In May 2024, the Colombian Graduate Student Community Association (CGSC) of Penn State University organized a symposium to connect Colombia diaspora scientists in the United States and other international researchers interested in working in Colombia.
The Colombian Scientific Diaspora Symposium was also designed to promote networking, exchange experiences and initiate future collaborations.
During the event which brought together more than 100 participants, technological and scientific advancements related to Colombia were presented in five panels, two parallel sessions and a poster session. The agenda allowed for sharing experiences and opportunities in collaborations in fields such as health, education, agronomy and culture. Supported by Penn State Global, the symposium emphasized the need to create incentives and programs that promote interdisciplinary collaborations among the Colombian diaspora and the international community. It highlighted funding opportunities in the U.S. scientific ecosystem, including universities, institutional programs and programs by federal agencies that could support strategic alliances with Colombia.
The Penn State Global director for Latin America and Caribbean Region, Siela Maximova revealed that the Colombian academic community at Penn State is the second largest of the region after Brazil including faculty, graduate students and more than 70 members of the CGSC. She also noted that to achieve shared goals, there was a need to work together to leverage the resources and talent of universities in the U.S. and the Americas by enabling networking at different levels and collaborations which are critical for its success.