This Monday, December 2, San Andrés Island, Colombia, opened its doors to high-level authorities and representatives from more than 46 countries for the fourth edition of the Latin American and Caribbean Open Science Forum (CILAC 2024). This high-level event consolidates the CILAC platform as the largest science and technology policy gathering in the region.
Led by Colombia's Minister of Science, Technology and Innovation, Yesenia Olaya Requene, and the CILAC Forum Regional Committee (UNESCO, OEI, SEGIB, IDB, ECLAC, RICYT, CUIB, AUGM), the CILAC 2024 event addresses strategic thematic axes such as artificial intelligence for sustainability, open science, biodiversity, the spatial economy, and the Decade of Ocean Science.
During the opening ceremony, the Minister participated Yesenia Olaya Requene, as well as Lidia Brito, UNESCO Deputy Director-General for Natural Sciences, Rodrigo Arim, President of AUGM, and Nicolás Gallardo, Governor of San Andrés, Providencia, and Santa Catalina. The authorities highlighted the role of science, technology, and innovation in the transformative development of Latin America and the Caribbean and in addressing the challenges of the present and future, as well as the participation of San Andrés Island as the epicenter of this important meeting.
Throughout the day, various sessions addressed the six core themes of this edition, including plenary conferences, high-level sessions, and thematic sessions. The forum brings together more than 500 in-person participants from 46 countries over three days, including world and government leaders, academics, and representatives of civil society and the private sector. The main objective will be to foster sustainable policies and promote international cooperation on key issues aligned with the 2030 Agenda.
The selection of San Andrés Island as the epicenter of science and sustainability symbolizes the importance of the oceans in protecting biodiversity and mitigating climate change. This forum reaffirms the Colombian government's commitment to ocean governance, one of the key agreements reached during the recent COP16.
CILAC 2024 not only reaffirms Colombia's role as a regional leader in science, but also invites all stakeholders in the STEM ecosystem to join the change, in addition to promoting its role as a transformative space toward a true knowledge society.
We invite everyone to join this experience remotely through this link.