The Science Diplomacy Center (SDC) is a regional initiative to foster science-policy dialogue and collaboration for a peaceful, prosperous and sustainable Americas. In the context of the IAI, science-diplomacy is grounded in the pursuit of scientific excellence, international cooperation, and the open access and exchange of scientific information relevant to global change to support policy and decision-making for the benefit of society.
Over the last thirty years, the IAI has developed and strengthened a robust network of policy and decision-makers, science practitioners, collaborative research networks, as well as generated a wealth of scientific knowledge, training methodologies and transdisciplinary research approaches related to global change topics addressing key issues, such as biodiversity, ecosystem services, oceans and water resources, among others. However, there remained a need to further strengthen the science-policy communication and collaboration among communities and countries in the Americas; providing policy makers with opportune sound scientific information to support their decision-making processes to address the complex and transboundary challenges facing the region.
As a result, the IAI Scientific Diplomacy Center was recently launched as a regional, specific, and contextual initiative to foster a supportive environment for government officials, experts, and advisors to nurture multilateral science and policy processes and to build and enhance collaborations in the Americas to address the shared challenges of global change. Additionally, the SDC actively supports initiatives that foster the creation of specialized knowledge networks in emerging technologies, such as artificial intelligence, quantum computing, and blockchain, integrating them into the perspective of scientific diplomacy and innovation. This strengthens evidence-based decision-making and develops innovative solutions to tackle global challenges.
The SDC, as the institutionalization of IAI’s successful capacity-building, regional integration, and knowledge-generation efforts, is uniquely positioned to bring together diverse knowledge and experience to serve member countries and the region as a whole.
The complex, interconnected and transboundary nature of global change requires the efficient implementation of science diplomacy concepts, tools, and processes – a topic of growing interest worldwide and in the Americas, to strengthen science, technology and innovation processes. The purpose of the SDC is to act as a regional reference and resource to support science diplomacy-related activities such as capacity building, research, exchange of best practices, networks, dialogues and projects. It aims to promote collaboration between scientists and decision-makers in the Americas and enhance the capacity of professionals and institutions to understand and implement science diplomacy and innovation. The Center also aims to contribute to the development of national and regional science diplomacy and innovation strategies, programs, effective public policies and support governments in the region to develop mechanisms to address global environmental change of national, regional and transboundary priorities.
Vision:
- The Science Diplomacy Center shall contribute to the maintenance of a peaceful and sustainable Americas through innovative transdisciplinary collaborations to address the region’s shared challenges and safeguard the livelihoods and well-being of future generations and the planet.
Mission:
- The Center shall enhance the capacity of Parties (IAI member states) to meet the objectives of the IAI Strategic Plan and the Sustainable Development Goals by strengthening the interface between science and policy, establishing a science diplomacy knowledge hub, and developing open, just, and equitable programs and activities for the Americas to meet the challenges of global change.
Goals:
- Build and strengthen capacities in science and policy through multinational collaboration and diplomacy.
- Identify and foster a curriculum and skill set necessary to develop an effective science diplomacy and innovation community for the region.
- Implement the science diplomacy curriculum and skills through regional training activities to the relevant stakeholders: policy makers, diplomatic community, and other decision makers.
- Develop a science diplomacy knowledge hub.
- Provision of science diplomacy knowledge, information, and resource to respond to the needs of diverse stakeholders
- Convene relevant communities (policy makers, decision makers, diplomatic community, scientists, business, civil society) to raise science-policy awareness and promote dialogue of current and emerging global change issues.
- Promote and facilitate evidence-based decision making by supporting science-policy communication, through multinational collaboration.
- Promote and facilitate regional dialogue and international cooperation on shared global change challenges
- Foster strategic communication to raise awareness, improve the flow of information and knowledge to various stakeholders, strengthen existing partnerships, attract new partners and funders, and engage policy makers.
- Promote open, just, and equitable science by facilitating the inclusion of diverse communities, knowledge, systems and networks.
- Bring together the relevant communities (policymakers, decision-makers, diplomatic community, scientists, business sector, and civil society) to raise awareness about the science-policy interface and promote dialogue on current and emerging issues in scientific diplomacy and innovation (such as artificial intelligence, blockchain, quantum technologies, etc.) and global change.
