ROLAC Annual Report 2008

Since its inauguration in 2007, the Regional Office has developed science plans in defined priority areas: Biodiversity; Sustainable Energy, Natural Hazards and Disasters; and Mathematics Education. Four Scientific Planning Groups were appointed to develop proposals that reviewed the current status of the area on the region, and to formulate a set of detailed objectives and targeted areas of research to be developed in the next few years.
In August 2008, the first draft of the reports, summarized bellow, were presented at the International Symposium “Scientific Cooperation in Latin America and the Caribbean: A Vision for the Future”, held at the Brazilian Academy of Sciences, in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil. The comments and discussions during this meeting, as well as, the submission of the texts to peer reviewers, were essential in the preparation of the reports. The final documents will be presented at the ICSU Regional Consultation for Latin America and the Caribbean, scheduled for early March 2009, in Mexico City.
The Regional Consultation will provide an important opportunity to National Members from Latin
America and the Caribbean to discuss the four priority areas proposals, and to engage in their
implementation. The aim of the ICSU Science Plans is to become a reference to the development of scientific research in these areas in the forthcoming years and, to promote the active involvement of the countries of the region.
Among other activities, the Regional Office and the Regional Committee for Latin America and
the Caribbean participated in the 29th General Assembly of ICSU, held in Maputo, Mozambique, in October 2008, the first since the creation of the Regional Offices. Thanks to the support of ICSU
and CONACYT Mexico, the event registered an increase in the participation from Latin American
and Caribbean representatives. Presentations were made to the Assembly, emphasizing the
achievements of the Regional Office and the Regional Committee since their establishment, while the activities and perspectives of the Office were outlined at the National Members and Unions Fora.
Two projects approved in the 2008 ICSU Grants Programme are being developed with the support of the Regional Office for Latin America and the Caribbean: “Identifying biodiversity research, conservation, and management priorities in Latin America and the Caribbean in the light of the Millennium Ecosystem Assessment’s findings”, presented by DIVERSITAS as the lead institution, and, “Mapping Scientific Disciplinary Networks in Latin America and the Caribbean”, presented by the International Mathematical Union as the lead institution. Both projects have started in July 2008 and are being developed as planned.
The Regional Office continued to engage in strengthening relations with the large and complex ICSU family. One important development was the strengthening of relations with the Scientific Unions. Ten ICSU Scientific Unions responded to the request from the Regional Office and appointed a contact person for Latin America and the Caribbean, who will work in close
contact with the Regional Office.
The Regional Office extended its contacts with several international organizations in 2008, and two meetings deserve a special mention. The UNESCO Regional Consultation in Natural Disasters and Sustainable Development was a collaborative effort with the Regional Office, and involved the participation of the Scientific Planning Group in Natural Hazards and Disasters. The
Second Meeting of Ministers and High Authorities on Science and Technology in the framework of the Inter-American Council for Integral Development (CIDI) of the Organization of American States, took place in Mexico City, Mexico, on October 27th and 28th, under the auspices of CONACYT Mexico. The Regional Office represented ICSU at the meeting and provided information on its regional and international agenda.
We use this opportunity to stress the importance of strengthening the proposed activities in 2009. The present world scenario reinforces the importance of investments in science and technology. The Regional Office and Committee hope to endeavour developments in this direction by supporting sound collaboration in research programs in the region the years to come.