Scientists from 80 Countries Adopt Beijing Science Declaration

Scientists from 80 countries have adopted the Beijing Science Declaration, committing to open scientific collaboration and shared norms for AI in research, according to the International Science Council. This move comes as geopolitical shifts and the rise of artificial intelligence are reshaping the landscape of scientific research.

The declaration expresses concern over geopolitical tensions, unequal access to scientific resources, and gaps in capacity that are straining the global science system. Signatories of the Beijing Science Declaration affirm the importance of scientific and academic freedom, emphasizing the right of researchers to cooperate internationally without discrimination or undue interference. They also underscore the responsibility of researchers to uphold research integrity and ethical norms.

The declaration calls for the strengthening of global research networks and shared infrastructure, with a particular focus on capacity-building in under-resourced regions. The goal is to ensure that no country or group is left behind in the evolving scientific landscape. This commitment to open science and open data is seen as crucial for maintaining a cooperative global science system.

In addition to these efforts, the declaration addresses the integration of artificial intelligence (AI) into scientific research. While recognizing the significant opportunities AI offers for research, the declaration warns that it may change the pace and paradigm of science itself. The signatories commit to developing shared norms for AI in research, adapting these norms to different disciplines while protecting intellectual property. They advocate for AI governance grounded in scientific evidence, with the social sciences involved from the outset. The declaration also calls for international cooperation to prevent AI in science from creating new digital divides, a risk that the International Science Council has been tracking in research systems, particularly in under-resourced regions.

The Beijing Science Declaration also emphasizes the importance of strengthening science-society links and earning public trust. The signatories acknowledge that fragmented, siloed ways of working can limit the public value of science and are reinforced by what science itself rewards. To realize science as a global public good, the declaration commits scientists to rethink their functions and responsibilities, valuing transdisciplinary, collaborative approaches in which research is co-designed with the communities it seeks to serve. The declaration calls for sustained multi-directional dialogue with the public, including marginalized communities, to communicate uncertainty openly and to distinguish clearly between facts, scientific judgments, and value choices in public debate.

It highlights the gap between knowledge and action, emphasizing the need to bring science to the center of decision-making rather than leaving it at the margins. This calls for a strengthened science-policy-society interface and for science systems that support the integration of scientific insights into policy and practice.

The Beijing Science Declaration represents a significant step towards ensuring that the global science community remains open and cooperative, even as geopolitical and technological changes continue to reshape the research landscape.