While coral reefs are disappearing around the world, the Red Sea has recently embodied the true hope that at least one large coral ecosystem will survive global warming due to the exceptional resistance of its reefs to the rise of water temperatures. How can a regional and inclusive approach to preserving these coral reefs be taken when the Red Sea is at the center of geopolitical struggles involving regional and international actors? Can science diplomacy foster engagement between scientists and policy makers to formulate and implement an environmental protection strategy at the scale of the entire Red Sea? It is the ambition of the newly created Transnational Red Sea Center at EPFL, with the support of the Swiss Ministry of Foreign Affairs, to capitalise on similar initiatives and address these questions. For the sake of coral reefs – and regional stability. 

Panel discussion with: 

• Alexandre Fasel, Ambassador, Special Representative for Science Diplomacy, Federal Department of Foreign Affairs
• Anders Meibom, Director of the Transnational Red Sea Center, EPFL
• Yana Abu Taleb, Jordanian Director, EcoPeace Middle East
• Achim Wennmann, Director of Strategic Partnerships and Senior Researcher at the Centre on Conflict, Development and Peacebuilding, the Geneva Graduate Institute (moderator) 

This panel discussion is organised in partnership with the Club Diplomatique de Genève and the Transnational Red Sea Center at EPFL as part of the Science Diplomacy Week.

Please note that this event can be joined online or in-person and will be recorded and made available on the Institute's YouTube channel.