Call for FAPESC-IAI STeP Fellows Open Until 18 August

The Brazilian Ministry of Science, Technology and Innovation (MCTI), in collaboration with the Foundation for Research and Innovation Support of the State of Santa Catarina (FAPESC) and the Inter-American Institute for Global Change Research (IAI), has announced a joint call for the FAPESC-IAI Fellowship Program in Science, Technology, and Policy (STeP) and for the I Workshop and Forum on Scientific Diplomacy MCTI-IAI. Both initiatives aim to train scientific advisors and leaders in science and public policy, with a special focus on bio-economy, scientific diplomacy, and international cooperation.

The FAPESC-IAI STeP Fellowship Program offers an opportunity for Ph.D. holders interested in expanding their knowledge and experience in scientific diplomacy to act as agents of change in state, federal, and international organizations. Over two years, selected fellows will receive training and supervision from national and international mentors to develop skills in leadership, communication, negotiation, and public policy formulation based on scientific evidence. This program seeks to boost the bio-economy in Brazil and the Americas, strengthening human and institutional capacities to promote strategic actions aimed at formulating public policies informed by scientific knowledge.

The I Workshop and Forum on Scientific Diplomacy MCTI-IAI, to be held in December of this year in Brasilia, is the first of three annual meetings aimed at addressing national and regional priority issues. Its goal is to promote and facilitate decision-making, regional integration, and international cooperation in strategic areas of science, technology, and innovation, strengthening professional capacities in scientific diplomacy.

To participate in the STeP program, applicants must be from Santa Catarina or residents of the state, have completed a Ph.D. in the last five years, demonstrate fluency in English and an intermediate level in Spanish, and present a work plan aligned with the development of the bio-economy in Santa Catarina and other Brazilian states, in accordance with the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). Additionally, they must be available to reside in Brasilia during the program.

The president of FAPESC, Fábio Wagner Pinto, has emphasized that the STeP program will be a catalyst for training a new generation of leaders capable of connecting science with political action, offering innovative solutions to contemporary challenges. The Deputy Executive Director and Director of Capacity Building at IAI, Marcella Ohira, has highlighted the importance of the STeP program for developing an inter-American network of professionals skilled in promoting public and private policies that foster sustainable development.

The call to participate in the FAPESC-IAI STeP Program is open until August 18, 2024. For more information, visit: https://fapesc.sc.gov.br/fapesc-e-iai-lancam-edital-para-formar-assessores-cientificos-e-lideres-em-ciencia-e-politicas-publicas/.

For more information on the I Workshop and Forum on Scientific Diplomacy MCTI-IAI, visit: https://www.gov.br/mcti/pt-br/acompanhe-o-mcti/noticias/2024/07/mcti-vai-realizar-workshop-de-capacitacao-sobre-diplomacia-cientifica.