SEDI - DCT - Departamento de Ciencia y Tecnología de la OEA
SEDI / DEC - Departamento de Educación y Cultura
MISSION
The Department of Science and Technology (DST) supports the Member States to formulate national development policies and strategies for the development of science, technology, engineering and innovation to improve competitiveness in the productive sector, with emphasis on building national capacity to create decent work, reduce poverty and strengthen democratic governance.
DST MAIN AREAS
• Applied Sciences - Engineering for the Americas - Metrology
- Energy
- Small and Medium Enterprises
.................................... • Life Sciences - Biotechnology
- Biosafety
.................................... • Public Policies and Governance - National Capacity Building of Expertise and Infrastructures
- Civil Society Participation
- Gender Perspective Issues in Science and Technology
- Popularization of Science and its Appropriation by the citizen
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INTER-AMERICAN COMMITTEE FOR SCIENCE AND TECHNOLOGY (COMCYT)
• Inter-American Commission of Science and Technology (COMCYT) . The Department of Science and Technology (DST) of the Executive Secretariat for Integral Development (SEDI), as the technical secretariat of the Inter-American Commission for Science and Technology, continued to provide technical expertise, policy and operational support to the national councils of science and technology in the member states, and to other regional and international organs of the inter-American system. COMCYTis a committee of the Inter-American Council for Integral Development (CIDI), established in 1998, in accordance with articles 77 of the OAS Charter and 15 of the Statue of CIDI, by resolutions AG/RES. 1576 (XXXVIII-O/98) and CIDI/RES. 41 (III-0/98). The Committee's mission is to contribute to the formulation and implementation of the OAS policies for scientific, technological and innovative development within the framework of the partnership for development. The objective of COMCYT is to coordinate, follow-up and evaluate the partnership for development activities in the science and technology sector.
MEETINGS OF MINISTERS AND HIGH AUTHORITIES ON SCIENCE AND TECHNOLOGY
• FIRST MEETING OF MINISTERS AND HIGH AUTHORITIES ON SCIENCE AND TECHNOLOGY. The First Hemispheric Meeting of Ministers and High Authorities on Science and Technology within the Framework of CIDI was held in Lima, Peru on November 11-12, 2004. It discussed the role of science, technology, engineering, and innovation on the economic, social, cultural and scientific development within the Member States. It also discussed its great impact in the job creation for confronting poverty and strengthening democratic governments, which will be the topics of the next Summit of High Authorities and Governments of the Americas that will take place in 2005.
* The DST provides the link because it contains information that may be of interest to our users, however DST is not responsible for the views expressed or the facts displayed on these Internet sites. ....................................
• Engineering for the Americas (EftA).The engineering profession is at the core of institutional capacity building, which will, through innovation, create jobs and, thus, alleviate poverty. We soon realized that, in order to attract foreign private investments, stimulate small technology-based business by small entrepreneurs, or generate high-quality employment in the region, the quality of engineering education must be improved. Deans of engineering schools, members of government and industry, along with the Department of Science and Technology established the objectives and the means to achieve quality assurance in engineering education. With the participation of four countries—the Dominican Republic, Jamaica, Panama, and Trinidad and Tobago—and of the Hewlett-Packard Company, an improved Engineering Accreditation System should be soon implemented for the benefit of these countries and will serve as a model to follow for other countries of the region.
• Metrology. Through its Metrology program, DST is supporting National Metrology Institutes (NMIs) in the 34 member states of the OAS and has prepared a plan for their expansion in 2007. Metrology is closely linked to engineering since it is the science of reliable measurements and reference standards. Measurements are part of our daily life and are essential tools for the exchange of goods and services in trade and commerce. Moreover, they are the basis for the application and development of science and technology. Needless to add that commerce and technology are the engines for the economic and social development of nations. In order to become exporters and compete in a world market, Small and Medium Enterprises (SMEs) have to be more efficient and comply with global benchmark of quality and design.
• Energy. Both departments of Sustainable Development and Science and Technology are working together to implement alternative renewable energy sources, which will be the challenge of the next decades. Concrete actions will be proposed at the next General Assembly in Panama.
• Biosafety, Biotechnology and Bioterrorism. The understanding of the Cartagena Protocol on Biosafety and its application to Genetically Modified Organisms (GMOs) and food safety is fundamental to increase the institutional capacity in Latin America and the Caribbean. It is necessary to strengthen cooperation among biotechnology and biosafety institutions in the region. Biotechnology is important to Latin America and the Caribbean because it has a great impact on medicine, public health, agriculture, and on scientific research and development of commercial products.
• Gender in Science and Technology. Science and technology need a greater participation of women. The Department of Science and Technology of the OAS promotes the integration of a gender perspective in science and technology policies and programs of the member states in order to contribute to the full participation of both women and men, as equal partners, in the design, production and in sharing the benefits of the knowledge-based society.
• Popularization of Science.
A generalized access to scientific and technological information is essential for the appropriation of science by our citizens, women and men, in our knowledge-based democracies. The presence of science journalists and local experts in science and technology is also essential to achieve these goals. In order to flourish and thrive, democracies need to ensure the freedom of their press and the independence of their journalists. The critique of science itself is paramount in order to achieve better governance. Science appropriation finds its true signification in democracies that thrive on the large participation of their citizens since it becomes an absolute prerequisite for good governance. Only then can we ensure a valid and enlightened participation of all citizens to the decision-making process of our democratic institutions and parliaments.
• Civil Society Participation. The Department of Science and Technology promotes and supports the participation and contribution of civil society organizations linked, with science and technology, to OAS activities and the Summits of the Americas in order to contribute to the establishment of a scientific culture in the Americas, the improvement of the scientific capacity, and the popularization of science.
NEWS
Events planned to take place: .................................... V Regular Meeting of the Inter-American Committee for Science and Technology (COMCYT)
September 20-21, 2007
Washington, D.C., USA
.................................... SIM General Assembly
September 26-29, 2007
Ottawa, Canada
.................................... II Meeting of Ministers and High Authorities of Science and Technology under the Framework of CIDI
Host country: to be announced
2008
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PUBLICATIONS & REPORTS
Science, Technology, Engineering and Innovation for Development English>> Spanish >> Portuguese >>
• FOURTH REGULAR MEETING OF THE INTER-AMERICAN COMMITTEE ON SCIENCE AND TECHNOLOGY (COMCYT), April 15–16, 2004, Washington D.C.
• SPECIAL MEETIING OF THE INTER-AMERICAN COMMITTEE ON SCIENCE AND TECHNOLOGY (COMCYT), May 5-9, 2003, Lima, Peru.
• THIRD REGULAR MEETING OF THE INTER-AMERICAN COMMITTEE ON SCIENCE AND TECHNOLOGY (COMCYT), October 5-6, 2000, Washington, D.C.
• SECOND REGULAR MEETING of THE INTER-AMERICAN COMMITTEE ON SCIENCE AND TECHNOLOGY (COMCYT), October 1999, Acapulco, Mexico.
• FIRST REGULAR MEETING OF THE INTER-AMERICAN COMMITTEE ON SCIENCE AND TECHNOLOGY (COMCYT), August 1998, Bariloche, Argentina. ....................................
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