Program Update: Science Technology and Policy (STeP) Fellowship Program

The STeP Fellowship Program aims to build human and institutional capacities in IAI member states to provide expert scientific advice for public policy on global change. Between 2022 and 2023, the program expanded its cohort to 64 fellows from 13 countries, providing training in science diplomacy, communication, and leadership. Key achievements include the graduation of the first cohort of 17 alumni in February 2023 and the development of science diplomacy projects covering topics such as the lithium supply chain, circular economy, and climate justice. The program is currently seeking financial support from the Gordon and Betty Moore Foundation.

• The STeP Fellowship Program is designed to enhance the ability of IAI member states to utilize scientific advice for public policy development regarding global change, specifically targeting early to mid-career scientists.
• During the 2022-2023 intersessional period, the program grew to include 64 Fellows from 13 countries, comprising 22 males and 42 females with degrees across 40 different disciplines, hosted by 30 public and private institutions.
• The program graduated its first cohort of 17 alumni in February 2023 and expanded its 2023-2024 group to 45 active fellows, adding new participants from Chile's Ministry of Science Technology Innovation and Knowledge and Uruguay's National Agency for Research and Innovation (ANII).
• Training for fellows between 2022 and 2023 combined virtual sessions on science diplomacy and in-person workshops in Uruguay, covering topics such as transdisciplinary leadership, Justice, Equity, Diversity and Inclusion (JEDI), and behavioural science.
• Fellows from Argentina, Bolivia, Brazil, Barbados, Canada, Jamaica, Mexico, Panama, Peru, and the USA developed science diplomacy projects on various global change challenges, including the '30 X 30' conservation ambition, microplastic pollution, and environmental justice in the lithium supply chain.
• The program partnered with the Journal of Science Policy & Governance (JSPG) to publish a special issue on 'Development Policy and Global Change Science to Achieve the Vision of Sustainable Americas' scheduled for release on June 15, 2023.
• The IAI is pursuing funding for the STeP program through the Gordon and Betty Moore Foundation (GBMF), submitting a concept note in April 2023 in collaboration with the Smithsonian Tropical Research Institute (STRI) in Panama.

APA

Inter-American Institute for Global Change Research (2023). Program Update: Science Technology and Policy (STeP) Fellowship Program. https://archive.iai.int/administrador/assets/images/ckfinder/files/Information%20Document%20CoP%2031%20STeP%20Program_KP.pdf

Chicago

Inter-American Institute for Global Change Research. Program Update: Science Technology and Policy (STeP) Fellowship Program. 2023. https://archive.iai.int/administrador/assets/images/ckfinder/files/Information%20Document%20CoP%2031%20STeP%20Program_KP.pdf.

Wikipedia

{{cite report |author=Inter-American Institute for Global Change Research |title=Program Update: Science Technology and Policy (STeP) Fellowship Program |date=4 May 2023 |url=https://archive.iai.int/administrador/assets/images/ckfinder/files/Information%20Document%20CoP%2031%20STeP%20Program_KP.pdf |access-date=23 October 2026 |via=Climate Insights Directory}}

BibTeX

@techreport{interamericaninstituteforglobalchangeresearch2023program, author = {{Inter-American Institute for Global Change Research}}, title = {{Program Update: Science Technology and Policy (STeP) Fellowship Program}}, institution = {Inter-American Institute for Global Change Research}, year = {2023}, month = may, url = {https://archive.iai.int/administrador/assets/images/ckfinder/files/Information%20Document%20CoP%2031%20STeP%20Program_KP.pdf}, urldate = {2026-10-23}, note = {Indexed by Climate Insights Directory} }