Virtual Forum: Science, Technology and Innovation toward a sustainable and resilient future in the Caribbean

10 November 2021 15:30 - 22:00 UTC
Virtual Forum: Science, Technology and Innovation toward a sustainable and resilient future in the Caribbean

The UNESCO Cluster Office for ISC Member, the Caribbean Academy of Sciences (CAS), invites you to participate in the Virtual Forum onScience, Technology and Innovation toward a sustainable and resilient future in the Caribbean”, held online through Microsoft Teams on 10th of November 2021, from 10:30 am to 5:00 pm Kingston time (GMT -5h), on the occasion of World Science Day for Peace and Development, observed under the theme “Building climate-ready communities”.

📃 View the agenda

Join the forum via Microsoft Team (no registration required)


The Forum will include the following four discussion panels:

Panel 1 – “The Caribbean in the race against time for smarter development”, from 10:30 am to 12:00 pm Kingston time (GMT -5h), will start with a quick overview of the highlights of the UNESCO Science Report 2021 (USR21). Following this, Chapter 6 of the Report, which describes the status and emerging trends of STI in the Caribbean Community (CARICOM), will be presented by the two co-authors, Dr. Ishenkumba Kahwa and Dr. Alison Gajadhar, renowned experts on regional STI issues. Finally, Susan Schneegans, UNESCO, Chief Editor of the USR21, will present some of the main findings and global trends highlighted by the USR21.

Panel 2 – “Building a STI framework for sustainable development in the Caribbean”, from 1:00 pm to 1:50 pm Kingston time (GMT -5h), moderated by Dr. David Smith, Institute for Sustainable Development, The University of the West Indies, Mona Campus, Jamaica, will discuss about the current framework for STI development in the Caribbean.

Panel 3 – “Winning some of the key challenges for STI in the Caribbean”, from 1:45 pm to 3:50 pm Kingston time (GMT -5h), facilitated by Guillermo Anlló — UNESCO’s Regional Specialist for Policy and Capacity Building in Latin America and the Caribbean — with technical contributions by recognized experts and inspirational speakers, followed by open discussions with all participants, will address the following crucial thematic areas for the Caribbean:

  1. Climate Change Resilience and Disaster Risk Reduction
  2. Science, Technology and Innovation (STI) in support of the Blue Economy
  3. Sustainable use of biodiversity for food and nutrition security
  4. Water Security for climate-ready communities

Panel 4 – “Education, Citizen Science and Science Diplomacy for Sustainable Development” from 3:55 pm to 4:30 pm Kingston time (GMT -5h): facilitated and moderated by UNESCO, will discuss on issues regarding Education for Sustainable Development – ESD (with a focus on Science, Technology, Engineering and Math – STEM), Citizen Science and Science Diplomacy, and look at how the related methodologies and tools could advance STI in the Caribbean.

Finally, the event will include the following Closing Panel:

From 4:30 pm to 5:00 pm (15 min), Kingston time (GMT -5h): “The way forward for STI to help build a sustainable and resilient future in the Caribbean” Massimiliano Lombardo, UNESCO Cluster Office for the Caribbean and Prof. Winston Mellowes, CAS, will summarize and outline the main suggestions and recommendations that emerged from the open discussions and will agree upon with the participants some proposed follow-up actions, to be coordinated by UNESCO and CAS.


The Forum targets key Caribbean STI stakeholders and decision-makers from national government agencies, regional, multilateral and intergovernmental organizations, academic and research institutions, private sector, civil society organizations and the diaspora. It will explore opportunities to strengthen STI integration within the Caribbean region.

A key expected outcome of the Forum will be to agree upon the establishment of a Caribbean Intergovernmental Scientific Advisory Committee (CISAC), under the overall coordination of UNESCO and CAS. The Committee will address the key recommendations and specific follow-up actions that will emerge from this Forum and take action accordingly, in coordination with the national STI government institutions of the Caribbean region.


Photo by Sean Oulashin on Unsplash

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