ORGANIZATION OF AMERICAN STATES Inter-American Council for Integral Development (CIDI)

Transcription

1 ORGANIZATION OF AMERICAN STATES Inter-American Council for Integral Development (CIDI) FIFTH REGULAR MEETING OF THE INTER-AMERICAN OEA/Ser.W/XIII.3.5 COMMITTEE ON SCIENCE AND TECHNOLOGY CIDI/COMCYT/doc.6/07 September 20-21, September 2007 Washington, D.C. Original: English REPORT OF THE DIRECTOR OF THE DEPARTMENT OF SCIENCE AND TECHNOLOGY OF THE EXECUTIVE SECRETARIAT FOR INTEGRAL DEVELOPMENT (November 1, September 20, 2007)

2 REPORT OF THE DIRECTOR OF THE DEPARTMENT OF SCIENCE AND TECHNOLOGY OF THE EXECUTIVE SECRETARIAT FOR INTEGRAL DEVELOPMENT. (November 1, September 20, 2007) I. INTRODUCTION DST has followed the Plan of Action of Lima, which is based on the recommendations of the Special Meeting of the Inter-American Commission of Science and Technology (COMCYT) of May 2003 and on the IV Regular Meeting of that commission of April 2004, and which was adopted in November 2004 during the First meeting of Ministers and High Authorities of Science and Technology within the framework of the Inter-American Council for Integral Development (CIDI). This strong faith in the role of Science and Technology was thereafter confirmed in 2005 at the Fourth Summit of the Americas and the OAS General Assembly. The recommendations and the Plan of Action were ambitious and emanated from a generous vision for the integral development of the Americas through the use of science and technology. Additionally, a strategic plan of partnership for development was designed and adopted by the member states to ensure a focused and effective implementation of the Plan of Action and to address the needs of the member states. Similarly, partnership with civil society, academic institutions, the pubic and private Sectors, as well as interdepartmental collaboration had to be fostered and facilitated. Since the last Ministerial meeting of November 2004, the then Office of Education, Science, Technology, and Culture was directed by Dr. Alice Abreu until January 2006 a period of 13 months and after an interim of four months, on June 1, 2006, a new Department of Science and Technology (DST) was established under the Direction of Dr. Michel Bergeron a period of 16 months. Prior to the arrival of the current Director, the Department of Science and Technology had become a single entity, inside the Executive Secretariat for Integral Development (SEDI), which is now comprised of seven departments. The size of DST has significantly decreased and is now made of one (1) Director, four (4) specialists, two (2) general staff members and one (1) visiting associate specialist. Considering the crucial role of science, technology, engineering and innovation (STEI) in our Knowledge-based democracies, the Department of Science and Technology needs to be significantly strengthened. This report is a collective work written by DST specialists Oscar Harasic, Gala Redington, Daniel Perna, María Celina Conte, Mayra de La Torre and its Director. We also wish to recognize the collaboration of Ghislaine Ettori whose language skills proved to be precious, as well as the secretarial help of Luz Marina Álvarez. Two DST interns, Annie Mercure and François L Écuyer, were also active contributors to the preparation of the V COMCYT meeting. The report of the new Director includes a synthesis of the activities carried out by the previous administration, as well as a presentation of the on-going programs for the last few months. The report will illustrate in each one of the programs the role and the absolute necessity of Science,

3 - 2 - Technology, Engineering and Innovation in our economies based on Knowledge in order for our democracies to remain competitive in today s global environment. We must keep in mind that one of the major goals of this V COMCYT meeting is to initiate the preparatory process of the Second Meeting of Ministers and High Authorities of Science and Technology, programmed for It is hoped that this overview and the deliberations of the COMCYT members will provide a road map for concrete actions to address the priorities of the member states and to help fulfill their needs. It is interesting to recall the fundamental philosophy and objectives, which were approved by the member states in Indeed, the Meeting of Ministers, which was co-hosted by the National Council of Science and Technology of Peru (CONCYTEC), adopted the Declaration and the Plan of Action of Lima. Both presented the principles giving the relevance of the integration of science and technology, engineering, innovation and education as fundamental dynamic factors for economic and social development of the Member States. They recognized the need to create employment, to face poverty and strengthen democratic governance. A synthesis of the discussions and the recommendations will be found in DST publication entitled Science, Technology, Engineering and Innovation for Development: A Vision for the Americas in the 21 st Century, November We must realize that this consensus was reached after a series of deliberations that resulted from a comprehensive preparatory process of two years involving the participation of science and technology experts from different sectors. Structural recommendations for science and technology were made from 1994 to 2005 during the following meetings: Miami - 1 st Summit 1994 Santiago de Chile - 2 nd Summit 1998 Quebec -3 rd Summit 2001 Lima Ministerial 2004 Mar del Plata - 4 th Summit 2005 A recommendation from the Plan of Action of the First Summit of Miami summarizes the commitment on the essential role of Science and Technology for social and economic development: There is a need to re-assess the ongoing interaction among the region s science and technology infrastructure and cooperative mechanisms; to provide impetus for improved cooperation; to reduce barriers to collaboration; to augment the demand for technology; and to disseminate information about technological opportunities using new advances in information technology; and generally to improve communications among the key scientific organizations, researchers in the region, and growing technology-based small- and medium-sized enterprises (Section No. 14). Those objectives were repeated in all meetings between 1994 and DST was involved in the creation and development of permanent structural projects (CLARA, RICYT, IAAC, SIM, COPANT), and the OAS provided the initial funding. During the Ministerial Meeting of Lima, the member states approved seven commitments: i. Promotion of investment in science and technology for development; ii. Strengthening of the national and regional infrastructures;

4 - 3 - iii. Strengthening of the national, regional and hemispherical policies; iv. Strengthening and sharing of science, technology, engineering, innovation and scientific education; v. Strengthening of the programs of science and technology indicators, databases, portals, publications and scientific magazines; vi. Follow-up of the Meeting of Ministers and High Authorities in Science and Technology; and vii. A series of 15 initiatives, out of which ten were identified as priorities for DST: Integrating a Gender Perspective in Science and Technology Policies and Programs in the Americas; Engineering for the Americas (EftA); National Research and Education Networks (NRENs) in the Americas, and the Latin American Advanced Networks Cooperation (CLARA); Advanced Networking for the Caribbean Region; Inter-American Program of Indicators for Science, Technology and Innovation; Popularization of Science; Legal Metrology for the Caribbean; Scientific Education with Support from the Inter-American Network of Academies of Science (IANAS); Biotechnology for the Americas; Productive Competitiveness and Employment for the Americas. II. DST PROGRAMS FROM NOVEMBER 2004 TO MAY / Information Technologies and Advanced Networks In collaboration with the Inter-American Development Bank (IDB), Internet2, and the National Institutes of Health (NIH), DST promoted advanced networks including the Latin American Cooperation of Advanced Networks (CLARA). DST provided continued support to specialized information networks: the Inter- American/Ibero-American Network on Science and Technology Indicators (RICYT), Inter-American Metrology System (SIM), Multinational Information System in Biotechnology and Food Technology (SIMBIOSIS), Latin American Network of Chemistry (RELAQ), Information System on Science and Technology for Latin America and the Caribbean (INFOCYT). On November 2005, the Secretary General signed a Cooperation Agreement with the Regional Center for Space, Science and Technology Education for Latin America and the Caribbean (CRECTEALC) to provide a platform for increased cooperation in education in space, science and technology. CRECTEALC is one of seven UN regional centers for this issue. 1. Summarized from the Report of Activities, Office of Education, Science and Technology, September 15, 2004 to January 31, 2006, by Dr. Alice Abreu, Director.

5 - 4 - Cyber Infrastructure for Science and Technology Development Following the Agenda for Connectivity in the Americas and the Plan of Action of Quito, advised in the area of connectivity for scientific and advanced research, DST participated in the Cyber infrastructure Workshop for International Cooperation in Biodiversity Research held in Panama City in early Biotechnology Biosafety DST did not actually receive grants for Biotechnology and Biosafety. However, DST was actively involved in a multilateral program suggested by FEMCIDI called Capacity building for the safe and sustainable use of agricultural biotechnology in Latin America and the Caribbean. Many seminars were organized with experts from the United States, Canada, Europe, and Asia. Courses on Management, Innovation and Commercialization of Food Biotechnology in Latin America and the Caribbean were also carried out. DST collaborated with Young America s Business Trust (YABT) in the preparation of videoconferences, on-line training courses in the countries and facilitated experience exchange among participants, promoted joint working partnerships in the area of commercialization methodologies for biotechnology-based products. Ibero-American Workshops DST partnered with the Ibero-American Program of Science and Technology for Development (CYTED) and the Spanish International Cooperation Agency (AECI) to develop a series of Ibero-American Workshops Jornadas Iberoamericanas in the areas of Nano-Bio-Info- Cogno (NBIC): Converging Technologies, Convergence Paradigms, and Challenges; Sustainable Applications of Photovoltaic Energy; Nuclear Magnetic Resonance; Progress on Nuclear Magnetic Resonance and Molecular Interactions. Metrology, Engineers for the Americas, Gender Issues, and Popularization of Science The Initiative of the Engineers for the Americas (EftA) and the Promotion of Civil Society Participation projects began right after the Lima meeting and once the planning of future activities was establilshed in Gender Perspective, Metrology, and Popularization of Science had been part of DST projects for years. In 2006, they became major programs of the Department and are described in the second part of the report. Participation of Civil Society At the IV Summit of the Americas (Mar del Plata, November 2005), civil society was confirmed as a key partner. As part of the preparations for this summit, a consultation process with civil society, linked to science and technology, was supported by DST during 2005 in coordination with the Summits of the Americas. The recommendations in science and technology provided by

6 - 5 - civil society in Mar del Plata represent the consensus reached by this sector as a result of this process, and they are in harmony with those of the member states. III. DST PROGRAMS FROM JUNE 1, 2006 TO SEPTEMBER 30, 2007 In July 2006, DST programs were redefined in line with the philosophy adopted by SEDI (Strategic Plan for Partnership for Integral Development ) and in agreement with the recent policies of major donors. DST specialists have first selected the priority areas of special concern to member states in which the OAS enjoys a comparative advantage. Those priority areas are based on the mandates and the objectives given to the Secretary-General by the heads of state and governments of the Organization. The priority mandates of creating jobs, alleviating poverty and reinforcing the institutions are essential to ensure better governance and high-quality democracy, and are all at the core of DST activities. DST programs are as follows: I. Applied Physical Sciences and Engineering A. Metrology B. Engineering for the Americas (EftA) C. Energy D. Small and Medium Enterprises II. Applied Life Sciences A. Biotechnology B. Biosafety (Bioterrorism) III. Public Policies, Governance and Institutional Strengthening A. Gender issues in science B. Popularization of Science and its social appropriation C. Civil Society participation D. Collaboration with Academic Institutions E. Interaction with the Private Sector F. Interaction with other OAS entities (SEDI departments, Democracy, Governance, Terrorism, Young Americas Business Trust, Leo S. Rowe Fund) and other inter- American organizations, such as PAHO and CAB IV. Technical Secretariat for Inter- American agencies/commissions A. COMCYT B. Sistema Interamericano de Metrología (SIM) C. EftA DST programs on Applied Physical Sciences and Engineering, as well as DST Applied Life Sciences programs share the same objectives of creating jobs, alleviating poverty and strengthening regional institutions. Increased scientific and technological capacity and competitiveness and better governance are also part of the expected results.

7 - 6 - Engineering for the Americas (EftA) EftA is an initiative of technical capacity building in engineering for the Hemisphere aimed at facilitating the attraction of foreign direct investment (primarily from multinational companies), the stimulation of small-technology-based businesses by entrepreneurs, and the creation of highquality/high-salary employment in the region for socioeconomic development. It represents a shared belief that engineers, technologists, and technicians are the people who stand ready to develop the growth of the economies of the Americas. Through funds provided by the U.S. Trade Development Agency, CONCYTEC of PERU, and several leading corporations (Hewlett-Packard, Cemex, Microsoft, National Instruments), a major conference was held again in Lima in 2004, bringing together some 200 participants from academia, industry, governments, and NGOs to discuss technical capacity building in the Americas. EftA is considered as a priority by DST specialists and is a great example of collaboration between academia, the private and public sectors through the OAS. The COMCYT members will learn more about EftA activities in the report of its representative, Dan Marcek of Hewlett Packard, and by reading the EftA documents on the OAS Website at: EftA intends to implement its vision through three key strategies: 1. Educational Innovation: To encourage the innovation and reform of engineering education and the implementation of new educational techniques that involves the productive sector as a key partner. Educational improvements should be relevant to market needs and should foster a culture of life-long learning. 2. Quality Assurance and Accreditation: To foster activities leading to the enhancement of professional quality assurance; to compare methods of accreditation. The results will be to facilitate the mobility of engineers and the integration of national, regional, and hemispheric systems. 3. Job Creation: To engage with industrial partners in ongoing real world experiences for students, stimulate employment through internships and coops, and promote a sustained Industry/Academia interaction around producing appropriate outcomes. Engineers are well known to be pragmatic. Extensive use of science, as well as the application of the most efficient technology can almost solely be achieved by local experts; hence, the absolute necessity of excellent national programs of engineering education. The national experts are the best placed to transfer new knowledge and meet the needs of their fellow-citizens, especially practicing professionals. Moreover, entrepreneurship will develop more efficiently if there is a National Capacity of enlightened engineers ready to transform new ideas into applications which will create new enterprises and employment. Furthermore, a scientific education and culture should start from primary levels onwards in order to increase the interest of girls and boys, as well as women and men in order to promote

8 - 7 - scientific thinking oriented towards innovation. The gender perspective should also be integrated into all science, technology, engineering and innovations systems and policies. Otherwise, we are excluding more than 50 percent of the population, a sure way to weaken the national capacity building. A competent technical workforce base can provide several paths to economic development, in particular technically oriented multinational companies that will be attracted to invest in a developing country when there are qualified local employees to carry out operations and maintenance. For example, although our region s dependency on agriculture is considerable, the level of investment in technological development in this sector is among the lowest in the world. Similarly, it is vital to understand the current environmental dynamics, especially global warming and climate change, to grasp the way they are going to affect the region. It is no less vital to prepare proper responses to these challenges. Latin America could become a world leader in Environmental Engineering. Another example is the giant master work of the Panama Canal, which represents a fabulous challenge for the region and will require great engineering talents and continuous innovation. Unfortunately, innovation cannot be planned like a bridge or a building. Fortunately, the conditions and the environment to favor its flourishing can be put into place. Metrology There is no quality without quality control; there is no control without measurements; there is no measurement without calibration; there is no calibration without Accredited Laboratory; there is no Accredited Laboratory without Traceability; there is no traceability without measurement standards, and there are no measurement standards without metrology. Regularly, newspapers in the United States report about erroneous measurements and hazardous products (automobiles, instruments, toys, canned foods, etc.). The citizens realize that there are systems for compliance and verifications present in our cities and countries. The Metrology system is one of those mechanisms put in place by modern countries in order to prevent errors that can be disastrous and have large economic consequences. It is not difficult to convince each one of the importance of a measurement system to check the quality of food, sanitary and industrial products. There is no valid engineering project, no trade, no safe import and export without a metrology system in place. Metrology is fundamental for societies to function and also plays a key role in job creation, which is a priority mandate for the OAS. Metrology is the example par excellence of the collaboration that can and does exist between the countries of our hemisphere. Metrology is also one of the great accomplishments initiated by the OAS in 1971 that is still functioning and growing. A meeting convened by the OAS Office of Science and Technology in 1979 transformed the embryonic network into the inter-american system of Metrology (SIM), organized along the five existing economic blocks in the Americas: NORAMET (for NAFTA), CAMET (for the Central American Common Market), CARIMET (for CARICOM), ANDIMET (for the Andean Group), and SURAMET (for MERCOSUR). The recognition of measurement standards and certificates of equivalence still represents a major challenge within the Americas, especially when one considers the diversity of countries, with different development levels and, consequently, metrology capabilities. SIM s most important

9 - 8 - objective is to improve metrology systems so that these differences may decrease. DST continues implementing activities to support the National Metrology Institutes in the Americas through the FEMCIDI project on Implementation of Metrology, Infrastructures of the Americas to support Free Trade and Improve Quality of Life. As it will be shown during the COMCYT meeting, the project has gained tremendous interest and support throughout the Americas and is useful to decision-makers. DST wishes to: - Establish a solid technical capability in each of the National Metrology Institutes in the basic units of measurement necessary to support trade integration, and social and economic development; - Achieve the subregional and international recognition of measurement standards and of certificates of equivalence to support trade and commerce. A pilot project proposal for Central America is being elaborated and will be presented for funding to the Inter-American Development Bank (Korean fund). At the same time, NIST (USA) and INMETRO-Brasil are working together to develop new reference materials in the area of biofuels. DST biotechnology program also includes research in biofuels. Additionally, DST collaborates with the German Institute of Metrology (PTB) and NIST (USA) working on a Metrology project for the Natural Gas Sector Trilateral Cooperation with Latin America and the Caribbean. A report on the project s feasibility has been completed and distributed among the member institutes of SIM. Energy Because of its current and future importance, Energy has been chosen as the main topic for discussion at the OAS General Assembly in Panama on June of Energy is directly related with economic growth and is essential to creating jobs and promoting social development. Energy security and independence are of paramount importance for all OAS member states. The environmental impact due to the extensive use of fossil fuels including contamination and climate change motivates the search for alternative sources of renewable energy. A second factor is the need for alternative energy sources in order to reduce the political and economic dependence from oil producing countries. A diversified energy portfolio helps reduce this risk. Latin American and the Caribbean countries can be considered ideal to carry out initial development and implementation of alternative renewable energy sources. Brazil has been one of the pioneers to promote biomass sources of energy. Its scientists have brilliantly innovated and have become world leaders in ethanol production and research from sugar cane. May we recall that some four decades ago, the Office of Science and Technology financially assisted the teams of Brazilian scientists to develop this option as a new source of energy? LAC can follow these experiences to promote innovative approaches for solar, wind and geo-thermal sources of energy. It is obvious that our member states should and, in some cases, already foster and encourage joint ventures and other cooperative mechanisms that will provide an environment conducive to attract foreign direct investment to promote alternative sources of renewable energy. They must develop new knowledge and expertise at the national level, in order to reduce the flow of funds necessary for the purchase of

10 - 9 - energy. The expected benefits of a diversified energy portfolio, with emphasis on renewable sources, could be summarized as follows: - Creation of new enterprises and industries; - New employment opportunities; - Generation of knowledge and expertise in new areas; - Economic growth; - Improvement of living standards; - Promotion of sustainable development. As a follow up, DST has participated in organizing symposiums on Renewable Alternative Energy Technologies for the Western Hemisphere in Mexico and will participate in Venezuela in a Symposium on the Use of New Clean Technologies. Also, with the cooperation and financing of the German Metrology Institute and in the area of fossil fuels, DST will promote a new initiative to develop expertise in gas measurements for Bolivia and Peru. This project will incorporate various metrology institutes within the SIM, such as INTI- Argentina, INMETRO-Brasil, NRC-Canada, CENAM-Mexico and NIST (USA), among others. DST s renewed biotechnology program will foster and develop biofuels research in continuity with the initiative of INMETRO-Brasil and NIST-USA. Needless to say, DST collaborates with SEDI s Department of Sustainable Development, which has presented its excellent work in relation to public policies during the last General Assembly in Panama. DST s role will be to present the current and potential alternative technologies and possible economic opportunities for renewable energy projects that could be implemented in the 34 member states in accordance with their capabilities and resources. The past and future symposiums also seek to provide the policymakers, high level authorities and decision makers with a guideline and an agenda to promote the development of alternative renewable energy sources, projects, and technologies in the Western Hemisphere. Biotechnology and Biosafety The Declaration and Plan of Action of Lima approved the Biotechnology for the Americas initiative. Under this initiative, DST continued supporting the regional activities for capacity building and sharing institutional experiences through interactive training courses in Latin America and the Caribbean. Eleven regional and international seminars were organized on biosafety of genetically modified plants and traceability of genetically modified organisms in foods. Over 900 professionals from 17 countries, representing 150 institutions received training through FEMCIDI. The financial contribution from OAS was multiplied by three, thanks to the local contributions of the participant countries. As a result, the north-south cooperation in food technology has greatly increased thanks to the support of institutions and organizations from Canada, the United States, Germany, England, Spain and the Institut Pasteur from France. South-south interactions included, among others, Argentina, Brazil, Colombia, Chile, Mexico, Grenada, Jamaica, and Trinidad and Tobago. DST also

11 collaborated with the Young Business Trust for the Americas to include biotechnology in the Young Entrepreneurs program. The Biotechnology and Biosafety/Bioterrorism program is currently being revamped by Dr. Mayra de la Torre, a well-recognized expert in biotechnology, thanks to the support of the Mexican Government, FEMCIDI and CIDA. This DST program will strengthen institutional capacity and cooperation among institutions and professionals from academia, the public and private sectors: Latin American Collaborative Research Federation In May 2007, Microsoft has launched a virtual research institute in order to allow scientists in Latin America and the Caribbean to collaborate. This new program represents the materialization of one of the mandates of the Lima Declaration of The role of the new Institute will be presented by Dr. Tom Healey of Microsoft Research during the COMCYT meeting. A detailed document, prepared by Dr. Healey, can be consulted at This will provide LAC universities with a sustainable virtual collaborative environment and will strengthen the technological infrastructure between LAC research universities. The goal of this research funding initiative is also to generate new knowledge that will contribute to expand the capabilities of computing technology to better serve social and economic challenges of underserved communities, both rural and urban. Microsoft Research is developing novel approaches in computing technology, which have the potential for great impact in a range of areas, including education, healthcare, and economic development. As mentioned by Dr. Tom Healey, the relevance that research projects can have in this area is significant since there are difficult technological problems to be solved to realize that vision, such as work in last-mile networking infrastructures, creating intuitive user interfaces, and developing low-cost computing devices. DST has accepted to be a member of the Executive Committee of the Latin American Collaborative Research Federation since Computing and Information technologies are critical to socio-economic development and are crucial components for our education programs. Moreover, experts in the field predict that information technologies will become more and more affordable, accessible, and relevant. Gender Perspective DST s efforts to promote gender mainstreaming in science and technology policies and programs in the member states started in 2003 as a follow-up to the recommendations of the Special Meeting of COMCYT. These efforts have been carried out in close cooperation with the Inter- American Commission of Women (CIM), the UNESCO Regional Chair Women, Science and Technology in Latin America, and the Gender Advisory Board (GAB) of the UNCSTD. This key partnership facilitated the formulation of recommendations that represent the foundation of the hemispheric initiative Recommendations for the Integration of a Gender Perspective in Science and Technology Policies and Programs in the Americas, approved in the Ministerial Meeting in 2004.

12 As a follow-up to the Lima Ministerial Meeting, DST has continued promoting the integration of a gender perspective in science and technology in the member states. To mention some examples, DST has contributed and participated in activities carried out by its partners and other institutions in the field, among them, the Second IUPAP International Conference on Women in Physics in Brazil in 2005, and the preparation process of the International Report on Science, Technology and Gender (IRSTG 2006) of UNESCO-Paris. It has also promoted on-line training courses in sciences, technology, and society with a gender focus in preparation of the IV Summit of the Americas. Currently, DST has requested funding to execute a hemispheric program for gendersensitive policies in science and technology in order to increase women s presence in the area of national capacity building. The proposal includes the collaboration and participation of the Department of Sustainable Development of SEDI. A one-hour session with the participation of three experts is taking place on the first day of the COMCYT meeting. Civil Society DST promotes and supports the participation and contribution of Civil Society Organizations (CSO) linked with science and technology within the framework of the OAS Summit of the Americas Process. Its main objective is contributing to the establishment of a scientific culture in the Hemisphere, the national capacity building, and the popularization of science. Civil society participation influenced the science and technology content of the hemispheric agenda, contributing to reflect the ministerial mandates at the highest level. In this regard, every effort was made by DST to enable the civil society organizations involved in science and technology to include their recommendations in the draft Declaration and Plan of Action of Mar del Plata. Several activities that feed this process were organized by the DST in coordination with the Summit of the Americas Secretariat. DST will continue to promote the participation of this sector within OAS activities, including COMCYT meetings, ministerial meetings, and the General Assembly, and in preparation of the V Summit of the Americas. Here is a partial list of the specialized networks, associations, and national entities that have participated in: INTERCIENCIA Association Inter-American Network of Academies of Sciences (IANAS) Latin American Cooperation of Advanced Networks (CLARA) Inter-American Science and Technology Indicators (RICYT) World Federation of Engineering Organizations (WFEO) Grupo de Análisis para el Desarrollo (GRADE) Asociación Interétnica de Desarrollo de la Selva Peruana (AIDESEP) of Peru Women in Global Science and Technology (WIGSAT) of Canada UNESCO Regional Chair Women, Science and Technology in Latin America Regional Center for Space, Science and Technology Education for Latin America and the Caribbean (CRECTEALC) For more information, please refer to the following link:

13 As a final note, we would like to recall seven recommendations from civil society, which have influenced the design of DST programs: 1. OAS member countries should implement the commitments made in previous Summits geared towards scientific, technological, and innovative development. 2. High quality science and technology education should be incorporated from primary levels onwards in order to increase the interest of girls and boys, as well as women and men in promoting scientific thinking and a culture of innovation. 3. Public financing for science, technology and innovation should be integrated into national and regional policies and coordinated at the highest governmental levels. 4. Access to scientific information must be recognized as a fundamental right for all citizens of the Americas. 5. The gender perspective should be integrated into all Science, Technology, Education, and Innovation systems and policies. 6. At the end of the next decade, private investment in STI in Latin America and the Caribbean should be greater than public investment. The stimulus and responsibility of preparing legal and regulatory frameworks for this urgent necessity falls on the governments of the region. 7. Create networks of centers of excellence that, through synergy and the achievement of a level of critical mass, produce advanced research and innovation. Science Popularization In all of the Summits of the Americas, a specific mandate was given to the OAS Secretary General by the heads of state and government to promote Science Popularization for socio-economic development in Latin America and the Caribbean. We prefer to use the expressions Science divulgation or Science awareness and its appropriation by the citizens. In a democracy where there exists a large participation of its citizens, science appropriation finds its true meaning: It becomes an absolute prerequisite for quality and transparence of governance, as well as for the legitimacy of government s decisions. It is almost a truism in today s increasingly connected world to say that science, technology, and innovation are the sources of new opportunities and the causes of sociological modifications. It is why their effects have to be understood by all citizens, women and men alike. Access to scientific information, therefore, must be easily understood, generalized and widespread, and must be presented in the citizens language. Civic participation is made possible and becomes valuable only when the information is objective and rigorously analyzed. The presence of a local expert is indeed necessary, but his/her comments have to be adapted and vulgarized: a translator is then required. That messenger/translator is a science journalist.

14 Freedom of the press has been accepted as a fundamental pillar of democracy and is considered by many as the fourth power. In our knowledge-based democracies, science journalism should logically be considered as a fundamental pillar to achieve transparency and quality of governance since the journalists inform and explain. Like it or not, the local mass media, through their various means such as radio, television and, in particular, the written press have a strong influence on the public opinion and are often, for the individual citizen, the only channel where he or she can obtain information about research applications. The role of the science journalists is valuable only if they are competent, objective and independent. Rigorous scientific input is essential in any decision-making process especially if citizen s participation is involved. The public debate is often initiated by science journalists and they are the ones who regularly force the experts to intervene publicly for the betterment of our societies. The importance of science journalists in our technology- and knowledge-based society is far from being understood. Government authorities need the support of their compatriots and conversely the citizens need the journalists to express their hopes and fears to their elected parliamentarians. Science journalism should be considered as an essential part of the National Capacity for Science, Technology and Innovation. They are the best placed to tell the beneficial or malefic consequences of their implementations. Science journalists will often ignite the fire of criticism either by questioning the conclusions of scientists or by denouncing the lack of a political will in their implementation. Science journalism is the best ally of both the scientist and of the decision-maker. With the implementation of electronic highways, which have been generalized or mainstreamed in the Americas as a result of a mandate of the Third Summit of the Americas, the tree of scientific information and knowledge can grow in each citizen s garden. Importantly, the community of research scientists has grown in LAC over the last three decades, enough in quality and quantity to assist in science appropriation in the society. Scientists generally understand their responsibility towards their own society to transfer the international knowledge but, unfortunately, there are still too many scientists who ignore their duty to carry out that function. After all, their compatriots have financed their education and their research activities: They have the absolute right to know the results and their applications. Both scientific institutions and science journalists have much to gain to improve their exchanges. The Department of Science and Technology will continue to work with the local scientific communities to reinforce the quality and the quantity of scientific information in their national languages, including indigenous idioms. In order to reach the best results, DST has prepared a threeyear program in collaboration with the World Federation of Science Journalists (WFSJ). This partnership between the OAS and the WFSJ is key for the management of this program, which seeks to develop and support science journalism in Latin America and the Caribbean. The main objective is to improve communication between the world of the scientific community and mainstream society by promoting and defending the free flow of information, both within the community and to the general public, through the news and information media experience. WFSJ is a non-profit, non-governmental, international organization representing science and technology journalists organizations throughout the world. WFSJ has twenty nine member associations on all continents and through its Secretariat, WFSJ has the infrastructure to provide a state-of-the-art Website, to assist in the formulation of policies and journalist contacts. Furthermore, WFSJ has developed and is currently implementing the Peer-to-Peer Training Project in Africa

15 seeking, among other things, professional development of science journalists and the establishment of associations of science journalists and relationships between scientists and the media. The experience, best practices, and lessons learned through this project under the leadership of WFSJ will most definitely contribute to the success of a similar project for Latin America and the Caribbean. The OAS and the WFSJ create a special synergy, proving to be more effective in achieving their common goals, rather than through efforts carried out individually by each organization. CIDI01958E01