Guillermo Podestá University of Miami

1. The IAI/UM Summer Instituteson Interdisciplinary Sciencein the Americas, 1999-2001 Marcella Ohira-Schwarz IAI Directorate Guillermo Podestá University of Miami With financial support from the US National Science Foundation

2. What is the IAI? - 1 • Intergovernmental organization • 19 member countries

3. IAI Goals • Understand better global change-related phenomena in the Americas and their socioeconomic implications • Disseminate emerging information at all levels • Augment scientific capacity of the region

4. Motivation • Social science perspective crucial to address complex global change issues and bridge science-policy gap • Limited response of social science community of the Americas to IAI announcements of opportunity • Good ideas, but poorly “packaged” and “sold” in research proposals to IAI

5. Proposed Solutions - 1 • Bring together natural and social scientists to… • Understand how “the other half” views and addresses complex global change issues • Develop common language, trust, open dialogue • Foster communication and collaboration • Promote the development of collaborative networks

6. Proposed Solutions - 2 • Enhance regional capacity to develop competitive interdisciplinary research proposals • Train participants in proposal development • Familiarize early-career scientists with IAI proposal review procedures

7. Summer Institute Design - 1 • Centered on a broad global change theme • Regionally relevant • Needing both natural and social science perspectives 1999: Interannual Climate Variability 2000: Land Use / Land Change 2001: Integrated Water Resources Management Duration: 3 weeks Location: Miami Participants: 20-22 from 17 IAI countries

8. Summer Institute Design - 2 • Institute Leaders • One from natural sciences, one from social sciences • Responsible for program development • Provided overall guidance, continuity (stayed all 3 weeks) • Visiting lecturers (9-12 per Institute) • World-class leaders in their specialties • Encouraged to interact with participants • Mini-projects • Two projects per Institute, “hands-on” approach • Focused on global change issue through interdisciplinary perspective; seed for collaborative networks • Interdisciplinary proposal development and review

9. Institute Assessment - 1 • ALL participants ranked overall experience “very good or excellent” • Strong interest throughout region • Over 80 applicants per year, almost every IAI country • Quality/diversity of applicants increased dramatically • Multiple queries about an SI in 2002 • Summer Institutes attracted social scientists and other types of participants • Progressive increase in numbers of applicants/participants from social sciences • Applications from members of governmental, non-governmental and international organizations

10. Lessons Learned - 1 • Basic design proved sound, but Institute model can (and should!) be revisited frequently • Partnerships with other organizations have great potential (e.g. UNESCO LA Regional Office, AAAS) • PERSONAL interaction with peers and potential mentors is fundamental

11. Lessons Learned - 2 • Participant selection is critical for success • Keep high selection standards • But…do not lose sight of “capacity building” goal • Find hints of interest on interdisciplinary work (the “right stuff”?) • Need to tie Institutes with IAI Announcements of Opportunity • “It’s the logistics, stupid…” It takes LOTS of work and resources

12. Institute Assessment - 2 • Summer Institutes contributed to build the IAI’s human networks • Summer Institutes promoted science/policy interactions • SI-2000 participants held conference call with Governor of Acre State (Brazil); provided advice resulting from mini-project