Date: Wednesday, June 3, 2026
Time: 2:00 PM – 3:00 PM
Location: Virtual
The Policy Institute at KAUST invites you to a timely discussion with Dr. Maurizio Bona, former advisor to the director general of CERN. Over the course of his distinguished career, Dr. Bona played a key role in the development of superconducting magnets for the Large Hadron Collider, served as head of CERN’s Safety Department, and helped strengthen CERN’s relations with international organizations, including the United Nations. He will present a talk titled “Connecting science, diplomacy, and policymaking for the benefit of the society.”
Dr. Eman Alhajji, founder and chief executive officer of Golden Ratio Holding for Research, Development, and Innovation, will moderate the discussion. This Policy Institute Speaker Series session will examine the complex world of international relations and science diplomacy. Using real-world examples such as CERN’s integration into the U.N. multilateral system, Dr. Bona will address why the potential of science as a powerful driver for the sustainable development of the society is often limited and not fully exploited. He will lead a discussion on how educational programs and think tanks can better connect science and technology with diplomacy and policymaking.
This lecture will explore the complex relationship between science, technology, and international relations, drawing on more than a decade of experience at the intersection of these fields. Using the case study of CERN’s integration into the multilateral system and its U.N. General Assembly observer status, Dr. Bona will critically reflect on how science diplomacy is interpreted by governments and international organizations and translated into actions that benefit society.
The session will explore why science’s potential as a driver for sustainable development is frequently underutilized, including the shortage of educational programs and think tanks that bridge the gap between technology and policymaking.
Bringing together KAUST researchers, faculty, and the wider policy community with leading experts from around the world, the Policy Institute Speaker Series supports thoughtful dialogue on how science, technology, and research can better inform public policy decision-making in Saudi Arabia and beyond.
We would greatly value your participation in this discussion and hope you will be able to join us.