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Under the visionary leadership of Eng. Mustafa B. Shehu<\/a>, President of the World Federation of Engineering Organizations (WFEO), the global engineering community continues to make significant strides in representing the critical role of engineering at high-profile international events. Recently, Eng. Shehu was invited by UNESCO Assistant Director-General Eng. Lidia Brito<\/a> to participate in the Latin American and Caribbean Open Science Forum (CILAC 2024)<\/a>, held in San Andres Island, Colombia, from 2 to 4 December 2024. <\/p>\n This gathering is known as the largest scientific and technological policy meeting in Latin America and the Caribbean. This event was hosted by UNESCO and the Colombian Ministry of Science, Technology and Innovation<\/a> and attended by notable leaders, including Colombian President Gustavo Petro and a diverse audience of 900 in-person participants alongside 3,000 virtual attendees. During the Ministerial and Stakeholder Dialogue Sessions, WFEO\u2019s contributions aimed to enhance awareness of the unique opportunities that science and engineering offer in driving progress towards the SDGs. WFEO engaged in meaningful discussions on leveraging the Science Decade to mobilize support for its initiatives and to explore the creation of dedicated committees in the American Continent that would work alongside UNESCO to further these goals. Significant contributions to this effect were made by Eng. German Pardo, UPADI\u2019s President Elect, who besides been Colombian, is a highly regarded engineering professional in Colombia. WFEO was asked by UNESCO and the event organizers to work with UPADI, to identify from its engineering member organizations, those willing to be recommended by WFEO to establish a dedicated national committee in the different regions of the American Continent to support UNESCO for the Science Decade. This request will be considered by the Board of Directors of WFEO and coordinated with the President of UPADI<\/a>.<\/p>\n The representation and collaboration between WFEO and all its Global Engineering Member Organizations is what makes WFEO the most powerful and prestigious engineering organization in the world and the preferred partner for organizations such as UNESCO.<\/p>\n As a result of WFEO\u2019s participation in this event, an opportunity was created for UPADI to work alongside UNESCO in Latin America thus strengthening the commitment of engineering organizations to support the Science Decade, embodying the collective spirit and leadership that Eng. Mustafa B. Shehu and the WFEO Board of Directors represent.
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\n![\"\"](\"https:\/\/www.wfeo.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/IMG-20241211-WA0001.jpg\")
\nAri Herrera, UPADI’s President; Lidia Brito, UNESCO Assistant Director General for Natural Sciences; and Germ\u00e1n Pardo, UPADI’s President-Elect<\/i>
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\nWFEO\u2019s involvement in this prestigious event underscores its commitment as a strategic partner of UNESCO, particularly in launching the International Decade of Science for Sustainable Development<\/a> from 2024 to 2033. Eng. Arida\u00ed (Ari) Herrera, WFEO\u2019s Executive Council<\/a> Member and President of the Pan-American Federation of Engineering Associations (UPADI)<\/a>, represented Eng. Shehu during this event and addressed on the President\u2019s behalf key topics pertaining to the importance of science and engineering in achieving the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) and emphasized how the Science Decade could serve as a pivotal platform for member states to realign their efforts and foster collaborative partnerships.<\/p>\n
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\n![\"\"](\"https:\/\/www.wfeo.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/CILAC24-02.png\")
\nAri Herrera, UPADI’s President; Yesenia Olaya, Colombian Minister of Science, Technology and Innovation; and Germ\u00e1n Pardo, UPADI’s President-Elect<\/i><\/p>\n
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\nReport by Ari Herrera, member of the WFEO Executive Council and President of UPADI.<\/i>
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\nCILAC2024 | Resumen d\u00eda
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