The VI Ecology Symposium: Antarctic – South American Interactions in the Marine Environment (ASAI) will be held in Brazil, at the Federal University of Rio de Janeiro, on November 5 - 6th, 2009.

The international symposium on ‘Antarctic-South American Interactions in the Marine Environment’ aims to provide a forum where the scientific community will have the chance to debate this issue, besides gathering results from both continents in their latest academic efforts. The symposium expects the attendance of scientific and non-scientific delegates with diverse background.

Studying the living diversity of the Antarctic, which has been kept isolated from other continents by the Southern Oceans, is paramount to understand how physical processes and environmental changes affect biological communities.

More information is available at: www.oecologia.biologia.ufrj.br (ASAI - Symposium)

Alice Abreu, Director of ICSU Regional Office for Latin America and the Caribbean, received the Florestan Fernandes Award at the XIV Brazilian Sociology Congress on July 28th last, event that is held every two years. The award is given to prominent sociologists in recognition to their relevant contribution to the development of sociology in Brazil. Together with Professor Abreu, three other distinguished sociologist were honored the award : Silke Weber, Leôncio Martins Rodriguez and Fernando Henrique Cardoso, former President of Brazil, who was also a student and assistant of Florestan Fernandes, an eminent Brazilian sociologist.

The Workshop "Biodiversity and human well-being in Latin America and the Caribbean: identifying priorities for research, management and policy" was held in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, from the 28th to 30th April 2009, as a joint initiative of DIVERSITAS, DiverSus and the ICSU Regional Office for Latin America and the Caribbean, and with the collaboration of the IAI -Inter-American Institute for Global Change Research and the Botanical Garden of Rio de Janeiro.

The workshop had as its main objectives the identification and prioritization of research activities, management, and the design of necessary policies to face the challenges around biodiversity and human well being in Latin America and the Caribbean, and to formulate recommendations defining the role of science, management and public policies towards the implementation of specific actions related to the Millennium Ecosystem Assessment (MA).

Sandra Diaz of the University of Cordoba, Argentina, and coordinator of DiverSus, was responsible for the scientific coordination of the event, supported by the local scientific coordination of Fabio Scarano from the Research Institute of the Botanical Garden of Rio de Janeiro.

The general coordination of the workshop was shared by Alice Abreu from ICSU-LAC and Anne Larigauderie from DIVERSITAS. A prestigious Scientific Committee for the event included Mary Kalin Arroyo, from the Institute of Ecology and Biodiversity, University of Chile; Rodolfo Dirzo, from Stanford University, USA; Carlos Joly, from UNICAMP, BIOTA FAPESP, Brazil; Holm Tiessen from IAI, Patricia Ocampo-Thomason; from the ICSU Secretariat in Paris, and Fabien Quetier from DiverSus, Argentina.

The initiative gathered 32 key protagonists who dealt with biodiversity and human well-being in Latin America and the Caribbean, including renowned scientists, representatives from government and civil society, international organizations and graduate students.

The workshop was preceded by a broad-based electronic consultation carried out by DiverSus, when more than 500 specialists were consulted. The on line consultation contributed to the definition of the priority themes that organized the discussion and that were spelled out in a Concept Document produced by DiverSus and distributed before the Workshop to all participants.

The Key Note conference was by Carlos Nobre from INPE, "Tipping points of Biosphere-atmospbhere Interaction in Amazônia". Two other presentations, by Nicolás Lucas, Secretary of Sustainable Development and Environment of Tierra del Fuego, Argentina, entitled "Challenges for Governments to Implement the Recommendations of the Millennium Ecosystem Assessment", and by Holm Tiessen, from IAI, who presented considerations on the relevance of biodiversity, initiated the activities.

The participants were then organized in break-out groups, to discuss the five defined key topics : 1.Balancing the production of food and fuel for export and the long-term preservation of biodiversity-based ecosystem services; 2. The importance of wild biodiversity for poverty reduction; 3. Ecosystem services and protected areas; 4. Synergies between ecosystem service provision and global carbon strategies; and 5. The role of biocultural diversity in agro-biodiversity in long-term food security.

On the third day, the participants were once again divided in groups, this time to discuss four transversal issues: 1. Developing interdisciplinary research on biodiversity and ecosystem services; 2. Communicating with the general public; 3. Making relevant ecological knowledge rapidly available to decision makers; 4. Building long-term partnerships with stakeholders.

Expected results of the workshop are: 1) A final report that will be distributed to all participants that will advance towards an implementation plan for MA findings concerning the links between biodiversity and ecosystem services in the LAC region, which is in the final stage of preparation; 2) A short policy brief targeted at the policy community with main recommendations, which will be widely distributed. The documents of the workshop can be found at the following site: http://www.icsu-lac.org/diversitas/diversitas.html.

The UNESCO First Regional Forum was held from the 11th to 13th of March, in Mexico City and was organized by the UNESCO's Regional Bureau for Science in Latin America and the Caribbean and the Foro Consultivo y Tecnológico of México (FCCyT), in cooperation with the ICSU Regional Office for Latin America and the Caribbean; IANAS, the Inter American Networks of Academies of Science; CONACYT Consejo Nacional de Ciencia y Tecnología from Mexico, and the local UNESCO Office.

The event was in preparation for the World Science Conference that will be held in Budapest, in November 2009 and discussed key issues such as, new forms of financing regional cooperation in science and technology; the integration of a inter American information system for designing science, technology and innovation policies, and the strengthening of the participation of women scientists in the continent.

The Chair of the Regional Committee for Latin America and the Caribbean, Jose Antonio de la Peña, opened the event with other authorities and gave a conference entitled "The Scientific Integration in Latin America: ICSU's Vision."

Several other members of RCLAC, Juan Asenjo, Elena Vigil, Carmen Samayoa, Mahabir Gupta, Sérgio Pastrana, Patricia Ocampo-Thomason and Alice Abreu, participated in the scientific panels and conferences that were part of the program.

The final key note conference was held by Francisco R. Sagasti, President of the Directive Council of the Fund of Innovation, Science and Technology of Peru, who presented the theme "Past, present and future of the scientific policy in Latin America and the Caribbean : Towards a new scientific social contract."

A committee was formed to elaborate a first draft of the "Regional declaration for the Budapest Conference +10", to be presented at a Second Regional Forum to be held in Buenos Aires, Argentina, later this year.

Responding to a request from the ICSU Regional Office for Latin America and the Caribbean, several ICSU Scientific Unions have appointed Regional Contacts for Latin America and the Caribbean. They will be informed and invited to all the Regional Office activities and will be an invaluable link with the disciplinary networks that the Unions represent.

At the moment, these are the appointed Regional Contacts

The Symposium Women for Science, promoted by the Mexican Academy of Sciences and the Inter American Network of Academies of Sciences (IANAS), with the support of the Inter Academy Panel and CONACYT Mexico, was held in Mexico City on April 20th and 21st, 2009, at the Mexican Academy of Sciences. The ICSU Regional Office for Latin America and the Caribbean co-sponsored the event.

The Symposium had as its main objective to discuss the InterAcademy Council report, Women for Science, from an Inter American perspective. The meeting started with the presentation of the IAC report by the Key Note Speaker, Professor Johanna Levelt Sengers, co-chair of the IAC committee.

Fifteen other speakers were organized in four Round Tables around the following themes: Round Table I. Gender and Public Policies in Education, Science and Technology: Improving gender equity; Round Table II. An agenda for change: removing obstacles for a career in Science and Technology; Round Table III. Increasing the visibility of women in Science in Latin America and the Caribbean: role models, mentoring and awards; and Round Table IV. Improving the collection of gender disaggregated data for S&T policy making.

The meeting had a total of 31 participants, and the Science Academies of Argentina. Bolivia, Brazil, Canada, Chile, Colombia, Costa Rica, Cuba, Guatemala, México, Peru, República Dominicana, United States and Venezuela were represented. The Caribbean Academy of Sciences (CAS) and the Latin American Academy of Sciences (ACAL) were also represented. Other participants included representatives of the Third World Organization for Women in Science (TWOWS) and of the Gender Advisory Board (GAB). Professor Manju Sharma, from India, co-chair of the IAC report, was also present

The outcome of the meeting will be Final Report to be circulated to all Science Academies and to other relevant international organizations.

(Additional information at http://www.ianas.org/noticia_en.asp?ident=38)

The ICSU Regional Consultation for Latin America and the Caribbean gathered National Members to discuss Science Plans, prepared by distinguished scientists in each area, aiming at developing scientific research in four priority areas, Biodiversity, Natural Hazards and Disasters, Sustainable Energy and Mathematics Education.

The event was organized by the ICSU Regional Office for Latin America and the Caribbean (ICSU-LAC), and took place in Mexico City, in March, last, with the support of CONACYT Mexico.

The Regional Consultation gathered about 50 participants, national members for Latin America and the Caribbean, scientific unions, international organizations and regional government representatives, to formulated a set of detailed objectives and targeted areas of research to be developed in the next few years.

The aim of the ICSU Science Plans is to become a reference to the development of scientific research in these areas in the years to come, and to promote the active involvement of the countries of the region in their implementation.

The meeting was opened and first chaired by José Antonio de la Peña, Chair of the Regional Committee for Latin America and the Caribbean and Deputy Director of CONACYT Mexico. The participants of inaugural session were greeted by Reiko Kuroda, ICSU Vice President for External Relations; Jorge Grandi, Director of UNESCO Regional Office for Science, Clovis Baptista, Director of Science and Technology of the Organization of American States, Flora Montealegre Painter, Chief of the Science and Technology Division of the Inter American Development Bank, and Luiz Davidovich, Director of the Brazilian Academy of Sciences and representing the Regional Office for Latin America and the Caribbean of the Academy for the Developing World - TWAS.

The main activity of the Consultation consisted of the presentation of the ICSU-LAC Science Plans: Biodiversity Knowledge, Research Scope and Priority Areas: an assessment for Latin America and the Caribbean by Mary Kalin from Chile; Understanding and Managing Risk Associated with Natural Hazards: An Integrated Scientific Approach in Latin America and the Caribbean by Allan Lavell from Costa Rica; Sustainable Energy in Latin America and the Caribbean: potentialities for the future by Décio Gazzoni from Brazil and Claudio Estrada from Mexico, and Mathematics Education in Latin America and the Caribbean: a reality to be transformed by Carlos Bosch from Mexico.

In each case they were preceded by the presentation of relevant global or regional programs, aiming to put the ICSU-LAC program in context. Patricia Ocampo-Thomason, ICSU Science Officer, presented the ICSU Biodiversity and Human Well being Programme; John Millhone, President of Global Energy Metrics and Mosaics, presented the IANAS' Report on Lighting the Way, and José Antonio de la Peña presented The Activities of UMALCA (Unión Matematica para America Latina y el Caribe) in the region.

The meeting had the active participation of all that were present, detailing the main proposals for each area in discussion groups.

In Biodiversity, the proposals emphasized were: development of a Database of terrestrial and marine biodiversity in Latin America and the Caribbean; and definition of policies and collection and data distribution protocols. It was also suggested the establishment of a network of ecological observatories in the region.

Regarding Sustainable Energy the group emphasized the need to assess the energy resource profile in each country, to identify the best combination among traditional and renewable energy resources, with special attention on biomass, solar and aeolic energy. It was also suggested that a network be created for information exchange among the various countries.

Related to the area of Natural Hazards and Disasters, the central proposal was to maintain the multidisciplinary perspective, integrating social and natural sciences, and focusing the research on the social and human dimension of ecossystem services and conservation of biodiversity, and on the process of climate change adaptation and mitigation

In the area of Mathematics Education, the meeting reiterated the importance of intensifying the relationship of professional mathematicians with teachers of mathematics, both at the initial teacher training and on the job training. The OBMEP experience, the Brazilian Mathematics Olympiad of Public Schools, was also mentioned as a good example to be followed.

Finally, it is important to underline that the quality of the work presented resulted in the proposal for publication in the three main languages of the region, English, Spanish and Portuguese.

All documents related to the Regional Consultation can be found at the site: http://www.icsu-lac.org/icsuzone/icsuzone.html

The 6^th Meeting of ICSU Regional Committee for Latin America and the Caribbean (RCLAC) was successfully held in Mexico City on March 9^th, last, thanks to the positive support of CONACYT, the Mexican National Council for Science and Technology.  The Director General of CONACYT, Maestro Juan Carlos Romero Hicks, addressed the Regional Committee and announced the support for the publication of the priority area documents.

The Committee  approved the 2008 Annual Report and Financial Summary of the Regional Office for Latin America and the Caribbean, and commended the good work in its second year of activity. It was briefed on the relevant issues from the 29^th General Assembly and the meetings of the ICSU Executive Board and the Committee for Scientific Planning and Review. A progress report on the implementation of the 2^nd ICSU Strategic Plan was presented, urging the active participation of the Regional Committee

The Committee was informed that a Regional Offices reviews will be carried out in 2009-2011 and considered the timetable and process for these reviews. In the same line, the Committee was informed of the CSPR forthcoming review of ICSU’s role in promoting Science and Technology in Developing Countries and discussed the involvement of the Regional Committee in this process.

Finally, the Committee discussed the 2^nd ICSU Regional Consultation for Latin America and the Caribbean, to be held in the following days, and its participation at the UNESCO Primer Foro Regional sobre Políticas de Ciencia, Tecnología e Innovación en América Latina y el Caribe. Tras la búsqueda de un nuevo contrato social de la ciencia, scheduled to March 11^th to 13^th.

The Regional Committee welcomed two new ex officio members, the representative of the ICSU Executive Board, Sergio Patrana,and from the Brazilian Academy of Sciences, Jerson Lima Silva. The full composition of the Regional Committee can be seen at http://www.icsu-lac.org/members.html

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 27 and 28, 2008.

The central theme "Science, Technology, Engineering, and Innovation as Tools for Prosperity", and the three sub-themes: "Science, Technology, Engineering, Innovation, and Public Development Policies"; "Science, Technology, Engineering, and Innovation as Tools for Sound Natural Resource Management"; and "Science, Technology, Engineering, and Innovation as Tools for Increasing Competitiveness" were discussed by twenty one Ministers and High Authorities, a clear sign of the importance attributed to Science and Technology by the countries of the region.

The inaugural session was presided by His Excellency Felipe Calderon Hinojosa, President of the United Mexican States, with the presence of Ambassador Albert Randim, Assistant General Secretary of the Organization of American States and Minister Juan Romero Hicks, Director General of CONACYT Mexico. (http://www.oas.org)

ICSU was represented by the Director of the ICSU Regional Office for Latin America and the Caribbean at the session providing information on the regional and international agenda in science and technology. The statement conveyed ICSU principles and programs, and emphasized activities being engaged by the Regional Office for Latin America and the Caribbean.

Professor Catherine Brechignac, took office as President of the International Council for Science (ICSU) at the 29th General Assembly in Maputo, Mozambique, held in the month of October, last. Professor Brechignac, who is also the President of CNRS in France, is a distinguished Physicist working on Atomic and Solid State Physics. She presided over more than 250 leading scientists from around the world, congregated at this unique event to discuss and address how science can contribute to solving some of the most pressing challenges facing society, including: human health; hazards and disasters; and ecosystem change and human well-being.

At the Assembly election was also held for the new Executive Board and the next President of ICSU, with the following results:

Officers
Vice-President for Scientific Planning and Review: Kari Raivio, University of Helsinki, Finland Vice-President for External Relations: Reiko Kuroda, University of Tokyo, Japan Secretary-General: Maurice Tchuente, University of Yaounde 1, Cameroon Treasurer: Hans Rudolf Ott, Swiss Federal Institute of Technology (ETH Zurich), Switzerland

Ordinary Members
From National Members Fu Congbin, China: CAST; Maurizio Iaccarino, Italy; Sergio Pastrana, Cuba; Abdul Hamid Zakri, Malaysia

From Union Members Bryan Henry, chemistry; Dov Jaron, physical and engineering sciences in medicine; Bruce Overmier, psychology; Uri Shamir, geodesy and geophysics

President Elect
Professor Yuan Tseh Lee, a Nobel Prize winning chemist from China: Taipei, will succeed the current ICSU President, Catherine Bréchignac, in October 2011.

The ICSU General Assembly also provided a forum for discussing issues that affect scientists, including: freedom, responsibility and conduct in science; and management of data and information. The occasion also enhanced the information on the progress of the work being developed by Regional Offices.

The Minister of Science and Tecnology of Mozambique, Venancio Simao Massingue, presided at the closing session.

The ICSU 29th General Assembly held in Maputo from the 21st to the 24th of October 2008, registered a significant presence of Latin American National Members. Among those were the President of the Brazilian Academy of Science, Jacob Palis; the President of the National Academy of Science from Costa Rica, Gabriel Macaya; from Colombia, Moises Wassermann, from the Colombian Academy for Physics, Natural and Exact Sciences and member of the CFRS; Maria del Carmen Samayoa, President of the Medical, Physics and Natural Sciences Academy of Guatemala; Mahabir Gupta from the University of Panama, Sergio Pastrana from the Academy of Science of Cuba; Audia Barnett from the Scientific Research Council of Jamaica; and Mary Kalin Arroyo from the Chilean Academy of Sciences.

The Vice president of the Brazilian Academy of Sciences, Hernan Chaimovich; Paulo de Goes, Head of the international department of the Brazilian Academy of Science; Alice Abreu, Director of the Regional Office and Sybelle de Jongh, Professional Officer, were also present at the ICSU 29th General Assembly.

Besides National Members, representatives of International Scientific Unions, journalists and local authorities were present at the occasion which was, officially, opened by the President of Mozambique, President Armando Emilio Gueduza. The Minister of Science and Tecnology of Mozambique, Venancio Simão Massingue, presided at the closing session.

The Director of the Regional Office for Latin America and the Caribbean made a presentation at the National Members forum and at the International Scientific Union forum referring to the activities and perspectives of the Regional Office.

During the General Assembly, Mahabir Gupta, from the University of Panama and a member of the Regional Committee for Latin America and the Caribbean, presented the activities of the Regional Office, empazising the important achievements since its establishmente in April 2007.

ICSU launched a new programme "Ecosystem Change and Human Well-being", to enable understanding of the human impact on Earth's life-support systems.This will fill in some of the crucial knowledge gaps identified in the Millennium Ecosystem Assessment. The new international research programme is designed to understand the relationship between humans and the ecosystems that provide essential life-supporting services.

A major research programme on natural disasters was also announced at the Assembly.The new programme, "Integrated Research on Disaster Risk (IRDR)" which is built on existing research activities, will address the impacts of disasters on all scales, from local to global. It will combine experience and expertise from around the world, and provide an unprecedented opportunity for the natural and social sciences to work together.

The international scientific community represented at the 29th Assembly also proposed a work group to implement the steps towards the establishment a global virtual library for scientific data. Scientific organizations, representing over one hundred and thirty countries, agree to overhaul existing world data centres and services to create a World Data System, due to the fact that the existing networks for collecting, storing and distributing data in many areas of science are inadequate, and not designed to enable the inter-disciplinary research that is necessary to meet major global challenges. These networks must be transformed into a new inter-operable data system and extended around the world and across all areas of science.

At the event, ICSU reasured its shared responsibilities for the integrity of science and its role in society, by endorsing a new booklet on Freedom, Responsibility and the Universality of Science, which should be made available to scientists across the world.

To ensure that the mechanics communities of developing countries have the possibility of joining IUTAM, in the, recent, General Assembly in Adelaide, it was decided to have introduced a new category of 'Associate Membership'.

The subscription dues for Associate Membership are set at the level of one quarter of the normal Category 1 membership dues of IUTAM; at present this subscription will amount to just a single payment of $726 (in2009) covering Associate Membership for a full 4-year cycle.

The benefits of Associate Membership are:

(1)The right to send a (non-voting) delegate to any IUTAM General Assembly;

(2)The right to send a participant, free of registration charge, to any Symposium or Summer School held under the auspices of IUTAM;

(3)The right to propose the holding of a Summer School in the home country of the Associate Member; if approved, IUTAM would pay a grant 50% more than the standard grant offered for Summer Schools (currently $5000).

IUTAM holds its Congress (ICTAM) every four years; the next Congress will be held in Beijing in August 2012. In addition, each year IUTAM sponsors about seven Symposia, and two Summer Schools, at different locations around the world.

Find more information about IUTAM activities in

IUTAM website: http://www.iutam.net

The Executive Director of ICSU and the Director of the Regional Office for Latin America and the Caribbean co-chaired the Ad Hoc Session Social and Natural Science Collaboration: from Problems to Solutions held at the First ISA Forum of Sociology, on September 7th, 2008 in Barcelona, Spain http://www.isa-sociology.org/barcelona_2008.

A joint initiative from the International Council for Science, the International Sociological Association and the International Social Science Council of UNESCO, it brought the experience of three major scientific organizations that have been addressing scientific issues for many years from different perspectives, and ,that are committed to effectively advance the dialogue needed in order to enrich the scientific intellectual framework to cope with complex problems, and to reinvent the organizational structures for interdisciplinary research. The session was composed of three speakers, Michel Wieviorka, President of ISA, with the presentation on Race and Science, Gudmund Hernes, President of the International Social Science Council, speaking of Natural Hazards and Social Whiplash, and Ilan Chabay, from the International Humane Dimensions Programme on Global Environmental Change, presenting Bellwethers, Beacons and Behaviors. Thomas Rosswall, Executive Director of ICSU, introduced the theme and made the final comments.

In support to the DIVERSITAS project "Identifying biodiversity research, conservation, and management priorities in Latin America and the Caribbean in the light of the Millennium Ecosystem Assessment's findings" the ICSU Regional Office for Latin America and the Caribbean organized a planning meeting on August 22nd, in Rio de Janeiro, with the presence of Anne Larigauderie from Diversitas in Paris, Sandra Diaz from Argentina, Fabien Quetier from Argentina, Carlos Joly from Brazil, and Mary Kalin Arroyo from Chile, besides the ICSU Regional Director Alice Abreu and professional officer Sybelle de Jongh. The project has as its overarching goal to translate MA findings into operational methodologies and tools to support decision making for biodiversity management, as part of the MA follow up. The project will be developed in 2 steps: 1) Preparation of a draft concept document, 2) Organization of a multi stakeholder workshop, with representatives of various sectors of governments in the LAC region, the private sector, managers, scientists, etc. dealing with biodiversity issues, to produce a draft implementation plan based on the draft concept document.

It is hoped that the whole process will have as final deliverables: 1) An implementation plan for MA findings concerning the links between biodiversity and ecosystem services in the LAC region; 2) A short policy document targeted at the policy community with main recommendations. (09-16-2008)

The International Symposium Scientific Cooperation in Latin America and the Caribbean: A Vision for the Future, from ICSU-LAC, was hosted by the Brazilian Academy of Sciences, in Rio de Janeiro on the same occasion as the RCLAC 5th meeting. The event was funded by FAPERJ, the Fundação Carlos Chagas Filho de Amparo à Pesquisa do Estado do Rio de Janeiro.

The main objective of the Symposium was to present a preliminary draft of final reports on Biodiversity, Sustainable Energy, Natural Hazards and Disasters and Mathematics Education as elaborated by the four SPGs to the Regional Committee members and invited guests. The event was held on August 21st, 2008. The preliminary versions will now be sent to referees and their final version will be presented at a Regional Consultation scheduled for March 2009. .(09-16-2008)

The Regional Committee for Latin America and the Caribbean held its Fifth Meeting on August 20 and 22, 2008, with the full participation of its members. The Committee discussed the upcoming ICSU General Assembly and the increased participation of the national members from the region. The Committee also discussed its involvement in the 2 nd ICSU Strategic Plan, 2012-2017. The Committee was briefed on the forthcoming 2 nd Inter American Meeting of Ministers of Science and Technology, under the framework of the Organization of American States, to be held in Mexico on October 27 th and 28 th 2008.

The members of the committee also participated in an international symposium to be informed on the preliminary results of the work done by the four Science Planning Groups.

The meeting was chaired by José Antonio de la Peña, from México, and attended by the members Tara Dasgupta (Jamaica), Elena Vigil (Cuba) Juan Asenjo (Chile), Mahabir Gupta (Panama), Enrique Lessa (Uruguay), Carmen Samayoa (Guatemala), and Sandra Diaz from Argentina. Also present were Hernan Chaimovich from Brazil, as liaison of ICSU Executive Board with RCLAC, and ex officio members Patricia Ocampo-Thomason, Science Officer of ICSU, and Alice Abreu Director of ICSU Regional Office. The Professional Officer of ICSU-LAC Sybelle de Jongh was also present. (09-16-2008)

The IMPA, National Institute for Pure and Applied Mathematics, in Rio de Janeiro, generously hosted the third meeting of the Scientific Planning Group in Mathematics Education held on the 18 th and 19 th of August 2008. Professor César Camacho, Director General of IMPA, greeted the participants and expressed the interest of the institution in collaborating with the effort being prepared in developing mathematics education in Latin America and the Caribbean.
The Chair Carlos Bosch (Mexico) conducted the last discussions on the proposal of the group for a Science Plan in Mathematics Education for Latin America and the Caribbean region. Also present at the meeting were Suely Druck from Brazil, Lilliam Alvarez from Cuba, Raymond McEachin from Jamaica, Rafael Correa from Chile, as well as the director and professional officer from ICSU-LAC, Alice Abreu and Sybelle de Jongh. (09-16-2008)

The third meeting of the SPG in Sustainable Energy was held in Rio de Janeiro on August the 7th and 8th. Present were Professors Claudio Estrada (Mexico), Gabriel Blanco (Argentina), Isaias Macedo (Brazil), the RCLAC liaison Elena Vigil (Cuba), Alice Abreu, Director of ICSU-LAC, Chair Décio Gazzoni (Brazil) and Professional Officer Sybelle de Jongh. The meeting discussed the final version of the Science Plan in Sustainable Energy for Latin America and the Caribbean... (09-16-2008)

The Scientific Planning Group in Biodiversity met on the 25th and 26th of July 2008 at the Brazilian Academy of Sciences, in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil. The meeting was co-chaired by Mary Kalin, of Chile, and Rodolfo Dirzo, of Mexico, and attended by Carlos Joly, from Brazil, Francisco Cejas, from Cuba, Juan Carlos Castilla, from Chile, and Mahabir Gupta, the RCLAC liaison, from Panama. Also present was Professor Alice Abreu, director of ICSU-LAC and the professional officer Sybelle de Jongh. The main purpose of the meeting was to discuss the SPG in Biodiversity Final Report, which will be presented to the Regional Committee for Latin America and Caribbean at their Fifth Meeting, next August.(07-31-2008)

Professor Allan Lavell, of Costa Rica, chaired the Third Meeting of the Scientific Planning Group on Natural Disasters that took place in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, on 10 and 11 July last. Professor Tony Gibbs, from Barbados and Professor Michel Hermelin, from Colombia participated of the meeting together with Professor Alice Abreu ICSU-LAC director. The main objective of this event was to discuss the final guidelines for the last report on Natural Disasters "Understanding and Managing Risk Associated with Natural Hazards: An Integrated Scientific Approach in Latin America and the Caribbean" to be presented in August at the Fifth Regional Committee for Latin America and Caribbean meeting in Rio de Janeiro. .(07-11-2008)

The Scientific Planning Groups in Sustainable Energy held its second meeting in the city of Antigua, Guatemala, 28-29 of April last. This event was hosted by Fundación Solar and attended by all members of the group. Present were Professors Claudio Estrada from México, Gabriel Blanco from Argentina, Isaias Macedo from Brazil, Ivan Azurdia, from Guatemala and the liaison from RCLAC Elena Vigil from Cuba, as well as Alice Abreu, Director of ICSU-LAC. The meeting was chaired by Professor Décio Gazzoni from Brazil. The first draft of the Sustainable Energy Final Report was discussed and the participants worked in sub-groups to complete specific topics. The third meeting of the group was scheduled for July 2008.(06-01-2008)

The Director of the Regional Office, Professor Alice Abreu, was invited by the Board on International Scientific Organizations (BISO) of the US National Academies of Sciences to its spring meeting held in Washington on April 16th and 17th, 2008. Carthage Smith, ICSU Deputy Executive Director, and Sospeter Muhongo, Director of ICSU Regional Office for Africa were also present.

On April 16th, the United States National Committees (USNC) Chairs held a meeting to discuss what characterizes an effective National Committee and to evaluate their relations with Unions and ICSU bodies. In that meeting Professor Alice Abreu and Professor Sospeter Muhongo presented the main activities of their respective Regional Offices. Many suggestions of future collaboration were explored and the meeting opened many avenues for future cooperation between the Regional Offices and the USNC.

On April 17th, Professor Abreu made a presentation to the BISO Board describing the latest developments in the four proposals for regional scientific cooperation programs in Latin America and the Caribbean, in biodiversity; natural disasters; sustainable energy and mathematics education. The presentation was very well received and great interest was expressed to develop stronger relations between BISO and the work of the Regional Office.(06-01-2008)

Professor Alice Abreu, the Director of ICSU-LAC and Professor José Antonio de la Peña, Chair for the Regional Committee for Latin America and the Caribbean, attended the meeting of the ICSU Policy Committee on Developing Countries (PCDC) held in Paris, the 3th and 4th of April. The meeting discussed the proposed changes in the PCDC and the new ICSU document on Regional Offices, which will be submitted to the ICSU Executive Board meeting in May for approval. Also invited were the Directors of the Regional Offices and the Chairs of the Regional Committees of Afria and Asia and Pacific, as well as the ICSU Vice-President for External Relations, Hernan Chaimovich.(06-01-2008)

On March 10 th and 11 th last the Chilean Academy of Science in Santiago generously hosted the fourth Meeting of the ICSU Regional Committee for Latin America and the Caribbean, RCLAC4. It was chaired by Professor José Antonio de la Peña from México, and attended by the members of the Committee Professors Juan Asenjo from Chile, Mahabir Gupta from Panama, Enrique Lessa from Uruguay, Carmen Samayoa from Guatemala, Elena Vigil from Cuba, Sandra Diaz from Argentina. Also present were ex officio members, Patricia Ocampo-Thomason, Science Officer of ICSU, and Alice Abreu Director of ICSU-LAC. Professor Hernan Chaimovich from Brazil was welcomed at the meeting as the new liaison of ICSU Executive Board with RCLAC. The Profession al Officer of ICSU-LAC Sybelle de Jongh was also present.

The Regional Committee discussed the progress report of the four Scientific Planning Groups and approved the 2007 Annual Report of ICSU-LAC, commending the Regional Office for the good work.

The Regional Committee was informed on other several issues; among which the document just released by ICSU on Freedom, Responsibility and the Universality of Science and was updated on the Agenda of the 29 th ICSU General Assembly.

The Fifth Regional Committee Meeting is scheduled to meet in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, August 20 and 22, 2008.(03-25-2008)

The Scientific Planning Group in Mathematics Education (SPGME) of ICSU-LAC held its second meeting in Santiago, Chile on January 24th and 25th 2008. Present at this meeting were the Chair, Professor Carlos Bosch from Mexico, and the members Professors Lilliam Alvarez (Cuba), Rafael Correa (Chile), Suely Druck (Brazil), and Raymond McEachin (Jamaica). RCLAC liaison Juan Asenjo, from Chile, the Director Alice Abreu and Professional Officer Sybelle de Jongh of the ICSU Regional Office for Latin America and the Caribbean were also present. The Centro de Modelamiento Matematico of the University of Chile generously hosted the event, thanks to the efforts of Professor Rafael Correa.

The SPGME discussed different studies, projects and programs to improve mathematics education in the different countries and outlined a preliminary framework of the Science Plan .(03-17-2008)

The Scientific Planning Group in Biodiversity co-chaired by Professors Mary Kalin Arroyo Director from Instituto de Ecología y Biodiversidad in Chile and Rodolfo Dirzo, from the Instituto de Ecologia of UNAM, Mexico, met for the first time in January 23rd and 24th 2008 in Santiago de Chile. Also present at the meeting were members Professors Juan Carlos Castilla (Chile), Francisco Cejas Rodrígues (Cuba), and Carlos Alfredo Joly (Brazil), ICSU Regional Office Director Alice Abreu and Professional Officer Sybelle de Jongh, and Carolina A. Heníquez from Instituto de Ecología y Biodiversidad.

After extensive discussion, the SPG in Biodiversity agreed to the framework for its Science Plan and preliminary report, to be ready by their second meeting.(03-17-2008)

Source: ICSU insight and ICSU-LAC.