From Thursday, February 12 to Saturday, February 14, 2026, the American Association for the Advancement of Science (AAAS) Annual Meeting was held in Phoenix, Arizona, USA. On Friday the 13th, during a panel session titled “Voices in the Storm: Science Advisers in a Turbulent World,” the Japan Science and Technology Agency (JST) engaged in discussions with U.S. counterparts on the roles that scientific advice and science advisory systems should play.

The session examined today’s global context—marked by rising geopolitical tensions, wavering public trust in scientific knowledge, and the growing importance of how emerging technologies are addressed in national security—and featured examples from Japan, the United States, and international frameworks such as the G20. Lively exchanges took place on topics including research security, science communication, the role of the social sciences, international cooperation, and bridging science with politics and society.

During the Q&A session with the audience, participants also discussed the roles of non-state actors and practical challenges in balancing open science with national security considerations.

Links for the summary of the event:

Voices in the Storm: Science Advisers in a Turbulent World（PDF：291KB）

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