SloveNile (The Slovenian Egyptian Heritage Science Platform) has been invited to be presented at the EUTOPIA Science Diplomacy Global Conference, taking place on 29 May 2026 at the Fondation Universitaire in Brussels. This participation highlights SloveNile as a concrete model of North–South Mediterranean cooperation and an innovative practice in heritage science diplomacy.
SloveNile will be presented by Dr Abdelrazek Elnaggar, Research Fellow at the Heritage Science Laboratory Ljubljana, University of Ljubljana, Slovenia, as part of Panel 2: “The Fourth Dimension – Diplomacy in Science”. The panel explores how researchers and academic networks can act as diplomatic actors in today’s fragmented global landscape. It highlights how scientists contribute not only as producers of knowledge, but also as connectors across borders, promoting shared values, trust, and collaboration in times of geopolitical uncertainty.
Hosted within the Slovenian Node of the European Research Infrastructure for Heritage Science – E-RIHS.si and the Centre of Excellence in Green Heritage Science – GreenHer, SloveNile will be presented as a living example of how heritage science can operate as both a scientific and diplomatic bridge between Europe and the Southern Mediterranean. By bringing together researchers, institutions, and communities from Slovenia, Egypt and beyond, SloveNile promotes the co-production of knowledge on cultural heritage, sustainability, and climate-related challenges. The platform demonstrates how academic collaboration can support mutual understanding, foster long-term partnerships, and enable equitable knowledge exchange between North and South.
Organised by the EUTOPIA European University Alliance, the Science Diplomacy Global Conference responds to growing global challenges, including the erosion of multilateralism, the politicisation of science, and the need to safeguard science as a global public good. The conference brings together academics, policymakers, diplomats, and students to examine the evolving role of universities in this context. EUTOPIA places universities at the heart of science diplomacy, viewing them as laboratories (dynamic environments) where new diplomatic practices can emerge through research collaboration, academic mobility, and shared scientific norms. SloveNile activity aligns strongly with this vision, showcasing how heritage-focused initiatives can contribute to broader diplomatic and societal goals.
The conference will culminate in the signing of the Brussels Statement, a landmark document outlining the role of European University Alliances in global science diplomacy. Participation in this high-level conference reinforces the University of Ljubljana’s leadership in international academic cooperation and strengthens the global visibility of HSLL and GreenHer initiatives within the wider science diplomacy landscape.
For more information about the conference and the program, see the conference link; https://eutopia-university.eu/opportunities/science-diplomacy-conference/
