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 

See the agenda 

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

  • 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
  •    Lidia Susana Barahona, Head of International Cooperation, Ministry of Education, Science and Technology, MINEDUCYT - El Salvador
  •    Bruna Paixão de Oliveira, International Advisor, Ministry of Science, Technology and Innovation, MCTI - Brazil
  •    Nádia Bandeira Kornijesuk, General Coordinator of Bilateral Cooperation, Ministry of Science, Technology and Innovation, Brazil
  •    Emilie Rojas Margolliet, Advisor on International Affairs to the Minister of Science, Technology, Knowledge and Innovation, Chile
  •    Mónica Vanesa López Ríos, Technical Cooperation Professional, Guatemala
  •    Gerardo Tamay, Director General of Institutional and Sectoral Cooperation, Secretariat of Science, Humanities, Technology and Innovation (SECIHTI) - Mexico 
  •    Andrés Merejo Checo, Director of Science and Technology Promotion and Dissemination, Ministry of Higher Education, Science and Technology (MESCyT) - Dominican Republic
  •    Allan Edver Mello dos Santos, Science and Technology Analyst, Ministry of Science, Technology and Innovation (MCTI) - Brazil 
  •    Gustavo Henrique Cocentino Ramos, Assistant, Ministry of Science, Technology and Innovation (MCTI) - Brazil
  •    Danilo Francisco Alonso Mederos, Official of the Directorate of International Relations, Ministry of Science, Technology and Environment (CITMA) - Cuba

Speakers

  •  Braulio 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
  •    Osvaldo de Moraes, Deputy Secretary of Strategic Policies and Programs and Director of the Department of Climate and Sustainability of the Ministry of Science, Technology and Innovation (MCTI). President of the Permanent Committee for Disaster Risk Reduction of the World Meteorological Organization. Former Director of the National Center for Monitoring and Early Warning of Natural Disasters – CEMADEN (2015–2023) – Brazil
  •    Marcos Regis da Silva, Director of Climate Research for All, SilverLining’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
  •    Franklin Carrero-Martinez, 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
  •    Frances 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
  •    Karina 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
  •    Carol Franco, 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
  •    Rafael Leal, Career Brazilian diplomat since 2009, currently Head of the Division for Science, Technology and Innovation at Brazil’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs  . He has represented Brazil in key multilateral arenas, integrating science and innovation priorities within foreign policy frameworks and global climate discourse. Brasil.
  •    Marga Gual Soler, Head of Science Diplomacy Capacity Building at GESDA in Switzerland and founder of SciDipGLOBAL, she is a recognized pioneer in establishing science diplomacy as a field of research, policy, and education. Marga has built international training programs (AAAS, EU, UNESCO), advised governments (Spain, Panama, Mexico, EU), 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.
  •    Ligia Collado, 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
  •    Amancio 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
  •    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 – Uruguay
  •    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
  •    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
  •    Concepta McManus, 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
  •    José Marengo, Senior Researcher and General Coordinator of Research and Development at the National Center for Monitoring and Alerts of Natural Disasters (CEMADEN). Expert in climate change, extreme events and disaster risk reduction. Member of several United Nations panels and working groups – Brazil
  •    Viviane da Silva Simões, General Coordinator of International Relations at the National Nuclear Energy Commission (CNEN). Holds a Master’s in International Relations from PUC-Rio. Professor at Universidade Estácio de Sá and analyst at CNEN – Brazil
  •    José Paranaguá de Santana, Coordinator of the Center for Bioethics and Health Diplomacy Studies and the International Affairs Office at Fiocruz Brasília (NETHIS). Holds a doctorate in Health Sciences and participated in the Brazilian Health Reform that led to the creation of the Unified Health System (SUS) – Brazil
  •    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
  •    Franklin Morales, Head of International Technical Cooperation at SENACYT, Panama. Experienced public policy and leadership professional with more than 15 years of experience across government, NGOs and corporate sectors. Specializes in strategy, partnerships and global cooperation – Panama
  •    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. PhD in Maritime Affairs, expert in ocean science diplomacy with a decolonial approach to international relations – Brazil
  •    Marcus William Costa Moraes, Science and Technology Assistant at the Ministry of Science, Technology and Innovation (MCTI) – Brazil
  •    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 Alarcon Lopez, Emerging technologies scientist working at the intersection with education. Professional science communicator and founder of Ciencia Sí Scicomm Startup. Science, Technology, and Policy (STeP) Fellow at the Science Diplomacy Center of the Inter-American Institute for Global Change Research (IAI) – Mexico / Switzerland