Science Diplomacy Center: a regional initiative to foster Science-Policy Dialogue and Collaboration for a peaceful, prosperous, and sustainable Americas

The IAI Science Diplomacy Center (SDC) is a regional initiative designed to foster science-policy dialogue and collaboration in the Americas, particularly Latin America and the Caribbean. Between 2023 and April 2024, the SDC established three priority pillars: Capacity Building, a Knowledge Hub, and Emerging/Evolving/Innovation Issues. Key achievements include the launch of a Science Diplomacy Training Program for Policy Makers, the expansion of the Science, Technology, and Policy (STeP) Fellowship program, and the development of a specialized science diplomacy curriculum with the University of Sao Paulo. The SDC is also building a Knowledge Hub to map experts, bibliography, and events, while engaging in strategic partnerships with organizations such as AAAS, UNESCO, and DiploCientifica to secure funding and expand regional training.

• The SDC has established three priority pillars for its 2023-2026 plan: Capacity Building, a Knowledge Hub, and Emerging, Evolving, Innovation Issues.
• Under the Capacity Building pillar, the SDC launched a training program for policymakers, starting with an inaugural workshop in Panama (October 2023) attended by over 50 participants, and has planned further workshops in Brazil, Chile, and Paraguay for 2023-2027.
• The University of Sao Paulo is developing a specialized science diplomacy curriculum to be launched in 2024, featuring four modules and 16 regional case studies tailored for the Latin American and Caribbean (LAC) region.
• The SDC is developing a Knowledge Hub to optimize data management and accessibility in the LAC region, focusing on three data types: bibliography, actors and experts, and events.
• The Science, Technology, and Policy (STeP) Fellowship Program has expanded to include 47 fellows from 14 countries in its third iteration, focusing on topics such as the UNFCCC, conflict resolution, and diplomatic protocols.
• The SDC has secured initial funding from the National Science Foundation, SENACYT Panama, MCTI Brazil, and FAPESC Santa Catarina Brazil, while forming strategic partnerships with AAAS, DiploCientifica, and UNESCO.

APA

Inter-American Institute for Global Change Research (2024). Science Diplomacy Center: a regional initiative to foster Science-Policy Dialogue and Collaboration for a peaceful, prosperous, and sustainable Americas. https://www.iai.int/administrador/assets/images/ckfinder/files/Summary%20Report%20of%20IAI%20Science%20Diplomacy%20Center%20Activities_April2024.pdf

Chicago

Inter-American Institute for Global Change Research. Science Diplomacy Center: a regional initiative to foster Science-Policy Dialogue and Collaboration for a peaceful, prosperous, and sustainable Americas. 2024. https://www.iai.int/administrador/assets/images/ckfinder/files/Summary%20Report%20of%20IAI%20Science%20Diplomacy%20Center%20Activities_April2024.pdf.

Wikipedia

{{cite report |author=Inter-American Institute for Global Change Research |title=Science Diplomacy Center: a regional initiative to foster Science-Policy Dialogue and Collaboration for a peaceful, prosperous, and sustainable Americas |date=April 2024 |url=https://www.iai.int/administrador/assets/images/ckfinder/files/Summary%20Report%20of%20IAI%20Science%20Diplomacy%20Center%20Activities_April2024.pdf |access-date=17 August 2026 |via=Climate Insights Directory}}

BibTeX

@techreport{interamericaninstituteforglobalchangeresearch2024science, author = {{Inter-American Institute for Global Change Research}}, title = {{Science Diplomacy Center: a regional initiative to foster Science-Policy Dialogue and Collaboration for a peaceful, prosperous, and sustainable Americas}}, institution = {Inter-American Institute for Global Change Research}, year = {2024}, month = apr, url = {https://www.iai.int/administrador/assets/images/ckfinder/files/Summary%20Report%20of%20IAI%20Science%20Diplomacy%20Center%20Activities_April2024.pdf}, urldate = {2026-08-17}, note = {Indexed by Climate Insights Directory} }