Dr. Jorge A. Huete-Pérez is a renowned biotechnology scholar in Central America and a respected figure in the global scientific community. He is currently a professor at Georgetown University's Science, Technology and International Affairs Program, where he specializes in science and technology policy with a focus on Latin America. Dr. Huete has extensive experience in this field, spanning over two decades. He played a pivotal role in establishing the Academy of Sciences of Nicaragua in 2009 and currently serves as the Senior Vice President of Research and Social Outreach at the University of Central America. Throughout his career, Dr. Huete has collaborated with various NGOs and international development agencies. He is actively involved in international scientific organizations such as the Global Young Academy and the Inter-American Network of Academies of Science. Dr. Huete's research encompasses diverse areas, including molecular parasitology, agricultural pathogens, forensic DNA typing, and bioprospecting. His current work at Georgetown focuses on STI policy development in Central America and the growth of bio-economy industries in the region. 

https://gufaculty360.georgetown.edu/s/contact/0031Q00002gV1FcQAK/jorge-huete 

Douglas S. Massey is the Henry G. Bryant Professor of Sociology Emeritus at Princeton University. Prior to joining Princeton’s faculty, he held faculty positions at the University of Chicago and the University of Pennsylvania. From 1982 to 2022 he and Professor Jorge Durand of the University of Guadalajara codirected the Mexican Migration Project. Together they pioneered a research method that combined ethnographic and survey methods to create valid and reliable data on documented and undocumented migration to the United States. In 1998 they founded the Latin American Migration Project to apply the same research design to study international migration from other nations, including nine surveys fielded in Nicaragua in the year 2000. In 2018 they received the Bronislaw Malinowski Award from the Society for Applied Anthropology in recognition of their work to create “a unique dataset publicly available to other researchers as well as institutions engaged in the policy debates surrounding migration.” Massey is a member of the U.S. National Academy of Sciences, the American Academy of Arts and Sciences, the American Philosophical Society, the Academia Europea, and Past-President of the American Academy of Political and Social Science.

https://sociology.princeton.edu/people/doug-massey 

Professor Serena Cosgrove (Seattle University) is an anthropologist and sociologist; she is interested in how members of marginalized groups develop leadership skills and influence their societies. Her current research focuses on the resistance and resilience of indigenous communities in Central America and the gendered effects of conflict in Guatemala and Democratic Republic of the Congo. Professor Cosgrove travels frequently to carry out research and then includes it in her classes. Her most recent publication is Surviving the Americas: Garifuna Persistence from Nicaragua to New York City (University of Cincinnati Press 2020) which she co-authored with José Idiáquez, Leonard Joseph-Bent, and Andrew Gorvetzian.

https://www.seattleu.edu/artsci/about/directory/profile/serena-cosgrove.html 

CONACYT Research Fellow - Universidad Autónoma Metropolitana (UAM), Mexico. PhD (2014, European Mention) and Master (2010) on "Economics and Management of Innovation", interuniversity graduate program by the Autonomous University of Madrid, the Complutense University of Madrid and the Polytechnic University of Madrid. Master of Arts in Society, Science and Technology in Europe by the University of Oslo (2010). He is member of the National System of Researchers in Mexico (Level 2). Visiting researcher at Norwegian institutes (2010, 2011, 2012, 2013, 2015). Lecturer of master and doctoral courses at the Universidad Autónoma Metropolitana (UAM), Mexico. Secretary of the Latin American research networks (LALICS). Natera’s research production includes scientific publications in international journals and books. He has participated in international conferences in Europe, North America, Latin America and Asia. He has been consultant for the Interamerican Development Bank, The Iberomerican program of Science and Tecnology “CYTED”, and for national agencies and social organizations in Colombia, Cuba, Mexico, Spain, Paraguay and the Caribbean countries. His main research interest is the use of knowledge as a development tool with a vision of policy, complex processes and the relationship between national problems (focus on health issues) and science, technology and innovation systems. 

Alma Hernández Mondragón is a Chemist, with a strong academic background in neuropharmacology and experimental therapeutics, as well as a PhD in scientific and technological development for society. Her experience spans both academia and government, where she served as Coordinator of Advisors for the Science and Technology Commission in the legislative branch during the period 2015-2018.She is recognized as a pioneer in the study and practice of scientific government advisory in Mexico and is a member of prestigious international associations such as the International Network for Government Science Advice (INGSA) and the Global Young Academy (GYA). Throughout her career, she has contributed to the development of evidence-informed policies and has promoted the training of experts in science advice in higher education institutions. Additionally, she has been a driving force behind programs for the training of specialists in scientific government advisory in Mexico, and has provided guidance to similar programs in Central American countries. As a co-founder of the Mexican Association for the Advancement of Science, she has played a key role in promoting scientific progress in Mexico. Currently, she serves as a guest professor at the Center for Research and Advanced Studies (CINVESTAV), sharing her knowledge and experience with the next generation of scientists.

https://globalyoungacademy.net/ahernandez/ 

Harold O.M. Rocha is a legal practitioner and legal academic with a professional focus on international law. Born in Managua, Nicaragua, he was educated by the Jesuits at the Colegio Centro América and holds Juris Doctor (J.D.) and Master of Laws in International Finance Regulation (LL.M) degrees from the University of Wisconsin, where he was managing editor of the Wisconsin International Law Journal. He practiced for several years with Quarles & Brady, a top 100 US law firm with over 11 offices and 500 attorneys. He went on to be the first Fellow on International Business and Law at his alma mater, where he designed and taught one of the very first law school courses on NAFTA, with emphasis on dispute resolution. In 1996 Harold was the sole delegate of WFUNA, the World Federation of United Nations Associations, to the ninth ministerial meeting of UNCTAD, the United Nations Conference on Trade and Development in Midrand, South Africa. He later served as visiting assistant professor of law and faculty fellow at the University of Iowa, where his areas of research and teaching included international trade and finance. He has also taught seminars and courses in Spain and Chile on European Union law and US business law (securities, M&A, corporations). He serves as government consultant and practices international private arbitration, dividing his time between Spain and the United States.

Nadia De León is a renowned educational and sociocultural researcher with international publications and distinctions, a member of the Global Young Academy and the National Research System of Panama, and a researcher associated with INDICASAT, Universidad del Istmo and Universidad Santa María la Antigua. She is currently the director and co-founder of the Educational Research Center of Panama, and a noted entrepreneur as President of Praxia Educational Consultants. She served as Director of Social Participation and International and Intercultural Education Programs, also teaching and researching, at the prestigious Stanford University, and previously, at Western Kentucky University, where she obtained a Doctorate in Education. her with an emphasis in higher education and nonprofit organizational leadership. She has been an advisor, consultant and member of boards of directors for the Ministry of Education and the National Secretariat of Science, Technology and Innovation of Panama, the Smithsonian Institute, NGOs in education, schools and universities, and the Science Foundation in Panama, among others. Her accomplishments have been widely recognized through honors such as stays at the Smithsonian Latino Center and Imagining America; local and international grants; as well as awards for excellence in teaching, research and public work.

https://globalyoungacademy.net/ndeleon/ 

Emilio Hernandez explores digital financial solutions for last-mile clients. He leads work on inclusive digital distribution networks and the impact financial inclusion has on poor people’s lives. He provides technical guidance to better understand the financial behavior and needs of underserved client groups, like smallholder families, and to experiment with providers on innovative strategies and products that meet those needs. 

Before joining, Consultative Group to Assist the Poor, CGAP, Emilio led technical cooperation programs focused on inclusive rural and agricultural finance at the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations overseeing field interventions in Latin America, Africa, and Asia. He also oversaw business operations for a large international agricultural technology company throughout Central America. He has a Doctorate degree in Agricultural Economics and Development Finance from The Ohio State University.

https://www.cgap.org/about/people/emilio-hernandez 

Dr. Bernard Amadei is a Distinguished Professor and Professor of Civil Engineering at the University of Colorado at Boulder. He is the Founding Director of the Mortenson Center in Engineering for Developing Communities. He is also the Founding President of Engineers Without Borders - USA and the Engineers Without Borders-International network co-founder. Among other distinctions, Dr. Amadei is an elected member of the US National Academy of Engineering and the National Academy of Construction. In 2013 and 2014, Dr. Amadei served as a Science Envoy to Pakistan and Nepal for the US Department of State.

https://www.colorado.edu/center/mortenson/bernard-amadei-phd-nae 

María M. López Selva is a conservation biologist with 29 years of experience in the fields of sustainable development and biodiversity conservation. Her education includes a degree in biology from Universidad de San Carlos de Guatemala; a Master in Science degree in sustainable development and conservation biology from University of Maryland, EE.UU. and professional courses from Instituto Tecnológico de Monterrey, México; the Earth Institute at Columbia University and Centro Agronómico Tropical de Investigación y Enseñanza (CATIE) de Costa Rica. Her experience in scientific research includes analyzing the state and tendencies of coastal and marine ecosystems in Guatemala and I am currently conducting research to learn how agricultural, industrial and towns water discharges are impacting estuaries and the effect of pollution on the health of local communities. She coordinates the Institute of Natural Sciences and Technology´s biotechnology lab that develops research towards conserving the most threatened botanical family in Guatemala. The lab focuses on developing in vitro culture protocols that enhance the reproduction of endangered species of orchids. She teaches a biotechnology course for environmental and agricultural sciences students and is a thesis advisor for students interested in conducting research related to biotechnology.  The most recent thesis focused on producing bioreactors for orchid in vitro growth.

http://www.url.edu.gt/PortalURL/archivos/51/curriculum/Maria_Mercedes_Lopez_Selva.pdf 

Oscar Picardo Joao, licenciado en filosofía (Universidad de Valencia, 1989), Master en Educación (University of Louisville, 1998), Master en sociedad del Conocimiento (Universitat Oberta de Catalunya, 2003); Postgrado en educación a distancia (Universidad de Murcia, 2001); Postgrado en Finanzas Educativas (Harvard University, 2002). DEA-Doctor en didáctica y organización escolar (Universitat Oberta de Catalunya, 2005). Coordinador del programa de Doctorado del Instituto Centroamericano de Administración Pública (ICAP, 2015). Profesor Adjunto de Arizona State University en el Simón E. Levine Computational and Modeling Sciences Center. Fundador del Instituto de Investigación para el Aprendizaje y del Centro Universitario de Neurociencia. Escritor, Docente, investigador y consultor en el área de políticas públicas educativas de Centroamérica.

Dr. Omar I. Asensio is an Assistant Professor in the School of Public Policy at the Georgia Institute of Technology. His research focuses on the intersection of big data and public policy, with applications to energy systems and consumer behavior, smart cities, and machine learning in transportation and electric mobility. He directs the Data Science and Policy Lab at Georgia Tech, where he collaborates with the private sector and city governments on data innovations in policy analysis and research evaluation. He is a faculty affiliate at the Institute for Data Engineering and Science (IDEaS), the Machine Learning Center, and the Strategic Energy Institute. Dr. Asensio’s research has been published in leading journals such as Nature Energy, Nature Sustainability, and PNAS. His work uses statistical and computational tools to advance our understanding of how large-scale civic data and experiments can be used to increase participation in civic processes, while addressing resource conservation and environmental sustainability. Dr. Asensio’s research also has been featured in policy advisory communications by the European Commission, NSF Public Affairs, the World Bank, and national governments — including the U.K., and the IndiaAI initiative.

Dr. Asensio is a member of the New Voices 2021-2023 cohort of the National Academies of Sciences, Engineering and Medicine. He is a recipient of the National Science Foundation CAREER award, the Association for Public Policy Analysis and Management (APPAM) 40-for-40 fellowship, and the ONE-NBS Research Impact on Practice award by the Organizations and the Natural Environment (ONE) Division of the Academy of Management. Dr. Asensio serves as Associate Editor of Data and Policy journal published by Cambridge University Press. He holds a doctorate in environmental science and engineering from UCLA with field specialties in economics. He is a faculty participant in the Research University Alliance (RUA) Research Exchange and is engaged in multiple activities to increase the representation of women and under-represented students and professionals in STEM fields. For more information, visit https://datasciencepolicy.gatech.edu 

Dr. María Luisa Acosta is a leading advocate for the rights of Indigenous and Afro-descendant communities in Nicaragua. she serves as the President of the Academy of Sciences of Nicaragua and coordinates the Diplma in Human Rights and the Faculty of Law at the Universidad Centroamericana (UCA) in Managua. Additionally, she plays a crucial role as the Coordinator of the Centro de Asistencia Legal a Pueblos Indígenas (CALPI) in Nicaragua. Dr. Acosta's work primarily focuses on defending human rights and addressing the environmental challenges faced by these marginalized communities. 

Dr. Luz Cumba Garcia is an immunologist working at the intersection of biomedical science, public policy, and science diplomacy. Currently, Luz is a AAAS Science & Technology Policy Fellow in the Middle East Regional Cooperation (MERC) Program at the U.S. Agency for International Development (USAID). Her role involves contributing to the advancement of Arab-Israeli scientific collaboration and regional development through research grants facilitated by MERC. In the forthcoming year of her AAAS Fellowship, Luz will pivot to the Office of Mexican Affairs at the U.S. Department of State. Her active role as an Inter-American Institute for Global Change Research (IAI) Science, Technology, and Policy (STeP) Science Diplomacy Fellow underscores her dedication to policy and diplomacy. Dr. Cumba Garcia's influence extends beyond her fellowship roles; she is a founding member of the Science Diplomacy Network in Latin America and the Caribbean and participated in several science diplomacy workshops, including the AAAS Science Diplomacy and Leadership Workshop, the AAAS/TWAS Science Diplomacy Course, and the InnScid SP Science Diplomacy School. Her academic background comprises a Ph.D. and M.S. in Immunology, alongside a B.S. in Cellular and Molecular Biology. Originating from San Juan, PR, she strives to champion advocacy, science communication, and community engagement. 

https://luzcumbagarcia.com/