, and constraints that can reduce cooperation and harm the U.S. research enterprise.

Sep 11, 2026

Uploaded by Bintang