Science, Technology, Policy Fellowship Program: Fostering Science Advisement Program Overview

The Science, Technology, Policy (STeP) Fellowship Program is an initiative by the Inter-American Institute for Global Change Research (IAI) designed to integrate scientific expertise into government policy-making across Latin America and the Caribbean (LAC). The program targets early to mid-career scientists, particularly postdoctoral candidates, to provide them with practical experience in science advisement while strengthening the institutional capacity of government agencies to address global change challenges.

• The primary goal of the STeP Fellowship Program is to build human and institutional capacities within IAI Parties to provide expert scientific advice for public policy regarding global change. It specifically aims to enhance science communication in policy making and strengthen scientific input for government agencies in Latin America and the Caribbean (LAC).
• The program is structured into five distinct phases: Program Design (securing funding and establishing an advisory committee), Host Organizations (fundraising, outreach, and legal frameworks), Fellows (recruitment and matching), Fellowship Activities (work plans and training), and Program Evaluation and Sustainability (monitoring and establishing an alumni network).
• The fellowship seeks to address the 'scientific diaspora' by creating opportunities for highly-qualified national early career scientists living abroad to return to their home countries to work in government agencies.
• The program intends to provide multiple benefits across four stakeholder groups: Fellows gain professional development and policy experience; Host Organizations improve their access to specialized scientific expertise; IAI Parties strengthen their science-policy interface; and the IAI increases its added value and establishes a network of 'science ambassadors'.

APA

Inter-American Institute for Global Change Research (n.d.). Science, Technology, Policy Fellowship Program: Fostering Science Advisement Program Overview. https://archive.iai.int/admin/site/sites/default/files/iai-cop27-info-5.pdf

Chicago

Inter-American Institute for Global Change Research. Science, Technology, Policy Fellowship Program: Fostering Science Advisement Program Overview. n.d. https://archive.iai.int/admin/site/sites/default/files/iai-cop27-info-5.pdf.

Wikipedia

{{cite report |author=Inter-American Institute for Global Change Research |title=Science, Technology, Policy Fellowship Program: Fostering Science Advisement Program Overview |url=https://archive.iai.int/admin/site/sites/default/files/iai-cop27-info-5.pdf |access-date=17 August 2026 |via=Climate Insights Directory}}

BibTeX

@techreport{interamericaninstituteforglobalchangeresearchndscience, author = {{Inter-American Institute for Global Change Research}}, title = {{Science, Technology, Policy Fellowship Program: Fostering Science Advisement Program Overview}}, institution = {Inter-American Institute for Global Change Research}, url = {https://archive.iai.int/admin/site/sites/default/files/iai-cop27-info-5.pdf}, urldate = {2026-08-17}, note = {Indexed by Climate Insights Directory} }