The contribution of COST Actions to the United Nations’ objectives

As part of the Science Summit at the 78^th United Nations General Assembly (UNGA78), COST is offering a networking reception on 13 September to promote COST Actions’ contribution to the United Nations’ work, and on 15 September a session co-organised by COST and the US National Science Foundation AccelNET Program will take place (details below). 

Attendance to the networking reception will be possible by invitation only.
13/09/2023, 17:30-19:30
European Union Delegation to the United Nations in New York, 666 Third Avenue, New York, NY 10017
Places are limited and COST reimbursement is not applicable. Individuals wishing to attend are kindly requested to express their interest (please, provide professional details) as soon as possible via the online form at the bottom of this page. We will contact them by email within the shortest possible delay to confirm whether they can attend.

The following COST Actions will be represented at the reception:

• International Network to Encourage the Use of Monitoring and Forecasting Dust Products (InDust). This COST Action ended in November 2021 was a precursor to manage and mitigate the effects of sand and dust storms also resulting in the UN General Assembly declaring 12 July the International Day of Combating Dust Storms. It will be represented by Dr Slobodan Nickovic, the Action Vice Chair.
• International Interdisciplinary Network on Smart Healthy Age-friendly Environments (NET4AGE-FRIENDLY), which was recognised as good practice in the implementation of the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development Goals, will be represented by Ms Carina Dantas, the Action Chair.
• Marine Animal Forest of the world (MAF-WORLD), which was officially endorsed by the UN Decade of the Ocean Program as a UN Ocean Decade Action  Ocean Decade, will be represented by Dr Sergio Rossi, the Action Chair.
• Globalization, Illicit Trade, Sustainability and Security (GLITSS), represented by Prof Aleksandar Marsavelski, Action co-Vice Chair, aims to size this moment to engage with relevant UN stakeholders. This network collaboration, initiated in 2022, aims to enhance comprehension of strategies for combating illicit trade.

Information about the COST-NSF session
Expanding scientific frontiers via international cooperation and networking
15/09/2023, 09:00-12:00
City University, New York, Graduate Centre, 365 5th Ave, New York, NY 10016
Registration is required through the Science Summit at UNGA78's website. Please register to be kept up to date.
The link to join the session remotely will be announced here soon.

This session will highlight the added value gained from international scientific networking and research cooperation using examples from two funding schemes, the European Cooperation in Science and Technology, or COST Programme, and the US National Science Foundation Accelnet Program. Global cooperation and collaboration in research accelerate progress towards achieving Sustainable Development Goals. Multilateral cooperation between funding agencies in connecting scientific networks working on closely related ideas generates innovation by bringing together diverse perspectives focused on a core problem and creates greater visibility for scientists joining a global pool of scientific expertise. The session will include introduction to the model for international networking behind two major Global North funding schemes, examples from teams funded by both schemes, and examples of multilateral cooperation in funding. There will be some time at the end to 'meet & greet' for interested participants to talk to funded teams about their experience or learn more about the models and details of the various funding schemes discussed.