Content
- Interview with Omar López, Chair of the IAI’s Scientific Advisory Committee
- Applications Open: Science, Technology and Policy (STeP) Fellowship Program
- Registration for SRI 2023 is Closing Soon
- Tips for Successful Social Media Engagement
- STeP Science Diplomacy Project Forum
IAI Newsletter 1/23
Interview with Omar López, chair of the IAI Scientific Advisory Committee
“The IAI is a very dynamic entity –it offers us the opportunity to find or generate research to improve our fight against global change.”. Omar López
Omar López is president of the IAI Scientific Advisory Committee and Technical Secretary of the National Information System of the National Secretariat of Science, Technology and Innovation of Panama (Senacyt).
What is the mission of SENACYT Panama?
SENACYT’s mission is to use science and technology as an instrument or tool for the development of the country. In order to support this mission, we have a portfolio of programs and objectives that are led by different SENACYT departments to generate useful knowledge for the sustainable development of the country.
What potential does SENACYT consider transdisciplinary science to have in the study of global change?
A great potential, because countries must address the complex problems presented by climate change in a transdisciplinary way. SENACYT has open call programs that are broad enough to apply from all areas of science.
Our interaction with the IAI is of great benefit, of great support, because it allows us to prepare new scientists and researchers to incorporate new, dynamic visions that are required to address a problem as complex as global change.
Applications Open: Science, Technology and Policy (STeP) Fellowship Program
What is the state of access to information on global change?
There are many Latin American countries where there is information generated by different institutions, but this information is not entirely accessible and sometimes access is difficult. If we, the researchers, the scientists, had greater access to this data, I think we could make much more progress in the generation of knowledge.
As president of the IAI Scientific Advisory Committee, what do you recommend to countries and governments?
To take advantage of the resources that the IAI can provide! I urge all countries in the region to consolidate the relationship they have with the IAI. The IAI is a very dynamic entity that offers the opportunity to find or generate research or support the generation of research to improve our fight against global change.
As a Panamanian, what do you recommend to people who will attend the Sustainability Research and Innovation (SRI) Congress taking place in June 2023?
Apart from the conference, I would recommend they open their minds a little bit. We have to start thinking differently, we have to go beyond our comfort zone in terms of our discipline and be able to see how we can incorporate different elements to the methodologies we have to be able to innovate and to be able to generate solutions that really make an impact.
“We have to start thinking differently, we have to go beyond our comfort zone.”
To wrap up, what is your favorite plant, tree, or animal in the natural world?
There is a tree that I admire very much, which is the tree that I studied, whose common name is cativo. It is an extremely versatile tree because it reproduces a lot even though it has a large seed, and is of commercial interest. It is the tree from which plywood, or what we call contrachapado in Panama, is made.
And what is your favorite sound?
My favorite sound is the sound of guitars because I love acoustic guitars. The sound of the guitar for me is something special.
Full interview: https://youtu.be/KShRFqGY5Ec
IAI Newsletter 1/23
Applications for the Science, Technology and Policy (STeP) Fellowship Program close March 3
The IAI and the Belmont Forum are recruiting applicants to fill two STeP fellowship positions to support community development and transdisciplinary (TD) research on global environmental change (GEC). The STeP Fellow working with the IAI Directorate will coordinate TD research funding on GEC in the Americas and the STeP Fellow working with the Belmont Forum will support community development and TD research in GEC.
Applicants may be considered for more than one position. The ideal candidate is in early stages of their career and is interested in working in transdisciplinary science, and science-policy leadership, and in utilizing STeP’s professional development program and networking to enhance their career path. Working proficiency in English is required, and fluency or working proficiency in another language of IAI member states is desirable (Spanish, Portuguese, French). Priority will be given to citizens and residents from IAI member states (*****https://iai.int/en/structure/focal-points*****).
Applications must be delivered in English or Spanish by 3 March 2023. The intended start date of the fellowship is 3 April 2023 and the period of implementation of the contract is twelve months, renewable for up to one additional year.
For further information, please check the requirements here: https://iai.int/administrador/assets/images/ckfinder/files/Request-STeP Fellows IAI_BF_ 2023_final.pdf
IAI Newsletter 1/23
Scholarship Applications and Early Bird Registration for SRI 2023 are Closing Soon
The Sustainability Research & Innovation (SRI) Congress is the world’s largest transdisciplinary gathering for the global sustainability community.
The third edition of the SRI Congress, SRI2023, will be hosted by the National Secretariat of Science, Technology and Innovation of the Republic of Panama (SENACYT) and the Inter-American Institute for Global Change Research (IAI) in June 2023.
The topics that will discussed in SRI 2023 are:
- Turning the Tide for Climate: Collaborative Action for Institutional Transformation
- Healthy and Inclusive Communities
- A Peaceful Planetary Mind
- Latin America and the Caribbean Science and Innovation for Sustainability
The application deadline for an SRI 2023 Scholarship is 28 February 2023. The link to apply to a scholarship is: https://sricongress.org/sri2023-scholarship/
Early bird registration is open until 6 March 2023 in the following link: https://2023.sricongress.org/
IAI Newsletter 1/23
How to Succeed in Social Media –Tips for experts in environmental change
Social networks are a space where we can find potential readers, people who can connect with our information, with our research. The important thing is to know where they are and how do we get to them?
The IAI, in alliance with Latinoamérica21, organized a workshop on social networks with Pablo Montaño, a political scientist specialized in environment and sustainable development. At the workshop, the IAI community was able to receive practical advice based on the hands-on experience of Montaño, who has contributed to the success of several social media campaigns.
Practical tips shared with the IAI’s community included:
- Social networks are a tool for what we want to happen outside of the virtual space.
- There is no “general public”; we must consider: What do I want to communicate? To whom? What for? How do I want to communicate? Where should I communicate?
- Beyond communicating, social networks are a space for emerging projects, friendships, opportunities, movements, perspectives and allies..
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You may view the recording of the workshop here: https://youtu.be/OynWy2b0uDc
| SOCIAL NETWORK | ADVANTAGES | DISADVANTAGES | TIPS |
| Favors the creation of community spaces Different modalities (groups, pages, sales, events) | Not easy to become viral High prioritization of native content (originally shared in Facebook) | One post a day to keep up with the algorithm | |
| Great for visual content. Live broadcasts may cross audiences | Superficial information Followers can be bought | Appeal to cross audiences to achieve greater reach | |
| TikTok | Very high viral potential Simple tools to make videos | Highly dispersed attention Little community retention | Share alerts of a specific event to drive to action |
| Good viral potential High political and media attention | High uncertainty of its future Great source of misinformation | Share content hosted in the platform | |
| Mastodon | Good environment to collaborate Followers grouped by interests | Complex interface Few users | Test its potential for dissemination |
| Training and professional space | Low usage platform | Share information with colleagues in the same area of interest |
IAI Newsletter 1/23
A unique window into science diplomacy projects in the region
As more STeP fellows from the region of the Americas continue to join the IAI’s capacity building program, our community is gaining valuable insight on context-relevant knowledge, tools, and practical skills to tackle transboundary issues of global environmental change (GEC).
On February 27, 2023, STeP fellows will be presenting on a selection of their hands-on projects related to GEC from the unique angle of science diplomacy.
The STeP Science Diplomacy Project Forum is the culmination of the training program for the current 45 STeP fellows from eight countries in the region who worked through 2022 in multidisciplinary teams.
From conservation, to circular economy, microplastic pollution and green infrastructure, the projects that STeP fellows from Argentina, Bolivia, Brazil, Canada, Mexico, Panama, Peru and USA will discuss include unique assessments, strategies and actions related to GEC challenges.
Join us on 27 February (12:00-14:30 ET/14:00-16:30 UYT) to learn from our STeP fellows!
https://us06web.zoom.us/meeting/register/tZ0pcu6gqTgqHNa9DYsCnOpCfNHeKMfBsR-Z
AGENDA OF THE EVENT
Circular economy approaches to wastewater treatment
Leslie Brooks (USA), Nathalia Tejedor (Panama), Osawai John (Barbados), Odiney Alvarez-Campos (USA), Sebastian Riera (Argentina)
Hydrogen for the Americas
Azadeh Maroufmashat (Canada), Vicente Morales (Mexico), Asif Iqbal (Canada), Nikkia McDonald (USA), Matias Goldenberg (Argentina)
Stakeholder Engagement for Sharing Data at the Global Health-Climate Change Nexus
Samim Atmar (USA), Rosario Quintero (Panama), Andréa Nascimento de Araújo (Brazil), Daniel Jimenez Alvarez (Mexico), Shweta Ganapati (Canada)
“30 X 30” conservation ambition in the Americas and the Science-Diplomacy opportunity for collective implementation
Catarina Ferreira (Canada), Diogo Victor Santos (Brazil), Sofia Nanni (Argentina), Ana Watson (Peru), Cristina Fernandez-Baca (USA), Fernanda de Oliveira Lana (Brazil)
Lifecycle of clean Transportation and Energy/ Mineral sources for climate change mitigation and public health improvement
Alice Grossman (USA), Monica Jimenez (Mexico), Matías Mastrangelo (Argentina), Camilo De Los Rios Rueda (USA/Colombia)
Microplastic pollution and behaviourally aligned global action
Aline Villarreal (Mexico), Larisse Faroni-Perez (Brazil), Bhuvanesh Awasthi (Canada), Maria Inés Carabajal (Argentina), Anne-Teresa Birthwright (Jamaica)
Assessment of Green Infrastructure in Cities for Climate Change Resilience across LAC
Danielly Godiva Santana Molleta (Brazil), Chante Sanders (Barbados), Ariola Visha (Canada), Alice Ramos de Moraes (Brazil), Gabriela Duarte (Brazil)
Towards a Climate Solidarity? Strategies for Knowledge-Sharing on Climate Justice
Fany Ramos Quispe (Bolivia), Miriam Hird-Younger (Canada), Evvan Morton (USA), Julian Campisi (Canada), Laila Sandroni (Brazil), Anjuli Jain Figueroa (USA)
