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 aimed at strengthening the science-policy interface 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/Innovation Issues. Key achievements include the launch of a training workshop in Panama, the expansion of the STeP Fellowship program to 47 fellows from 14 countries, and the development of a specialized science diplomacy curriculum with the University of Sao Paulo. The SDC is also building a digital Knowledge Hub and forging strategic partnerships with entities such as AAAS, UNESCO, and DiploCientifica to support sustainable development and global environmental change objectives.

• The IAI Science Diplomacy Center (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 its inaugural training workshop for policymakers in Panama from 19-21 October 2023, which involved over 50 attendees and 11 IAI Parties, resulting in the creation of a science diplomacy declaration.
• The SDC is expanding its training reach with planned workshops in Brazil, Chile, and Paraguay between 2023 and 2027, including a December 2024 workshop in Brazil in collaboration with the Ministry of Science, Technology, and Innovation.
• The University of Sao Paulo is developing a specialized science diplomacy curriculum for the Latin American and Caribbean (LAC) region, scheduled for launch in 2024, featuring four modules and 16 regional case studies.
• The SDC is developing a Knowledge Hub to organize science diplomacy information in the LAC region, utilizing a taxonomy and a three-phase implementation process: Preparation and Preliminary Setup, Data Uploading and Verification, and Testing and Launch.
• The Science, Technology, and Policy (STeP) Fellowship Program has grown 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 pursuing further partnerships with organizations like the 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} }