The call for applications is closed. All applicants were notified of their status in early June. The LAC Connections Symposium 2026 will be held in partnership with the Brazilian Academy of Sciences, InterAmerican Network of Academies of Sciences, and FAPESP on August 25-27, 2026 in Sao Paulo, Brazil. The Connections to Sustain Science in Latin America program brings together outstanding early/mid-career scientists, engineers, and medical professionals (within 15 years of PhD graduation) from across the Americas—including North, Central, and South America, and the Caribbean—to explore exciting advances and opportunities in their fields. This symposium will be conducted in English with the goal of catalyzing convergence research, innovation, and cross-pollination of ideas. Attendees will discuss advances across a broad range of multi-disciplinary topics through five plenary sessions, each led by two co-chairs: Committee Co-Chairs Dr. Tanya Berger-Wolf, Ohio State, United States Dr. Regina Rodrigues, Federal University of Santa Catarina, Brazil Artificial Intelligence in the Life Sciences Dr. Jose Molina Mora, University of Costa Rica, Costa Rica Dr. Helder Nakaya, University of Sao Paulo, Brazil Oceans Dr. Luisa Dueñas, National University of Colombia, Colombia Dr. Ivonne Montes, IGP, Peru Biomedicine/Omics Dr. Luciana Balboa, University of Buenos Aires, Argentina Dr. V. Julian Valdes Rodriguez, UNAM, Mexico The Amazon and Sustainability Dr. Andrea Encalada, Universidad San Francisco de Quito, Ecuador Dr. Juliana Hipolito, National Atlantic Forest Institute, Brazil Resilience to Extreme Events Dr. Amir Aghakouchak, University of California, Irvine, United States Dr. Tannecia Stephenson, University of West Indies, Jamaica Eligibility All participants in the Connections to Sustain Science in Latin America Symposium 2026 should: Be an emerging leader in science, engineering, or medicine; Have no more than 15 years post-graduation of PhD; Have professional competency in English; Be employed in the Americas—including North, Central, and South America, and the Caribbean (citizenship of the country of residence is not required); Have demonstrated accomplishments in science, engineering, medical research, or technical work with recognizable contributions to advancing their fields; Be interested in developments in other fields (and in engaging with people working on them) and be able to consider how advances, techniques, and approaches in those areas relate to the applicant’s own field; Have demonstrated an impact on the development of their country (participation in scientific projects/scientific meetings/contribution to the promotion of S&T within society). Applicants from the State of São Paulo (Brazil) must be formally affiliated with a research institution in the State of São Paulo (university, research center, company, hospital, or any other institution officially recognized by FAPESP as a research facility).” This symposium is made possible through the generous support of the Chan Zuckerberg Initiative.