On November 13, 2025, the Inter-American Institute for Global Change Research (IAI) officially launched the 2025–2027 cohort of the Science, Technology, and Policy (STeP) Fellowship Program, with a thematic focus on biodiversity and bioeconomy. This is the fifth edition of the program and the first time it has adopted these specific themes, in response to growing demand from governments and partner organizations to strengthen scientific advisory capacities in areas of great socio-environmental relevance.
The new cohort brings together nine fellows from Argentina, Colombia, Panama, Ecuador, and the United States, hosted by nine institutions throughout the region. The fellows will work at the intersection of science and public policy, combining training in science diplomacy, science communication, leadership, and transdisciplinary approaches with internships at government and research institutions. Their projects aim to strengthen capacities in bioeconomy indicators, promote monitoring in public management, and encourage local data collection with interactive feedback.
This edition introduces innovative lines of work that include biodiversity for public policy and the bioeconomy with a territorial approach. The fellows will collaborate with mentors from leading organizations such as SENACYT Panama, the University of Florida (USA), the State University of Campinas (UNICAMP) in Brazil, the National Institute of Agricultural Technology (INTA) in Argentina, the Mexican Association for the Advancement of Science (AMEXAC) in Mexico, and the LATAM Bioeconomy Network, ensuring regional expertise and knowledge sharing.
With more than 80 fellows to date, the STeP Program, which is part of the IAI’s Center for Science Diplomacy, continues to consolidate a network of science advisors who connect science, policy, and diplomacy to address the complex challenges of sustainability in the Americas. The 2025-2027 cohort includes Carolina Chong Montenegro, Sara González, Aymer Andrés Vásquez Ordóñez, Manuela Montoya Castrillón, Gonzalo Martín Rivelli, María Agustina Iglesias, Benjamin Gerstner, Emily Lara, and Belén Montenegro.
More information
Meet the fellows from this cohort here or contact the program at step@dir.iai.int.
