With Human kind facing challenges such as a global emergency, science and technology have become crucial tools for tackling them. Addressing such grand problems requires the coordinated efforts of researchers, diplomats, and policy makers and has given rise to the emerging field of Science Diplomacy (SD). SD is defined as “all practices in which actions of researchers and diplomats interact” bridging science with international relations. As globalization is causing traditional geographic and geopolitical boundaries to reconfigure, international interactions occur faster and more comprehensively than ever. In addition, the transnational nature of complex problems requires intense international dialogues involving actors from different countries and regions. In this context, the international role of science is more evident than ever particularly in respect to the 2030 sustainable development agenda. In times of critical global challenges, such as climate change and pandemics (as Covid-19), science diplomacy could play a crucial role. This is because the creation of synergies goes beyond the institutions that sign treaties and agreements, involving other actors such as the scientific community, the private and public sectors, and multilateral organizations. 
Countries located in Europe and North America have made progress discussing the content of SD, however, the voices of scholars from other regions are needed for developing an inclusive and holistic approach.  Latin America, a region in which societies face different moments in their development stage, is particularly vulnerable when trying to participate in the global economic growth paradigm that is based on scientific and technological advances. Challenges experienced by Latin American societies include heterogeneity, diversity, multi-ethnicity, and inequality. Although, these features might be present in other societies from Europe, North America and Africa as well, regional specificities are important to be taken into account for the nearly 600 million people that inhabit Latin America sharing common cultural, linguistic, historical and religious backgrounds.
This panel aims to showcase discussions on Science Diplomacy and Sustainable Development from Latin American countries in order to highlight their particular challenges as heterogeneous, diverse, multi-ethnic, and unequal societies. It addresses the need for science to be internationally discussed as actors from different countries and regions engage in collaborative efforts towards shared objectives in seeking sustainable development from the perspective of Latin America. 
We invite works in relation to science diplomacy and sustainable development in the following subtopics:
– Interdependence, complexity, and political challenges
– Governance of Science and Technology
– Economics of Development
– Budgets and the sustainable development agenda 2030
– Science and technology policy
– International Relations and new global scientific paradigms
– Communication of Science in Latin America