PURPOSE: The purpose of this paper is to present a first exploration of governmental duty of care towards
scientists involved in science diplomacy by focusing on disaster research.
DESIGN/METHODOLOGY/APPROACH: The method is a conceptual exploration, using specific case studies and
potential scenarios within theories and practices of science diplomacy and duty of care, to raise questions and
to suggest policy recommendations for government. The focus on disaster research links the analysis to
disaster diplomacy, namely, how and why disaster-related activities (in this case, science) do and do not
influence peace and conflict.
FINDINGS: From examining case studies of, and outputs and outcomes from, disaster-related science
diplomacy, governments need to consider duty of care issues in advance and develop a science diplomacy
strategy, rather than responding after the fact or developing policy ad hoc.
PRACTICAL IMPLICATIONS: Policy recommendations are provided to try to ensure that governments avoid
simply reacting after a crisis, instead being ready for a situation before it arises and drawing on others’
experience to improve their own actions.
SOCIAL IMPLICATIONS: Improved interaction between science and society is discussed in the context of
diplomacy, especially for disaster-related activities.
ORIGINALITY/VALUE: Governmental duty of care has not before been applied to science diplomacy. The focus
on disaster-related science further provides a comparatively new dimension for science diplomacy
