Science & Policy for Environmental Action
- Early-career researchers (minimum Ph.D. candidates). Master's students might be allowed in the programme on a case by case basis if their background and motivation letter show strong interest and/or early experience in science-policy engagement).
- Policy professionals from International Organisations,diplomatic missions and public agencies
- Professionals from NGOs, civil society organisations, platforms, media and the private sector
COURSE DESCRIPTION
From climate change to biodiversity loss or plastic pollution, environmental crises have become more complex and intertwined, calling for active collaboration between scientists and policy actors towards science-informed solutions.
To achieve this, scientists, policy actors and intermediaries need specific skills and capacities to navigate the science-policy interface related to global environmental governance and more localised pathways towards the ecological transition.
International Geneva is host to a rather unique ecosystem of international organisations, NGOs, diplomatic missions, think tanks, donors and research institutions - which creates opportunities for science to join the policy table. This vibrant environment provides an exceptional setting for immersing oneself in the dynamics of science-based global policymaking.
This Geneva Summer School offers a unique opportunity for early career researchers, policy professionals and civil society actors to:
- Understand transnational policymaking and the use of evidence and scientific knowledge : participants will gain insights into the notion of environmental governance, how policies are formulated and implemented at the international, national and local levels, the role of evidence and scientific knowledge in decision-making processes, as well as the role of non-state actors.
- Explore various models and practices to produce and translate knowledge in support of environmental policymaking: participants will understand how the interactions between science and policy actors have evolved over time, from linear approaches to more relational and integrated approaches, learn practical resources and skills to conduct knowledge translation initiatives and policy dialogues, and get to know the critical role of boundary organisations and knowledge brokers play.
- Gain practical insights from high-level experts and practitioners from International Geneva while exploring some of the key locations of environmental governance: participants will find out about the dynamics and politics of expertise in policymaking from seasoned experts with first-hand experience and discover the strategic and cultural skills required to navigate the science-policy interface.
- Build a network and gain interdisciplinary exposure: participants will get opportunities for networking with researchers, peers and experts from diverse disciplinary backgrounds and sectors of activity, broadening their perspectives, and developing their capacity for interdisciplinary approaches to addressing global environmental challenges.
- Develop leadership skills and discover career pathways in different contexts: participants will get the opportunity to share about their current research or professional activity and benefit from feedback on how to further advance their objectives.
The course will include conceptual framing sessions, interactive sessions with practitioners, practical, experiential activities and field visits. It will involve high-level experts and practitioners working at the science-policy interface.
- Module 1: Environmental governance - understanding decision-making, power dynamics and the role of expertise
- Module 2: Knowledge brokering - practical skills to translate knowledge in support of policymaking
- Module 3: Collaboration and co-production - the art of building trust and connection across the science-policy boundaries)
- Module 4: Process management - facilitating science-policy engagement activities
- Module 5: Leadership and career paths at the interface
COURSE CREDITS
Equivalence of 3 ECTS
Students will be provided with a Certificate of Completion for their course if they satisfy attendance. Students wanting to acquire 3 ECTS have the opportunity to do so on the basis of a written assignment.
It is the sole responsibility of the student to secure approval from their home institution for the transfer or recognition of academic credit for this course, in accordance with our Terms & Conditions.
Junior Professionals: CHF 1,100
External students (*): CHF 900
UNIGE students (*): CHF 250
(*) Master’s degree-seeking students and PhD candidates only. The tuition fees for lifelong learning students are subject to employment status.
50% Tuition Fee Reductions for Partner Institutions:
550 CHF for participants from the following organizations: WMO, UNEP, UNITAR, UNECE, BRS Convention, Ramsar Convention, FOEN, IISD, IUCN, Biovision, UNCTAD, GEO, CIEL.
APPLICATION DEADLINE: 15 April 2026
Note: No course-housing packages are available for this course.
Academic Directors:
Dr. Alexandre Hedjazi
Insitute for Environmental Sciences
Univeristy of Geneva
Dr. Frédérique Guerin
Geneva Science Policy Interface
Course Coordinator:
Dr. Mialy Rann
Geneva Science Policy Interface
Confirmed speakers (more to be announced) :
- Frédérique Guérin, Deputy Director for Programmes, GSPI
- Alexandre Hedjazi, Senior Lecturer, University of Geneva
- Mialy Rann, Science-Policy Officer, GSPI
- David Azoulay, Director of the Environmental Health Program, Center for International Environmental Law - CIEL
- Gabriela Blatter, Head of section, International Climate and Biodiversity Policy, Swiss Federal Office for the Environment (FOEN)
- Gregory Giuliani, Head of the Digital Earth Unit, UNEP-GRID
- Sigrun Habermann, Chief of the Library Services Section, UN Library & Archives Geneva
- Benjamin Hofmann, Group Leader at TdLab, ETH Zurich
- Nadejda Khamrakulova, Economic Affairs Officer, Sustainable Energy Division, UNECE
- Diana Rizzolio, Geneva Environment Network Coordinator, UNEP
- Caroline Schlaufer, Senior Researcher and Co-Manager of the Ethics and Policy Lab MCID, University of Bern
- Oksana Tarasova, Senior Scientific Officer, Infrastructure Department, WMO
- Lene Topp, Science for Policy Expert and Facilitator, Topp Advice
- Laura Turley, Senior Science-Policy Manager, the Geneva Water Hub
Ricci Yue, Lecturer in Sustainable Resource Policy, University College London - 2025 Edition
I highly recommend this summer school to anyone passionate about bridging science and policy. It provides invaluable insights into navigating the complex interface between environmental science and policymaking, offering practical skills in knowledge translation and contributing to the transformation of the science-policy landscape. You will earn an unparalleled opportunity to learn from leading experts, build meaningful networks, and develop the transdisciplinary skills essential for addressing today’s transboundary and pressing global challenges.
Catherine Deschenes, PhD Candidate, Norwegian University of Science and Technology - 2025 Edition
I think as I come out of this Science-Policy summer school, I can definitely say I am changed. Changed as a scientist, changed as an individual. I am motivated and hopeful for the future. I came in frustrated by my research and limited impact, and I came out as a hopeful early career scientist looking for new window of opportunities in the Science-Policy interface.
Patricia Villarrubia Gómez, PhD Candidate, The Stocholm Resilience Centre - 2024 Edition
The GSPI Summer School not only enhanced my professional skills but also broadened my perspectives on global environmental challenges. Attending the GSPI Summer School was a truly transformative and enjoyable experience as an early-career researcher. The course organizers are friendly, present, and approachable, creating a welcoming learning environment and fostering sincere, deep discussions. I found the applicability of the course to be one of its strongest advantages! The emphasis on knowledge co-production and brokering strategies significantly improved my approach to research, and I now feel more confident in applying these skills in real-world scenarios.
Sophie-Dorothe Lieke, PhD Candidate, The University of Göttingen - 2023 Edition
"Having an academic background that straddles the social and natural sciences, I often see the limitations between us researchers and how we communicate and deliver our findings to not only those who are interested in our work, but also to those who can influence and put into practice what our findings. I'm leaving the summer school with a toolkit and a whole host of connections, networks, frameworks and strategies to marry the social sciences and natural sciences with policy so that I can better navigate this interface."
Sho Yamasaki, Environemtal Policy Analyst, OECD - 2023 Edition
"I took this course to deepen my understanding of the interface of policy and science. This course allowed me to explore the diverse players in the interface and what they're doing. For instance, I now have a better understanding in the intergovernmental panels such as IPCC on IPBES. My current project is to give assessment and recommendations on environmental policies for the OECD member countries. So with this study, I think I can reflect better on scientific messages using policy implications and more actionable recommendations coming from the science evidence.
I also learned about the importance of multistakeholder views. I think this is important to facilitate policy based on evidence. And then also I realized that I should deepen my expertise in certain environmental domains because I have a more general knowledge. So I am now more interested in the issues of environmental justice and the distributional impacts coming out from the course this week."
Linda Lammensalo, Knowledge Broker, Finnish Academy of Science and Letters - 2023 Edition
"I think this course is an excellent opportunity to connect with like-minded individuals and learn from each other, learn specific tools and strategies on how to improve the science-policy interface.
What I really also learned is the importance of institutionalizing initiatives in the science-policy interface. So how to kind of scale up interventions and make them more effective. I also learned the importance of co-design and co-creation in the science-policy interface. So the need to bring actors together from different sides, different perspectives and have this multistakeholder dialog together for solving these complex problems.
I also learned that we have these complex environmental issues, challenges like climate crisis and biodiversity loss, and we need to work together to find evidence-based solutions to tackle these issues. And we really need to have scientists and policymakers working together, together with knowledge brokers, to find innovative solutions.
And this is the added value of this course: to get practical information on how to do this and translate it into the daily work of each of us."