Organized by new GYA member Luisa Diele-Viegas (Federal University of Bahia, Brazil), the workshop titled “Scientific Governance and Diplomacy in the Global South: The Role of Young Scientists” convened over 30 participants from students to professors of the Federal University of Bahia, Brazil, to discuss the role of young scientists in scientific governance and diplomacy in Latin America and the Caribbean region. The workshop was supported by the Brazilian Chapter of the Organization for Women in Science for the Developing World, the Kunhã Asé Network of Women in Science , and the Laboratory of (Bio)Diversity in the Anthropocene.
The event started with an introduction to key concepts, setting the stage for an engaging and interactive session. Attendees delved into the fundamentals of scientific governance and diplomacy, exploring their significance in the context of the Global South. Following the introductory session, participants were immersed in a series of collaborative leadership tools aimed at fostering effective teamwork and innovation. The workshop on Collaborative Leadership Tools provided attendees with practical insights and strategies to enhance their leadership skills and drive positive change within their scientific communities.
After a brief break, the event resumed with a focus on scientific diplomacy. Participants gained insights into the role of diplomacy in scientific collaborations and learned about strategies for building international partnerships and fostering scientific cooperation across borders.
As the event drew to a close, attendees reflected on key takeaways and considerations for future action during the final session. The event concluded leaving participants inspired and empowered to leverage their scientific expertise for meaningful contributions to global governance and diplomacy. Overall, the event provided a dynamic platform for young scientists to explore and engage with the concepts of scientific governance and diplomacy, highlighting their importance in shaping the future of scientific research and collaboration in the Global South.
Luisa highlighted the importance of participating in the Science Leadership Workshop for New Members at the last AGM in early May, facilitated by Maggie Dugan, Leshi Oluwatosin, and Cesar Guerrero from Inclusive Innovation, for improving the program of her event. Several activities from the New member’s workshop were adapted to fit into Luisa’s schedule. She claims that those tools were extremely helpful in reaching her goal on discussing scientific governance and diplomacy.
Feedback from workshop participants:
“The event was enriching; the activities helped us understand the role of the scientist in the context of diplomacy. The dynamics were excellent for seeing new perspectives and gave us a broader view of the scientific governance.”- Mateus Santos, master’s student
“The event was an excellent opportunity to dialogue and learn more about scientific governance and diplomacy, a topic that is not often discussed at the university. The dynamics created a very friendly environment for us to express ourselves and understand the nuances of diplomacy, its challenges, and its applications. Additionally, we learned about various initiatives that work directly with these topics and with which we can collaborate, aiming to further enhance our development as young scientists.” – Juliana Moraes, PhD. student
“The event provided valuable discussions on the challenges and opportunities in the field of scientific leadership. The dynamics proposed promoted a collaborative learning environment, and it was amazing to participate. Congratulations on the initiative!” – Dr Fernanda Melo, postdoctoral researcher
“The best workshop I’ve ever attended!” – Luis Ribeiro, Undergraduate student
“It was amazing!! An afternoon of learning and fun” – Marina Sunshine, Master’s student