World Science Forum “The Enabling Power of Science”

Budapest, November 4-7, 2015


    During the above mentioned 1° Science Diplomacy Program 2015, I was chosen with another three young scientists from Latin America to attend the World Science Forum (WSF2015) “The enabling power of Science” held in Budapest, Hungary. Yessica Elizondo (Costa Rica), Carlo Altamirano Allende (México) and Hassel Johnson (Peru) we were chosen by our colleagues to represent Latin American countries and the Science Diplomacy Program. Our participation was supported by the following young scientist institutions IAP, WAYS, ICORSA and GYA, and funded by UNESCO.    


    The World Science Forum aims to be a space of discussion among different parts, politicians, scientist, policy makers and civil society representatives to face together the most important global goals, and the role of science and technology in this scenario. 

    During the event, more than 50 young scientists from all over the world have participated in different parallel sessions. One of them called “Scoping the future: views and ideas of young scientist to tackle global challenges.” In this session we had the opportunity to discuss the Sustainable Development Goals (SDG) set by UNESCO (2015) and to make proposals to address some of the main topics. It was an amazing experience to share perspectives and points of view with many young scientists. The other important session was “Science Diplomacy in action”, where we discuss about this emerging and powerful concept to tackle regional and global challenges.  


    In addition these four organizations of young scientist, promoted the intervention of early career scientist in different session to raise their voice in this kind of event.

    So being part of that, Mande Holford (WAYS), Peter McGrath (IAP) and Marga Gual Soler (AAAS)  invited me to deliver a speech in the Plenary Session V “Challenges and Global Cooperation: Practices and Pitfalls” on IAI Climate Services project (CRN 3035), the challenges of co-producing knowledge and the inter-discipline approach. The session was moderated by Alan Leshner, CEO Emeritus, AAAs, and the speakers were:

  •  H.E. Sorena Sattari, Vice-President of Iran for Science and Technology, Islamic Republic of Iran,

  •  Aldo Malavasi, IAEA Deputy Secretary General, Head of Department of Nuclear Sciences and applications,

  • Gordon McBean President ICSU and first country representative from Canada to the IAI.

  • János Pásztor, Assistant Secretary-General on Climate Change, United Nations.

     For a young scientist having the opportunity to participate in this event was a very enriching experience at personal and professional level. Moreover this could not have been possible without the support of the CRN3035 project (IAI), UNESCO and the young scientists organizations (IAP/WAYS/GYA/ICORSA)[1].





Visit to the World Meteorological Organization (WMO)


During her stay in Europe, Maria Ines Carabajal was received in the World Meteorological Organization (WMO) by many representatives of the Global Framework of Climate Services (GFCS): Tamara Avellan, (Project Officer - GFCS Office), Jose Camacho (Scientific Officer – Agricultural Meteorology Division) and Filipe Lúcio (Director of Global Framework for Climate Services).
In the meeting she presented the different Research lines of the CRN3035 and the support that the project is giving to many activities that National Weather Service is implementing to develop dialogue spaces – user interface - with the agricultural sector in order to improve the communication between the users of climate information and it producers.
Maria Ines, also, carried out some interviews regarding the implementation of this global initiative and the impact at regional and local levels. 




[1] Young Scientist – WSF 2015 report:  http://www.interacademies.net/News/28907.aspx