🔬 Spotlight: "Climate justice begins with understanding the structures that shape inequality." - Fadzai Chipato We're delighted to have Fadzai in our fellowship community & look forward to the contributions her research will make to debates on climate justice. 🔗 www.aia-nrw.org/en/fellow/fa...

“Only through sustained interdisciplinary & international dialogue can we develop the ideas needed to address the complex challenges of our time,” said Dr. Zein Al Din, as Fellows, partners, & friends gathered for our Summer Reception to celebrate the collaborations that drive exchange.

"Institutions won't be defined by reacting fastest, but by anticipating uncertainties yet to emerge." Our Director, Dr. Mayssoun Zein Al Din, after meeting Dr. Youssef Nassef (UNFCCC). The talk spanned Europe's role, post-hydrocarbon Middle East & future institutions.

Brazil's climate paradiplomacy has a structural flaw, says AIA NRW Fellow Débora Prado: the constitution gives the federal government sole authority over international affairs, leaving states & cities to act informally. 🔗 www.aia-nrw.org/en/impulse/f...

"It is time to start discussing about how AI's environmental impact is distributed in societies and across the Global South-North, not only about making the technology more efficient." – AIA NRW Fellow @yihyunkang.bsky.social, after the first UN Global Dialogue on AI Governance in Geneva.

Welcoming a new cohort of Academy Fellows from around the world! From AI and democratic resilience to climate justice, maritime governance, and energy security, their research tackles the structural challenges shaping tomorrow's political agenda. 🔗 aia-nrw.org/en/fellows/

🚀 Einladung zur Podiumsdiskussion: 80 Jahre NRW – Vom Industrieland zum strategischen Akteur der Sicherheitsarchitektur von morgen. Mit Mona Neubaur, Sebastian Hartmann, Armin Laschet & Armin Papperger. Anmeldung: www.eventbrite.de/e/1989904598...

"The future of Europe depends on Germany and Poland acting as strategic partners." – Our Director joined a high-level exchange marking the 35th anniversary of the German-Polish Treaty on Good Neighbourship. Strengthening this partnership remains central to AIA NRW's mission.

A special milestone: Our first Early Career Researcher, Boyhun Kim, presented her doctoral research after submitting her PhD at Ghent University, challenging views of EU climate leadership by highlighting South Korea's strategic agency in adopting EU climate norms. 🔗 www.aia-nrw.org/en/decentrin...

🌡️Climate change is more than an environmental challenge. AIA Fellows joined the conference “Climate Change as a Crisis of Nature?” in Bonn, exploring how governance, culture, economics and politics shape responses to climate change and global transformation. 🔗 www.aia-nrw.org/en/climate-c...

“Sustainable stability in the Middle East will not emerge from the absence of disagreements, but from institutions, dialogue, and bridge-building.” Key discussion between our Director & H.E. Abdallah bin Ibrahim Al Hamar on regional security, cooperation, & the future of the Gulf & the Middle East.

Ryan Mulholland (Center for American Progress) joined AIA Fellows for a discussion on transatlantic politics, economic challenges, WTO reform, climate diplomacy, and the role of think tanks. A timely exchange on global challenges and international cooperation. 🔗 www.aia-nrw.org/en/ryan-mulh...

📄 New AIA NRW Discussion Paper: Europe faces a growing alliance dilemma—how to avoid both dependence on the US and vulnerability to Russian coercion. Summar Iqbal Babar and Ahyousha Khan explore what a more balanced European security architecture could look like. 🔗 www.aia-nrw.org/en/publicati...

🇩🇪 What does the #Zeitenwende mean for Germany’s future? A panel with Gerlinde Groitl, Friedrich Kießling & Gen. (ret.) Jörg Vollmer, experts discussed rearmament, strategic sovereignty, and lessons from history. Thanks to 170 participants for a great debate. 🔗 www.aia-nrw.org/en/rearmamen...

🔓 How can the European Union strengthen its influence in an increasingly fragmented world? Stuart MacDonald argues that the EU's greatest soft power strength lies not in centralized projection, but in its pluralistic, decentralized, & relationship-based approach. 🔗 www.aia-nrw.org/en/publicati...

“Sudan’s war is far more than a struggle between two generals,” said our Director, Dr. Mayssoun Zein Al Din, after interviewing Navid Kermani. Their conversation explored the conflict’s humanitarian and geopolitical dimensions. Full article coming soon in our magazine.

💡Scientific excellence is a strategic asset for society. Speaking at Rotary Club Bonn-Kreuzberg, our Director Dr. Zein Al Din highlighted how curiosity-driven research fuels transformative breakthroughs, expands future opportunities, & helps societies shape what is possible for generations to come.

New Fellow Alert 🚨 Dr. Anthony Acquah joins us with a project on ethical tech diplomacy in Germany–Africa relations, exploring Germany’s role in advancing responsible AI standards in Africa. His research focuses on public policy, digital governance & tech diplomacy. 🔗 www.aia-nrw.org/en/fellow/an...

Visit by Dr Claire Demesmay, Attachée for French higher education cooperation at the French Embassy in Germany and Director of the Institut français Bonn. 💡Key takeaways: Franco-German ties are central to EU stability, need renewed alignment, and stronger academic-diplomatic cooperation.

❗️Event Alert: Join us in celebrating 80 years of North Rhine-Westphalia with a high-level discussion on Europe’s future security, resilience, and technological sovereignty. 🇩🇪 More insights: www.aia-nrw.org/en/e/80-year...

Marking the 35th anniversary of theGerman-Polish Good Neighbourliness Treaty, our Director Dr. Zein Al Din emphasized that close cooperation remains vital for Europe’s stability. Yesterday, the Academy welcomed Rafał Sobczak, Aleksander Gowin, & Agnieszka Fröhlich for a forward-looking exchange.

‼️ Application deadline extended - join our fellowship programme 2027/ 28 Top benefits include: 🌐 Access to a high-level international network 👥 Opportunity to develop influential, policy-relevant work 💪 Strong financial and practical support Apply here: www.aia-nrw.org/de/akademie/...

“Cities like Aachen are increasingly central actors in shaping Europe’s response to geopolitical and societal transformation,” said Dr. Mayssoun Zein Al Din after meeting Mayor Michael Ziemons. The exchange reflects the Academy of International Affairs NRW’s focus on city diplomacy.

AIA Fellow @cecilepelaudeix.bsky.social met Robert Habeck at the Danish Institute for International Studies to discuss European & Arctic security, EU strategic autonomy, & critical raw material, which reflects her fellowship research. Fellow Profile: www.aia-nrw.org/en/fellow/ce...

🌍 Climate change is reshaping geopolitics from the Arctic to the Strait of Hormuz, opening new Arctic routes while reinforcing the Strait’s role as a critical energy chokepoint. Key takeaway: climate change is now a central driver of global power shifts.

Exchange at the Parliament of NRW focused on Germany’s and NRW’s role in supporting Ukraine 🇺🇦. Our Associate Fellow Mariia Levchenko highlighted how humanitarian aid, development & peacebuilding must work together to enable long-term resilience and reconstruction.

Exchange with the “Europe and Foreign Economic Policy” group highlighted the strategic role of critical raw materials for Europe. With Fellow @cecilepelaudeix.bsky.social laudeix, the focus was on supply risks, geopolitics, and implications for NRW’s energy transition.

❓ Wie verändert der Klimawandel die globale Macht? Welche Rolle spielen Energie, Ressourcen & Handelsrouten? Einladung zur Paneldiskussion in Kooperation mit @idos-research.bsky.social. 📅 05.05.2026 | 📍 Bonn | 🗣️ Deutsch 🔗 www.aia-nrw.org/arktis

Our Director, Dr. Mayssoun Zein Al Din, highlighted a constructive exchange with Sebastian Hartmann and Ralf Stegner on strengthening Bonn as a hub for international cooperation. The discussion reaffirmed Bonn’s strategic role in global governance and opened avenues for future collaboration.

Bonn as a UN Hub: Insights from Ambassador Röken Academy NRW, led by Director Mayssoun Zein Al Din, hosted Ambassador Stephan Röken to discuss Bonn’s role as a UN hub and how networked multilateralism shapes global development. #UNBonn #Multilateralism