ISC Regional Focal Point for Latin America and the Caribbean gathers its Liaison Committee for the first in-person meeting

The ISC Regional Focal Point, established in 2022 and based at the Colombian Academy of Exact, Physical and Natural Sciences in Bogota, Colombia, has been actively engaging its Liaison Committee (LC) through online meetings to propose collaborative initiatives for the region.

30 March – 1 April, the RFP-LAC successfully conducted its first face-to-face meeting with the participation of the Academy of Sciences of the Dominican Republic and the Autonomous University of Santo Domingo. The gathering brought together esteemed scientists and researchers to strategize and pave the way for future activities in the region:

• Enrique Forero (Chair of the ISC RFP-LAC, Colombia)
• Dora-Luz Flores (México)
• Graciela Díaz de Delgado (Venezuela)
• Germán Gutiérrez (Colombia)
• Elisa Reis (Brazil)
• Ana Rada (Bolivia)
• Daniel Peluffo (Uruguay)
• Luis Sobrevia (Chile)
• Carolina Santacruz-Perez (Science Officer at the ISC RFP-LAC, Colombia)
• Luisa Echeverria-King (Colombia) (via Zoom)
• Silvina Ponce Dawson (Argentina) (via Zoom)

The meeting served as an opportunity to make progress toward the establishment of a regional strategy and upcoming activities within the region. Committee members analyzed the ISC’s strategic priorities for 2022-2023 and put forth specific actions to accomplish these objectives in the Latin American and the Caribbean region. Key areas of focus included the ISC Fellows program, expansion of the ISC membership, improved engagement of the regional scientists in the ISC work with the United Nations and other partners, and emerging opportunities and challenges in the region.

Special attention was devoted to the issues around scientific publishing and freedom and responsibility in science. Committee members acknowledged the challenges faced by the scientific community in the region and explored potential solutions to improve scientific practices.

A highlight of the meeting was a workshop “Scientific Integration for Latin America and the Caribbean.” Organized in collaboration with the Academy of Sciences of the Dominican Republic and the Autonomous University of Santo Domingo, the workshop provided a platform for local scientists to showcase their research projects. Esteemed figures in the field, including Ing. Eleuterio Martínez, Dr. Modesto Cruz, and Dr. Genaro Rodríguez, offered their insights and expertise during the event. Dr. Enrique Forero, Chair of the RFP-LAC-ISC, presented the ISC’s priorities and talked more about the regional presence of the ISC around the world. The workshop facilitated productive exchanges and identified potential avenues for future collaborations with local scientists.

The ISC RFP-LAC expressed its gratitude to the Academia de Ciencias de la República Dominicana and the Autonomous University of Santo Domingo for their generous support and hospitality in organizing and hosting the meeting.

To get in touch with the ISC RFP-LAC, contact Carolina Santacruz-Perez.