Inside Geneva – “Can a Science and Diplomacy Partnership Save the World?” (Jan 20, 2026)

Episode Overview

In this episode, host Imogen Foulkes explores whether partnerships between science and diplomacy could be the key to solving today's biggest global challenges, such as climate change, rapid technological advances, and increasing inequality. The episode centers on a debate hosted by the Geneva Science and Diplomacy Anticipator (GESDA/JESDA), featuring voices from international organizations, and an extended interview with Marilyn Anderson, GESDA’s head. The conversation wrestles with the fast pace of scientific innovation, the lag in regulatory and diplomatic response, and the importance of anticipation, fairness, and renewed trust in science.

Key Discussion Points & Insights

1. The Challenge of Rapid Scientific Advances

• AI and Beyond:
  The episode opens with reflections on the transformative—and sometimes threatening—nature of AI, its role in health, and its pervasiveness in daily life.

  Notable Quotes:

  • “AI is the future.” – Marilyn Anderson [00:53]
  • “Is it coming for your job? Is it saving your life?” – Tatiana Valovaya [00:55]
  • “Let's take advantage of knowing what is coming to act on it now and not be in reactive mode, not be in catch up mode soon.” – Marilyn Anderson [01:02]

• Loss of the 'Safe Space' for Regulation:
  There is concern that society is losing the buffer to thoughtfully regulate new technologies, as developments outpace governance and diplomacy.

  • “We don't have any more that space between the moment we know it's coming and the moment it's coming there. It is there.” – Marilyn Anderson [01:50]

• Power Dynamics:
  The influence of industry and wealth over regulatory and diplomatic frameworks is making it harder to reach consensus solutions.

  • “...power and the power bestowed by money are the deciding factors...” – Imogen Foulkes [16:29]

2. GESDA's Mission and Approach

• Science Anticipation:
  Marilyn Anderson describes GESDA as a Geneva-based foundation aiming to foresee scientific developments 5, 10, or 25 years into the future to proactively inform legislation and collaboration.

  • “So what we do is we work from what science has in its drawers in the future, that we structure into 5, 10, 25 years... to show what the possible futures are due to science, scientific advances, which currently are quite fast and quite transformative, so as to show that it is worth doing something about this information today, before these advances actually take place.” – Marilyn Anderson [05:02]

• From Anticipation to Action:
  GESDA not only anticipates scientific change but develops frameworks, provides training, and supports transition towards actionable projects worldwide.

3. AI, Social Media, and the Pace Vs. Diplomacy Dilemma

• Regulation Challenges:
  The episode examines the difficulties in regulating AI and emerging tech, particularly as developments are industry-driven rather than state-driven:

  • “What is wearing or what is very different is that it is a development that is not really any more state owned or state driven, but industry driven.” – Marilyn Anderson [11:43]
  • “We don't have that space, safe space to talk about what regulations we could have. Because there is already a race going on.” – Marilyn Anderson [10:28]

• Anticipatory Mindset as a Solution:
  The need to develop an anticipatory mindset is highlighted repeatedly as crucial for bridging the gap between fast innovation and slow governance.

4. Ethical and Societal Impacts – From Vaccine Equity to Brain-Computer Interfaces

• Equity in Innovation:
  The COVID vaccine rollout highlighted a gap in equitable access to technology.

  • “...while many, many developing countries couldn't afford it. It was too expensive. So I think when we discuss innovation, we need to have this equity lens, and it has to be embedded in research ecosystems as well.” – Sylvie Brion [17:29]

• Future Tech: Brain-Computer Interfaces:
  Anderson describes both the promise and worries about BCI technology, underlining the importance of using the current window to develop safeguards.

  • “It has amazing promises. But of course, as long as we talk about therapeutic applications, it's wonderful. But if you can do that, that means you can also do more. You can also, in a way, augment the capacities of very healthy individuals... This is something that we should look into...” – Marilyn Anderson [15:40]

5. The Role and Limits of Diplomacy

• Multilateralism Under Pressure:
  Several speakers reflect on the erosion of faith in collective diplomatic formats.

  • “Multilateralism, if you define it, at the core is the expression that public institutions have a crucial role in handling collective issues and finding solutions together.” – Sami Kanaan [16:53]

• Dialogue Over New Treaties:
  Rather than new treaties, adapting existing instruments and fostering scientist-to-diplomat bridges is encouraged.

  • “Probably what we need is a conversation about how we use them, what they mean in these new circumstances, how they need to be implemented.” – Tatiana Valovaya [18:16]

• Diplomacy & AI:
  The pace of AI could risk undermining the careful, consensus-building nature of diplomacy.

  • “...if we let AI help us, making decisions based on statistics...we can go fast. But this also has a danger... because time has helped or is helping in the past, the negotiation, the understanding of the other side and trying to find a way to come to an agreement.” – Marilyn Anderson [20:33]

6. Trust in Science and Public Skepticism

• Consequences of Science Misunderstanding:
  Recent years have seen growing mistrust in science, made worse by misinterpretation (believing science should provide immutable truth) and misuse (selectively using outlier findings).

  • “This is not how science works. Science is about evidence based demonstrations of what we observe...it is an evolving explanation...So to be angry that...to blame science for not having the final answer immediately is again misinterpreting what science says.” – Marilyn Anderson [23:56]

7. Issues of Anxiety and Reassurance

• The Sensationalism of Bad News:
  Anderson explains that humans are psychologically predisposed to notice and respond to bad news, skewing our perception of constant crisis.

  • “The anxiety might come in part from sensationalism about bad news. We react very strongly to bad news...But actually it is maybe because we don't give enough space to what is improving poverty, less child mortality, all the good things about health, advances and so on.” – Marilyn Anderson [27:43]

• A Call to Action:
  Everyone, regardless of profession or age, can contribute positively—anticipation, not fear, should guide our response to change:

  • “...everyone in their own sphere of influence has in mind to contribute positively to making the world a better place...maybe not be frightened or paralyzed by this overwhelming anxiety...” – Marilyn Anderson [28:44]
  • “Let's take advantage of knowing what is coming to act on it now and not be in reactive mode, not be in catch up mode.” – Marilyn Anderson [29:55]

Memorable Quotes & Timestamps

• “AI is the future.” – Marilyn Anderson [00:53]
• “We don't have any more that space between the moment we know it's coming and the moment it's coming there. It is there.” – Marilyn Anderson [01:50]
• “If we just, as you said, do things when they have already happened, then it's too late.” – Sylvie Brion [03:38]
• “War is a terrible thing, but at some stage...human beings decided to write the Geneva Conventions to at least reduce a little bit the horror of war.” – Sami Kanaan [03:57]
• “I was absolutely sure that a robot can't kill a human. We are living in the situation when we don't even have these AI ethics.” – Joerg Lauber [04:07]
• “...industry has at the heart of their mission financial return on investment. And therefore it's a very different goal.” – Marilyn Anderson [12:11]
• “We need to build this bridge between diplomats and scientists so the scientists can tell us what these new technologies mean.” – Tatiana Valovaya [18:32]
• “Science is not a dogma, it's not immutable truth. It is an evolving explanation.” – Marilyn Anderson [24:32]
• “We have in our hands, because of the technological advances, the means to do well. So I think the advice...would be that everyone in their own sphere of influence has in mind to contribute positively...” – Marilyn Anderson [28:44]

Notable Segments (Timestamps)

• [03:38] – The urgency of anticipating technological change
  Sylvie Brion and others highlight the consequences of "acting only when it's too late.”

• [05:02] – GESDA’s mission explained
  Marilyn Anderson introduces the organization and its anticipatory science approach.

• [11:43] – The shift from state-driven to industry-driven innovation
  Discussion on how this impacts regulation and the public good.

• [14:15] – Brain-computer interface, explained
  Anderson describes current status, potential, and risks of BCI tech.

• [17:29] – COVID vaccines and equity
  Sylvie Brion discusses the inequitable distribution caused by technological and economic barriers.

• [23:56] – The root causes of public distrust in science
  Marilyn Anderson challenges misunderstandings and misuse of scientific uncertainty.

• [27:43] – A message of hope and a call to positive action
  Anderson reframes sensationalism, offers reassurance, and encourages constructive engagement.

Tone & Style

The episode maintains a thoughtful, candid, and sometimes urgent tone, balancing concerns about the current state of global governance with optimism about the role of science and collective action. The speakers are direct but hopeful, urging a move from reactive to proactive approaches.

Conclusion

The episode underscores the urgent need to bridge science and diplomacy in facing challenges like AI and climate change. Marilyn Anderson and guests argue for an anticipatory, equitable, and collaborative mindset, while warning against complacency and growing mistrust of science. Listeners are left with a rallying call: everyone has a role in steering humanity through rapid change, and partnerships between scientific insight and diplomatic negotiation will be essential.

For further listening:
Check out earlier Inside Geneva episodes on humanitarian issues and the role of international organizations in Geneva.