Science Diplomacy for Sustainable Development in Latin America

Program Participants Speakers

Program

Science Diplomacy for Sustainable Development in Latin America: Integrating Science, Policy, and Society for the SDGs 

6–8 August 2025 | Brasília, Brazil 

 

Workshop venue: Edifício Parque Cidade Corporate. C - Setor Comercial Sul Quadra 9 - Asa Sul, Brasília - DF, 70308-200

Concept note and agenda in Portuguese 

Concept note and agenda in Spanish

Presentations (in the original language)

This high-level international workshop will convene senior policymakers, scientists, and representatives from productive sectors across Latin America and the Caribbean to explore the role of science diplomacy in advancing sustainable development goals (SDGs). Co-organized by Brazil’s Ministry of Science, Technology and Innovation (MCTI) and the Inter-American Institute for Global Change Research (IAI), through its Science Diplomacy Center (SDC), the event will serve as a platform to foster cross-sectoral dialogues and regional cooperation in the face of escalating environmental challenges. 
The workshop takes place in a landmark year for Brazil, as it holds the presidency of the G20, BRICS, MERCOSUR, and prepares to host COP30 in Belém. Participants will explore interconnected themes such as the role of science diplomacy in climate governance and SDG implementation; institutional mechanisms for integrating science into policy; regional data cooperation and multilateral diplomacy protocols; and strategies for innovation in critical sectors including health, agriculture, energy, and biodiversity. Emphasis will also be placed on the anticipatory use of emerging technologies, subnational and regional governance alignment, and the coordination of Latin American contributions to COP30 and beyond.
 

Objectives 

The workshop aims to strengthen regional capacities in science diplomacy and support the integration of science, policy, and society to advance the SDGs. By fostering evidence-based cooperation, the event will highlight how diplomacy can bridge knowledge and action for sustainable solutions in Latin America and the Caribbean. 
The specific objectives are: 

  • Expand institutional and technical capacities in science diplomacy across government, academia, and productive sectors. 
  • Promote inclusive, evidence-based policy processes aligned with national and regional climate priorities. 
  • Foster regional networks that leverage science diplomacy for resilient, sustainable, and just transitions. 
  • Encourage the co-creation of solutions rooted in local contexts and informed by diverse knowledge systems. 
  • Coordinate regional contributions to global climate processes, especially COP30. 

Workshop Content & Thematic Areas 

The Science Diplomacy for Sustainable Development Workshop (August 6–8) will include keynote panels, cross-sector dialogues, and collaborative sessions aimed at co-creating concrete recommendations for action. With participation from Latin American and Caribbean countries, the program will feature case studies, political-scientific dialogues, and technical discussions that reflect the region's development priorities. 
The thematic areas include: 

  • Science diplomacy for the SDGs and global climate governance
  • Strengthening national and subnational science-policy interfaces
  • Regional integration and data cooperation for multilateral engagement
  • Innovation, resilience, and societal engagement in climate action
  • Governance of health, energy, food systems, and biodiversity
  • Latin American leadership and institutional innovation in global arenas

Workshop Products 

This event will lead to the co-creation of strategic communication products, among them: 

  • White Paper 

Summary of workshop discussions contextualized within COP30 and Brazil’s leadership roles, reflecting regional perspectives. 

  •  Policy Brief and others

Recommendations for the member states and Global South about science diplomacy capacity building and innovation. 
Media Presence

 

 

Participants

  • Alice Abbud, Assistant to the Office for International Affairs, Ministry of Science, Technology and Innovation (MCTI) - Brazil 
  • Allan Edver Mello dos Santos, Science and Technology Analyst, Ministry of Science, Technology and Innovation (MCTI) - Brazil
  • Amauri Casarin Júnior, Science and Technology Analyst, Ministry of Science, Technology and Innovation (MCTI) - Brazil
  • Andrei Polejack, Director of Research and Innovation at the National Institute for Ocean Research (INPO) and Senior Science and Technology Analyst at the Ministry of Science, Technology and Innovation - Brazil
  • Bruna Paixão de Oliveira, Science and Technology Analyst, International Affairs Advisory Office, Ministry of Science, Technology and Innovation (MCTI) – Brazil
  • Carla Luzia Pereira Rocha, Employee at the International Cooperation Office at the Brazilian Space Agency - Brazil
  • Cláudia Alves de Magalhães, Science and Technology Analyst, Ministry of Science, Technology and Innovation (MCTI) - Brazil
  • Daniel Eduardo Vasco Viteri, General Coordinator of Planning and Strategic Management, Secretariat of Higher Education, Science, and Innovation - Ecuador
  • Danilo Francisco Alonso Mederos, Official of the Directorate of International Relations, Ministry of Science, Technology and Environment (CITMA) - Cuba
  • Edilson da Silva Pedro, Science and Technology Analyst, Ministry of Science, Technology and Innovation (MCTI) - Brazil
  • Elva Maria Elena Vert Gossen, Technical Officer of the National Council of Science and Technology of Paraguay (CONACYT) -- Paraguay
  • Emilie Rojas Margolliet, Advisor on International Affairs to the Minister of Science, Technology, Knowledge and Innovation - Chile
  • Emilly Caroline Costa Silva, Technical Advisor at the Center for Management and Strategic Studies (CGEE) - Brazil
  • Erwin Castillo Macias, General Coordinator of the UCEP MI RIEGO, Bolivia
  • Everton Goursand de Freitas, Coordination of Programs and Projects for Digital Transformation (COPTR) at the Ministry of Science, Technology and Innovation (MCTI) - Brazil
  • Fábio Borges de Oliveira, Director of the National Laboratory for Scientific Computing (LNCC) - Brazil
  • Fabio Giusti Azevedo de Britto, Researcher at the Mineral Technology Center (CETEM) - Brazil
  • Franklin Morales, Head of International Technical Cooperation at SENACYT, Panama.
  • Gabriel Salles Maria de Macedo Rego,  Science and Technology Analyst at the Ecosystems and Biodiversity Coordination Office for sustainable city projects and sustainable urban development at the Ministry of Science, Technology and Innovation (MCTI) – Brazil
  • Gerardo Tamayo Castroparedes, Director General of Institutional and Sectoral Cooperation, Secretariat of Science, Humanities, Technology and Innovation (SECIHTI) - Mexico
  • Gustavo de Lima Ramos, Advisor to the Secretariat of Technological Development and Innovation of the Ministry of Labor and Employment (MCTI), responsible for the areas of bioenergy, sustainable fuels, transportation, and sanitation - Brazil
  • Gustavo Henrique Cocentino Ramos, Science and Technology Assistant, Ministry of Science, Technology and Innovation (MCTI) - Brazil
  • Hebe Lis Navarro, Executive Director of the Center for Strategic Studies in International Relations (CEERI) and Strategy Advisor to the Secretariat of Innovation, Science, and Technology - Argentina
  • João Vítor Faria Domingues, Federal public servant and works at the National School of Public Administration (Enap) – Brazil
  • José Andrés Merejo Checo, Director of Science and Technology Promotion and Dissemination, Ministry of Higher Education, Science and Technology (MESCyT)
  • Jose Antonio Marengo Orsini, General Coordinator of Research and Development at the National Center for Monitoring and Alerts for Natural Disasters (Cemaden) - a research unit of the Ministry of Science, Technology and Innovation (MCTI) - Brazil
  • José Laurindo Campos dos Santos, Head of the Cooperation and Exchange Division (DICIN), National Institute of Amazonian Research - INPA
  • Jussara Pereira Prado, Science and Technology Analyst, International Affairs Advisory Office, Ministry of Science, Technology and Innovation (MCTI) – Brazil
  • Leonardo Steil, Diplomat at the Science, Technology and Innovation Division (DCTEC) of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs (Itamaraty)
  • Lidia Susana Barahona Cabrera, Head of International Cooperation, Ministry of Education, Science and Technology, MINEDUCYT - El Salvador
  • Marcela de Oliveira Mazzoni, New Business Manager at the Brazilian Association for Industrial Research and Innovation - Embrapii
  • Marcio Rojas da Cruz, science and technology analyst at the Ministry of Science, Technology and Innovation - MCTI (since 2003)
  • Marcelo Augusto de Paiva dos Santos, Agricultural engineer and Head of the International Relations Office at Embrapa. Former head of Embrapa Environment (2015–2022).
  • Marcio Rangel, Representative of the Ministry of Science, Technology, and Innovation (MCTI) in the Brazilian Museum System – Brazil
  • Marcus William Costa Moraes, Science and Technology Analyst, International Affairs Office, Ministry of Science, Technology, and Innovation (MCTI) – Brazil
  • Maria Cândida Arrais de Miranda Mousinho, advisor at the Special Advisory Office of the President of the Republic – Brazil
  • Marilda Solon Teixeira Bottesi, Special Advisor, Grant Office PRP UNICAMP – Brazil
  • Maurício de Jesus Monteiro, Instituto Nacional de Tecnologia - INT
  • Mónica Vanesa López Ríos, Technical Cooperation Professional, Guatemala
  • Nádia Bandeira Kornijesuk, General Coordinator of Bilateral Cooperation, Ministry of Science, Technology and Innovation, Brazil
  • Pablo Rafael Lopes de Medeiros
  • Reinaldo Wacha, Head of the Technical Barriers to Trade Division, National Institute of Metrology, Quality, and Technology (Inmetro) – Brazil
  • Roberta Vargas de Moraes, Technical Advisor with the International Affairs Office, Ministry of Health – Brazil
  • Rocío Cathia Casildo Canedo, Jefe de la Oficina de Cooperación Técnica y Asuntos Internacionales, National Council of Science, Technology and Innovation (Concytec) – Perú
  • Ulisses Barres de Almeida, Director of the Latin American Center for Physics (CLAF) and astrophysicist at the Brazilian Center for Physics Research (CBPF).
  • Vanessa do Espírito Santo Almeida
  • Viviana Letícia Mezzetta Pizzaneli, Responsible for Environment, Science and Education, Uruguayan International Cooperation Agency -- Uruguay
  • Viviane da Silva Simões, Advisor to the President, National Nuclear Energy Commission -- Brazil
  • Waldemar Cordeiro de Moraes, Science and Technology Analyst, International Affairs Office, Ministry of Science, Technology, and Innovation (MCTI) – Brazil
  • Yara Josengler, Technical advisor,  Ministry of Science, Technology and Innovation (MCTI) - Brazil

 

Speakers

  • Bráulio Ferreira de Souza Dias , Director of Conservation and Sustainable Use of Biodiversity at the Ministry of Environment and Climate Change (MMA). Former Scientific Director of the Science Panel for the Amazon of the United Nations Sustainable Development Solutions Network (UNSDSN) and President Fundação Pró-Natureza (Funatura) – Brazil
  • Marcos Regis da Silva, Director of Climate Research for All, Silver Lining’s effort to expand funding and technology access for climate impact research for countries in the Global South. Former Executive Director of the Inter-American Institute for Global Change Research (IAI) and Chief of Knowledge Management and Outreach Services with the Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species of Wild Fauna and Flora (CITES) – Italy
  • Marcella Ohira, Deputy Executive Director and Director for Capacity Building at the Inter-American Institute for Global Change Research (IAI). She leads programs to promote global change research, regional capacity building and science-policy engagement – Panamá
  • Brenda Estefania Ortiz Calva, Senior Program Associate for International Affairs and Science Diplomacy. She supports the development and expansion of international relationships and programs, with an emphasis on Latin America and the Caribbean. She develops science diplomacy trainings and serves as Executive Editor for the journal Science & Diplomacy, a publication by the AAAS Center for Science Diplomacy – USA
  • Carol Franco Billini, Senior Research Faculty in the Department of Forest Resources and Environmental Conservation at Virginia Tech. Review editor for the IPCC Assessment Report 6 and has participated in the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC) since 2012 as a member of the Dominican Republic delegation negotiating the topics of REDD+, climate financing, and adaptation in agriculture – Dominican Republic
  • Frances Alexandra Colon, Senior Fellow at the Center for American Progress, where she leads a program to drive international ambition and action on climate change. Former Deputy Science and Technology Adviser to the Secretary of State, where she promoted integration of science and technology into foreign policy dialogues. Currently, she is an elected member of the ISC Governing Board – USA
  • Franklin Carrero-Martínez, Senior Director of Global Sustainability and Development at the National Academies of Sciences. At the Academies, he leads innovative programming such as the Nobel Prize Summits, a program aimed at ensuring scientists remain connected to science while displaced or exiled as well as high-level dialogues with the scientific communities in key countries around the world – USA
  • Karina Mariela Pombo, Expert consultant on the internationalization of science for the Organization of Ibero-American States (OEI). Former National Director of Science Policy Promotion at the Ministry of Science, Technology, and Innovation - Argentina
  • Marga Gual Soler, Head of Science Diplomacy Capacity Building at GESDA in Switzerland and founder of SciDipGLOBAL, recognized pioneer in establishing science diplomacy as a field of research, policy, and education.She has built international training programs, advised governments, and served as Senior Project Director at AAAS. Honored as a Young Global Leader by WEF and an Aspen Ideas Festival Scholar, she led initiatives to rebuild US–Cuba scientific cooperation – Spain/Switzerland.
  • Caetano Penna, Director of the Center for Management and Strategic Studies (CGEE).  Expert in industrial and technology economics and science, technology and innovation policies, with mission-oriented innovation policies (both conceptually and empirically) and the financing of innovation, system transformation and sustainable development as main lines of research. – Brazil
  • Concepta MacManus, Manager of Scientific Research Collaboration at FAPESP and Full Professor at the University of Brasília. CNPq researcher (1A), she specializes in animal genetics, breeding, conservation of genetic resources and landscape genetics. Former Director of International Affairs at CAPES – Brazil
  • Dalila Andrade Oliveira, Director of Institutional, International and Innovation Cooperation at the Brazilian National Council for Scientific and Technological Development (CNPq). She has extensive experience in science and education policy and currently supports the integration of regional research and development agendas – Brazil
  • Éden Clabuchar Martingo, Brazilian diplomat at the Sea, Antarctica and Space Division (Demae) of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs. He holds a degree in Philosophy from the University of São Paulo (2006). He has experience in Philosophy, with emphasis on Philosophy of Language, Ethics, and Politics. – Brazil
  • Eugênio Garcia, Director of the Department of Science, Technology and Intellectual Property of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs (MRE). Former Deputy Consul General in San Francisco, Head of science, technology and innovation, and focal point for Silicon Valley. 30 years of professional experience in foreign policy and diplomacy. PhD International Relations.
  • Guilherme Fitzgibbon, Brazilian diplomat since August 2009, currently as first-secretary. Advisor and deputy head of the Science, Technology, and Innovation Division at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Brazil. Experience and special interest in public policy analysis for science, technology, innovation, digital economy, and internet and digital governance.
  • Laís Forti, Chief of Staff at the National Secretariat for Oil, Natural Gas, and Biofuels (SNPGB) at the Ministry of Mines and Energy (MME) in Brazil. She serves as the MME representative on the Management Committee of the Petroleum and Natural Gas Sector Fund (CT-Petro), part of the National Fund for Scientific and Technological Development (FNDCT), and on CAEP Working Group 5 (Aviation Fuels) at the International Civil Aviation Organization (ICAO).
  • Luana Bermúdez, Executive Commissioner of the General Coordinator of Planning for International Health Affairs, of the Special Advisory Office for International Affairs. 
  • Marcelo Augusto Boechat Morandi, Agricultural engineer and Head of the International Relations Office at Embrapa. Former head of Embrapa Environment (2015–2022). Member of the Brazilian delegation to the UNFCCC. Expert in agro-environmental policy and innovation – Brazil
  • Marcelo Knobel, Former rector of Unicamp, is the new executive director of The World Academy of Sciences (TWAS), an international entity linked to the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO). Throughout his career he has worked in the experimental area of magnetism and magnetic materials, in research on public perception of science, in scientific dissemination and higher education – Brazil
  • Pedro Ivo Ferraz da Silva, Coordinator for Scientific and Technological Affairs, Department of Climate, Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Brazil. Specialized in technological and high-tech industrial policies, internationalization of startups, innovation-led development strategies and innovation and science diplomacy  – Brazil
  • Vanessa Grazziotin, Executive Director of the Amazon Cooperation Treaty Organization (OTCA). Former  Senator for the state of Amazonas (2011-2019), she held the position of Federal Deputy for three terms (1999-2011) and was a City Councilor in Manaus for three terms (1989-1999)  – Brazil
  • Vânia Gomes da Silva, Science and Technology analyst at the Ministry of Science, Technology, and Innovation since 2004. She served for seven years on the National Technical Commission on Biosafety (CTNBio). Former head of the Division of Cooperation with Europe and South America and coordinator of Bilateral International Cooperation.
  • Amâncio Jorge Silva Nunes de Oliveira , Professor of the Political Sciences Department at FFLCH-USP, acting on the International Relations Course as well as on the Political Sciences Post-Graduation Program, both at USP. He is also the Coordinator of the São Paulo School of Advanced Science on Science Diplomacy and Innovation Diplomacy (InnSciD SP) – Brazil
  • Claudia Maria Ligia Collado Vides, Marine botanist with a research emphasis in subtropical and tropical marine macroalgae, including ecological and floristic approaches. Her laboratory and team address local, regional and global ecological questions and issues, from quantifying and comparing carbon contribution and calcareous algae in South Florida and Yucatan, to Atlantic-wide macroalgal blooms – Argentina
  • Carlos Eduardo Higa Matsumoto, Head of the Special Advisory Office on International Affairs of the Ministry of Science, Technology and Innovation, and General Coordinator for Multilateral Cooperation. Permanent national representative to the IAI, designated by the State Parties. 
  • Eneida Zanquetta de Freitas, Alternate National Coordinator of the Special Advisory for International Affairs, Ministry of Science, Technology and Innovation (MCTI). Responsible for cooperation with regional bodies, in addition to the Community of Portuguese Speaking Countries. Former National Director of the Brazil-European Union Sectorial Diálogos Project and as Deputy General Coordinator of Multilateral Cooperation.
  • Gabriela Gomes Coelho Ferreira, Post-doctoral researcher at the Political Science Department of the University of São Paulo (DCP-USP). Member of the Executive Committee of the São Paulo Innovation and Science Diplomacy School (InnSciD SP/USP). Science, Technology, and Policy (STeP) Fellow at the Inter-American Institute for Global Change Research (IAI) – Brazil
  • Claudia Alarcón López, emerging technologies scientist, with expertise in science diplomacy and public relations. Science communicator representative at the Nobel Laureate Meetings since 2020. Science, Technology, and Policy (STeP) Fellow at the Inter-American Institute for Global Change Research (IAI) – Mexico / Switzerland