Science Diplomacy Center

This briefing document, prepared by the IAI Directorate for the 33rd meeting of the Conference of the Parties, outlines recommendations from the Advisory Board of the IAI Science Diplomacy Center (SDC). The recommendations focus on expanding capacity building, redesigning fellowship programs, addressing emerging issues like artificial intelligence, and launching a digital Knowledge Hub to integrate science, policy, and diplomacy across the Americas.

• The Advisory Board recommends expanding capacity building through the geographical expansion of in-person workshops and the regional dissemination of a new online self-paced Science Diplomacy and Innovation curriculum. To improve practical value, the Board suggests integrating the curriculum with the Knowledge Hub and adding supplementary materials such as practitioner interviews and templates for local adaptation.
• The SDC is redesigning the STeP Fellowship program, with a specific focus on monitoring the outcomes of the Bioeconomy Cohort in Brazil to inform the design of future cohorts in other countries. Fellows are expected to produce impactful policy and science diplomacy outcomes to strengthen efforts within their host institutions and Parties.
• A Working Group on Emerging Issues has been established, with artificial intelligence designated as the annual theme for 2025–2026. This group will develop an issue brief with regionally representative experts to inform policymaking, with recommendations to be forwarded to the CoP at its 34th meeting in 2026.
• The Advisory Board recommends the launch of a Knowledge Hub as a digital platform to share science diplomacy practices, events, and outputs. This hub will be developed in coordination with the IAI website to increase the visibility of regional efforts and connect various actors.
• General recommendations for the SDC include expanding engagement beyond public institutions to include NGOs, universities, and the private sector, and strengthening partnerships with multilateral institutions such as the WMO, UNCDB, UNFCCC, and ISC. The Board also suggests implementing impact indicators to track effectiveness and adopting a phased renewal mechanism for the Advisory Board to ensure transparency and continuity.

APA

Inter-American Institute for Global Change Research (2025). Science Diplomacy Center. https://archive.iai.int/administrador/assets/images/ckfinder/files/IAI-COP-33-8-en.pdf

Chicago

Inter-American Institute for Global Change Research. Science Diplomacy Center. 2025. https://archive.iai.int/administrador/assets/images/ckfinder/files/IAI-COP-33-8-en.pdf.

Wikipedia

{{cite report |author=Inter-American Institute for Global Change Research |title=Science Diplomacy Center |date=23 April 2025 |url=https://archive.iai.int/administrador/assets/images/ckfinder/files/IAI-COP-33-8-en.pdf |access-date=17 August 2026 |via=Climate Insights Directory}}

BibTeX

@techreport{interamericaninstituteforglobalchangeresearch2025science, author = {{Inter-American Institute for Global Change Research}}, title = {{Science Diplomacy Center}}, institution = {Inter-American Institute for Global Change Research}, year = {2025}, month = apr, url = {https://archive.iai.int/administrador/assets/images/ckfinder/files/IAI-COP-33-8-en.pdf}, urldate = {2026-08-17}, note = {Indexed by Climate Insights Directory} }