Panama hosts its flagship science event: Four days to connect research and policy

From September 30 to October 3, 2025, Panama City hosted the 20th edition of the National Science and Technology Congress (APANAC), which coincided with the 40th anniversary of the association that organizes it. Under the slogan “Four decades of global impact and scientific excellence in Panama,” the meeting brought together researchers, public managers, and international organizations at a time of expansion for Panama's scientific ecosystem.

In recent years, Panama has accelerated its academic output and innovation capacity, with universities, institutes, and research centers pushing new technologies and collaborative projects. The congress consolidated this momentum as a platform for interdisciplinary exchange, open science, and regional partnerships.

The Inter-American Institute for Global Change Research (IAI) participated in this important meeting to share experiences on the integration of science and public policy in the Americas, as well as on collaborative approaches to addressing the challenges of climate change and sustainable development.

The IAI agenda: science that speaks the language of policy

The Inter-American Institute for Global Change Research (IAI) brought to the forum a roadmap focused on how to convert scientific evidence into public decisions:

  • Anna Stewart-Ibarra, Executive Director of the IAI: Science-based public management: the experience of the Mayor's Office of Florencia and the Mayor's Office of Arraiján.
  • Kim Portmess, Leader of the IAI's STeP Program: Scientific diplomacy in the Americas: the convergence of science, politics, and diplomacy to solve the challenges of sustainable development.
  • Omar López-Alfano, Director of Science at the IAI: Connecting knowledge and solutions: innovation, community, and equity in the face of climate change in Central America.

In a country committed to strengthening its science and technology system, APANAC once again served as a meeting point where ideas become policies and alliances become concrete projects.

Through its participation, the IAI reaffirmed its commitment to strengthening science diplomacy, capacity building, and international cooperation to address the challenges of global change in the Americas.

More information about the event (only in Spanish): https://congreso.apanac.org.pa/