INAUGURAL CEREMONY OF THE ICSU REGIONAL OFFICE FOR LATIN AMERICA AND THE CARIBBEAN

The Minister of Science and Technology of Brazil, Professor Sergio Rezende; the President of the Brazilian Academy of Science, Professor Eduardo Krieger; the Vice President for External Relations of ICSU, Professor Hernan Chaimovich; the Chair of the Regional Committee for Latin America and the Caribbean, Professor José Antonio de La Peña, and the Director of ICSU-LAC, Professor Alice Abreu, formally inaugurated the ICSU Regional Office for Latin America and Caribbean on April 18th, at the Brazilian Academy of Sciences.

Also present was the Executive Director of ICSU, Professor Thomas Rosswall, and the members of the Regional Committee for Latin America and the Caribbean, Professors, Juan Asenjo, from Chile, Carmen Samayoa, from Guatemala, Elena Vigil, from Cuba, Tara Dasgupta, from Jamaica, Mahabir Gupta, from Panama, and Belita Koiler, from Brazil. The Directors of the Regional Committees for Africa and for Asia & Pacific, Professors Gabriel Ogunmola and Anupam Varma; and the Chair of the ICSU Policy Committee for Developing Countries, Professor Marian Addy, also attended the ceremony. Furthermore, several representatives of ICSU National Members, as the Mexican Academy of Sciences and the Cuban Academy of Sciences; of ICSU Union Members, as IUFost (International Union of Fod Science and Technology), SBCTA (Sociedade Brasileira de Ciência e Tecnologia de Alimentos), International Union of Physiological Sciences; of ICSU Multidisciplinary Bodies, as IGBP (International Geosphere and Biosphere Programme) were also present.

Fellow international organizations like the Inter American Institute for Global Change Research (IAI), the CRECTEALC (Centro Regional de Educação em Ciência e Tecnologias), and the Pan American Health Oreganization also sent representatives.

Several Brazilian authorities were also present, representing FINEP (Financiadora de Estudos e Projetos), FAPERJ (Fundação Carlos Chagas Filho de Amparo à Pesquisa do Estado do Rio de Janeiro ) , CGEE (Centro de Gestão e Estudos Estratégicos); O ECO, IBGE (Instituto Brasileiro de Geografia e Estatística), the Catholic University of Rio de Janeiro, the Federal University of Rio de Janeiro, COPPE, among others.

The ICSU Vice President for External Relations, Professor Hernan Chaimovich, opened the ceremony and greeted all presents, emphasizing that t rough its international network, ICSU plans and coordinates interdisciplinary research to address major issues of relevance to both science and society. ICSU also actively advocates for freedom in the conduct of science, promotes equitable access to scientific data and information, and facilitates science education and capacity building. ICSU also helps create international and regional networks of scientists with similar interests and acts as a focus for the exchange of ideas, the communication of scientific information and the development of scientific standards. These goals and this vision are without a doubt important for Latin America and the Caribbean and the Regional Office will help to further develop them in the region.

The Director of the Regional Office, Professor Alice Abreu, then addressed the gathering. According to Professor Abreu, " in this XXIst century it is unthinkable to create jobs, face poverty and strengthen democratic governance without making extensive use of science, applying locally-appropriate technology, introducing the concept of innovation at all levels of society, and improving the quality of science teaching". In our time, science, technology, engineering and innovation play a fundamental role in the creation of wealth and economic development, as well as in the improvement of quality of life for all citizens of the region.

In addition, Prof. Alice Abreu affirmed that "when implemented within a framework of protection of the environment, sustainable development, addressing gender inequality, and strengthening democracy, they generate employment and well-being through innovation, help reduce poverty; and improve education, health, nutrition and trade".

Prof. Abreu highlighted the special responsibility of the regional offices in promoting local scientific and technological capacities, through the coordination of regional scientific programs,

She thanked the Brazilian Academy of Sciences, the Ministry of Science and Technology of Brazil for their generous support and informed that CONACYT Mexico has also pledged an annual grant for the Office.

The Chair of the Regional Committee for the Latin America and the Caribbean, Professor José Antonio de la Peña, celebrated the ICSU initiative to open regional offices in developing countries. According to José Antonio de la Peña "the ICSU strategy is to establish the Offices to ensure that the regional priorities are reflected in the international scientific agenda and to strength the participation of the scientists of the developing world in the global scientific community."

Professor De la Peña also mentioned that Asia and Africa have recently established active regional offices. He expressed his certainly that the Latin American and Caribbean Office will also be showing positive results very soon, and will develop into an important actor in the region.

The Chair of the Regional Committee concluded his speech congratulating Professor Alice Abreu for her position as Director fo ICSU-LAC, and expressed his satisfaction, as Chair do the Regional Committee, at working together in the next few years as they did in the last two days, planning the activities of ICSU-LAC.

Professor Eduardo Krieger, speaking as the outgoing President of the Brazilian Academy of Sciences, described the increasingly important participation of the Academy in the international scientific community and emphasized the satisfaction of the Brazilian Academy of Sciences in hosting the ICSU Regional Office for Latin America and the Caribbean.

As the last speaker, Minister Sergio Rezende declared that the Regional Office came in an especially auspicious time, that coincides with the increasing recognition of the importance of the international cooperation between Latin American and Caribbean countries. The Minister also reaffirmed that the Brazilian Ministry of Science and Technology will support this collaboration in a concrete way, since it recognizes science and technology international collaboration as one of the priority areas for Latin America and Caribbean.