Van Sluys (PhD in genetics and microbiology, 1989) is a full professor at the Universidade de São Paulo. Her research focuses on plant-microbe interaction relevant to agriculture and the natural environment, emphasizing genome evolution and how transposable elements may account for genetic diversity. She contributed to spreading biotechnology and genomics in Brazil and supervised over 50 students working in the field, now based in Brazil or abroad. Among other activities, she also contributed to organizing the Plant Molecular Biology research community in Brazil. She published over 100 papers, attended scientific meetings as a speaker, and organized multiple symposia and conferences. Van Sluys served as life-science adjunct panel member at FAPESP (São Paulo Research Foundation) for 15 years, and at the Brazilian Research Council (CNPq) for 4 years. She also served on several international evaluation research panels, including the National Academies, USA. Van Sluys has been a member of the São Paulo Academy of Sciences since 2015, served at the National Council for the Economic Development (2016–2018), and was elected to the Brazilian Academy of Sciences in 2016.

Viana is professor of mathematics at IMPA, Rio de Janeiro, where he has been a researcher since his doctorate in 1990. He has written over eighty research papers and books, covering several topics of dynamical systems and ergodic theory, and supervised thirty six doctoral students. He was plenary speaker, International Congress of Mathematicians, Berlin, 1998; invited speaker, ICM, Zurich, 1994; plenary speaker, International Congress of Mathematical Physics, Paris, 1994; plenary speaker, Latin American Congress of Mathematicians, Córdoba, 2012. He was awarded the TWAS Award in Mathematics; Latin American Mathematical Union Award; Grand Croix of Scientific Merit, President of Brazil; Ramanujan Prize, ICTP/IMU; Grand Prix Scientifique Louis D. Institut de France. He is member of the Brazilian, Portuguese and Chilean Academies of Sciences, and was the Scientific Coordinator of the Latin American Mathematical Union (UMALCA), the president of the Brazilian Mathematical Society and a vice-president of the International Mathematical Union (IMU). He is the director of IMPA and the head organizer of the International Congress of Mathematicians ICM 2018.

Victora (MD, 1976, Rio Grande do Sul; PhD, 1983, London) is Emeritus Professor, Federal University of Pelotas, Brazil; past-president, International Epidemiological Association; member, Brazilian Academy of Science. He holds honorary faculty appointments at Harvard, Oxford and Johns Hopkins Universities, and an Honoris Causa Doctorate from the Federal University of Rio Grande do Sul. His prizes include the Gairdner Global Health Award (Canada); Carlos Slim Prize (Mexico); Conrado Wessel Prize (Brazil); and National Order of Merit Medals in Medicine and in Science (Brazil). He has conducted extensive research in maternal and child health and nutrition, birth cohort studies, inequalities in health, and on the evaluation of the impact of major global health programs in a large number of countries. He coordinates the International Center for Equity in Health, which produces disaggregated analyses of indicators on women’s and children’s health and nutrition for the World Health Organization, Unicef and other international agencies. He has over 650 peer-reviewed publications and is a member of the editorial boards of several journals, including The Lancet.

Villa is an Associate Professor at the Department of Radiology and Oncology of the Faculdade de Medicina of the Universidade de São Paulo (USP) and Head of the Innovation in Cancer Research of the Center for Translational Research in Oncology of the Instituto do Câncer do Estado de São Paulo (ICESP), São Paulo, Brazil. She graduated in Biological Sciences, USP and has a PhD in Sciences from the Institute of Chemistry of USP (1978). She was a researcher at the São Paulo branch of the Ludwig Institute for Cancer Research from 1983 to 2011, and was its director from 2006 to 2010. She is a full member of the Brazilian Academy of Sciences. In 2018 she received the Biology Prize from The World Academy of Sciences (TWAS) in Trieste, Italy. Her research involves studies about human papillomavirus (HPV), cervical cancer, anogenital cancer, head and neck cancer, HPV infections in women and men, prophylactic HPV vaccines. As of end-2019, she had published 334 scientific articles (h-index: WOS 60). She made more than 500 presentations as invited speaker in meetings throughout the world. She has mentored 13 MSc, 20 PhD students and 8 Pos-Doctoral fellows.

Wyse (PhD, 1995, Porto Alegre, Brazil) is full professor of Biochemistry of the Institute of Basic Health Sciences at the Universidade Federal do Rio Grande do Sul, Member of the Brazilian Academy of Sciences. Her prizes include CAPES-Elsevier Award 2014, Pesquisador Gaúcho Award 2018 from the State Research Foundation and Scientist of the Year 2020 Award from International Achievements Research Center, USA. Her research work is focused on the neurotoxic mechanisms of homocysteine and neurometabolic and neurodegenerative diseases, as well as on neurobiology of menopause and neuroprotection, encompassing multiple experimental approach ranging from neurochemistry to behavior. Her studies have contributed to the understanding of biomolecule damage in hyperhomocysteinemic and homocystinuric patients and show potential to improve medical practice. She has published more than 400 scientific papers and has advised more than 70 masters and PhDs. Convinced that access to science and education are pillars to citizenship, she has launched a social project for underprivileged children of the public school system from the outskirts of her town, Porto Alegre. She published a book of poetry.

Zanotto holds a PhD in Glass Technology from Sheffield University, UK (1982). He is a professor of Materials Science and Engineering and director of the Center for Research, Technology and Education in Glass at UFSCar. He is interested in fundamental studies of glass crystallization and development of glass-ceramics with improved functionalities. He has published about 400 original and review papers, 30 book chapters, 2 books and deposited 29 patents. He is an editor of the Journal of Non-Crystalline Solids, and board member of nine other scientific journals. He is a member of the World Academy of Ceramics, the Brazilian Academy of Sciences, the São Paulo State Academy of Sciences, The National Academy of Engineering, a fellow of the SGT (UK), American Ceramic Society, Brazilian Ceramic Society, and TWAS. He has received over 50 awards, including the Brazilian Order of Scientific Merit, Grã-Cruz, A^3 Prize, TWAS Engineering Prize, and six important glass research awards: Zachariasen Award 1990, Gottardi Prize 1993, George W. Morey Award 2012, A. Cooper Lecture, Turner Lecture and S. Schooles Lecture. Zanotto is in the Council of seven research institutions.

Shabani (PhD, 1986, Catholic University of Louvain, Belgium) is professor of mathematics and mathematical physics, University of Burundi (UB); president, Burundi Academy of Sciences; past vice-president, African Academy of Sciences and African Mathematical Union. He is president of the Burundi National Commission for higher education; and director of the University of Burundi Doctoral School. He was director of the UNESCO Harare Cluster Office and representative to several African countries and regional economic commissions. He was vice-rector of UB; deputy secretary general of the Association of African Universities. He is president of the International Advisory Board of the Africa Centre of Excellence on Innovative and Transformative STEM Education at Lagos State University, Nigeria (funded by the World Bank); president of the International Conference on Quality Assurance in Higher Education in Africa; member of the Executive Committee of the Global University Network for Innovation, Barcelona, Spain; member of the High Level Panel of the Pan African University; coordinator of the African Union quality assurance cluster; member of African Academy of Sciences.

Leke Gana Fomban Rose is Professor of Immunology and Parasitology, Fellow, Cameroon Academy of Sciences, Chair Board of Directors of the National Medical Research Institute, IMPM, Vice President of the Scientific Committee of Cameroon First Lady’s Research Centre (CIRCB). Until March 2013, she was Head of Department, Faculty of Medicine and Biomedical Sciences, University of Yaounde 1, and Director of the Biotechnology Centre. She was 2014 Aggrey-Fraser-Guggisberg Memorial Lecturer, University of Ghana and awarded Doctor Honoris Causa. One of six women awarded the 2011 African Union Kwame Nkrumah Scientific Award for Women, received the 2012 award for Excellence in Science from The Cameroon Professional Society (CPS), elected International Honorary Fellow of the American Society of Tropical Medicine and Hygiene, ASTMH, 2015. Has and still serves as consultant on many WHO committees. Chair of the African Regional commission for Polio eradication, member of the Global Commission. Was Vice-Chair of the (TERG),The Global Fund, is Chair of the MIM Secretariat Initiator of HIGHER Women Cameroon, a consortium of women researchers, she works to empower and mentor young female scientists.

Mbacham is a Titular Professor of Public Health Biotechnology. He obtained a Doctorat de Specialité in Molecular Parasitology from the University of Yaoundé I, Cameroon (1989), and a PhD in Tropical Public Health from Harvard, USA (1997). His research focuses on host and pathogen genomics and the interaction between communicable and non-communicable diseases at the University of Yaoundé I. He has served in leadership positions in many national and international programmes. He has developed a philosophical approach to Professionalizing Planning Actions in Science & Technology Education & University-based Research (Pro-P.A.S.T.E.U.R.) that integrates platforms for bioscience, physical sciences and research-uptake. He won the 2017 TWAS Regional Prizes in Public Understanding and Popularization of Science for sub-Saharan Africa. He was elected Chair of the Programme Management Committee of the International Atomic Energy Agency-AFRA programme of 41 African member states (2015–2021). He has supervised some 95 graduates and 25 PhD students with more than 180 publications. He founded the Fobang Institutes for Innovations in Science and Technology (FINISTECH), Cameroon.

Titanji is an emeritus Professor of Biochemistry and Biotechnology and an Honorary Dean at the Faculty of Science University of Buea. He is also the Vice-Chair AU-ASRIC . He served as Vice-chancellor, Cameroon Christian U. (2015-2019), vice-chancellor of the University of Buea (2002-2012) and pioneer coordinator, Biotechnology center, University of Yaounde1(1986-1997),Coordinator of Biotechnology Unit U. of Buea (1996-2012), Cameroon. He focuses on infectious diseases (malaria, river blindness, tuberculosis ,COVID-19) and protein phosphorylation as a regulatory mechanism in Onchocerca volvulus, the parasite causing River Blindness in humans. He discovered, cloned and characterized new antigens, employed for diagnosis and potential vaccines, in Onchocerca volvulus. He also works on immune responses to malaria and has discovered new vaccine candidates (UB05-09) and drug leads from med. plants for malaria intervention strategies. He is past pres. and member, Council of Fed. of Afr. Socs. of Biochem. and Mol. Biol., and received the IFS/DANIDA Prize and Cameroon Knight Order of Valour. He is fellow of the Cameroon Acad. of Sciences, Afr. Acad. of Sciences, and Inst. o

Alper is Chair, Canvassing Cmte. for Global Res. Excellence, Governor General of Canada. He served as Chair, Govt. of Canada's Sci., Techn., and Innovation Council, from 2007-2015. He was previously Vice Pres. of Res. at the U. of Ottawa for 9 years. He was Co-Chair of IAP: The Global Network of Sci. Acad., during 2007-2013. He was past president and foreign secretary of the Royal Soc. of Canada. His research has been concerned with metal catalyzed organic reactions of value to different industrial sectors. His awards include: the Gerhard Herzberg Canada Gold Medal for Sci. and Eng., Canada's highest research honour. He is an Officer of the Order of Canada(1999) and Officer, Natl. Order of Merit, Republic of France(2002), as well as Commander, Order of Merit, Republic of Italy (2014). He was the first Canadian ever honoured by the Chem. Soc. of Japan as an Hon. Foreign Member in 2013.

Daar is Prof. of clinical pub. health/global health/surgery at the Univ. of Toronto (UofT). He is member of UN Sec General's Sci Adv Brd. Went to med such in Uganda and London and obtained his PHD (DPhil) in transplant immunology/immunogenetics at Oxford U. In the Middle East, he helped start two med. schools. He has recently been found. chair, Global Alliance for Chronic Diseases (2009-11) and was chair, Adv. Board, UN Univ. Intl. Inst. for Global Health. He was member, UNESCO Intl. Bioethics Comm. He holds the world record for performing the youngest cadaveric donor kidney transplant. His awards include UNESCO Avicenna Prize for Ethics in Science, Hunterian Prof., Roy Col. Surgeons and Anthony Miller Prize for Research Excellence at UofT. He chairs the Sci and Strategic Adv Brd of AESA. His current research studies how to avoid knowledge divides and the exploration of how genomics and other biotechnologies can be used effectively to ameliorate global health inequities.

Deen is a Distinguished University Professor, Senior Canada Research Chair in Information Technology and Director of the Micro- and Nano-Systems Laboratory at McMaster University, Canada. His current research interests include nano-/opto-electronics, nanotechnology and data analytics and their emerging applications in health and environment. His research records include more than 600 peer-reviewed articles and two textbooks “Silicon Photonics-Fundamentals and Devices” and “Fiber Optic Communications-Fundamentals and Applications”. He was awarded four honorary doctorate degrees in recognition of his exceptional research and scholarly accomplishments, exemplary professionalism and valued service, especially to the developing world. He is elected to Fellow status in twelve national academies and professional societies including the Royal Society of Canada (RSC), Chinese Academy of Sciences, National Academy of Sciences – India, IEEE, ECS and APS. He served as the elected President of the Academy of Science, RSC from 2015 to 2017. Most recently, he was elected to the Order of Canada (July 2018), the highest civilian honor awarded by the Government of Canada.

Ghosh is Distinguished James McGill Prof. and Macdonald Prof. of Education, McGill University, Montréal, Canada. Dean of Education (1998-­‐2003), she is Fellow, Royal Society of Canada (chaired the Standing Committee: Advancement for Women in Scholarship for two terms); Member, Order of Canada (2000); Officer, Order of Quebec (2005); and Full Member, European Acad. of Sciences, Arts and Letters, Paris (1999). A recipient of several national and international awards she is past pres., American Comparative and International Education Society (2011-­‐12) and former pres., Shastri Indo-­‐Canadian Institute (1988-­‐90). Her research spans Asia, Africa, Latin America and Canada. Author of several books including Education and the Politics of Difference (2004, 2013), Redefining Multicultural Education (1996, 2004, 2014), on editorial boards of several international journals, and was featured in Time Magazine, Canadian Ed., (13.10.2003) in an article on 'Canada's Best in Education'. Her current research on the role of education in countering violent extremism (religious and right-wing) has resulted in several important publications, grants, conference presentations and keynote speeches.

Li is E. B. Eddy Chair Professor and Canada Research Chair at McGill University in Montreal, Canada. He obtained his PhD at McGill University (1992) and was a NSERC Postdoctoral Fellow at Stanford University (1992-94). He was an Assistant (1994), Associate (1998) and Full Professor (2000) at Tulane University (US). Since 2003, he has been at McGill University. He serves as the Director of NSERC CREATE for Green Chemistry and the Co-Director of the FQRNT Center for Green Chemistry and Catalysis. Li received a number of prestigious awards/honors worldwide. These include the US NSF’s CAREER Award, a US Presidential Green Chemistry Challenge Award, the Canadian Green Chemistry and Engineering Award, and the R. U. Lemieux and Alfred Bader Awards of the Canadian Chemical Society, Alexander Humboldt Research Award, and the CIC Medal of Canada. His memberships include the Fellows of the RSC (Canada), RSC (UK), the AAAS, the CIC, and the ACS.

Nasim was president of the Pakistan Academy of Sciences. He obtained his PhD (biochemical genetics, 1966) at the University of Edinburgh. He was science advisor to the COMSTECH Secretariat; chairman, National Commission on Biotechnology (NCB), Pakistan; and founding president of Federation of Asian Biotech Associations (FABA). His previous positions include senior research officer at the National Research Council of Canada and principal scientist of the Molecular Genetics Group at King Faisal Specialist Hospital and Research Centre in Riyadh, Saudia Arabia. His awards include: Pride of Performance in Molecular Genetics, President of Pakistan, and Sitara-e-Imtiaz in Molecular Genetics, Pakistan. He is also fellow of the Pakistan Academy of Sciences and Islamic Academy of Science.Nasim

Dr Peter Singer has dedicated his career to building innovative institutions with high social impact. Since 2017, he has been Special Advisor to the Director General, supporting Dr Tedros to transform WHO into an Organization focused on measurable impact in countries. Dr Singer co-chaired the transition team; was the architect of WHO’s strategy and its “triple billion” target; supports strategy implementation; and during the pandemic was a strong advocate for vaccine equity. From 2008-2018 Singer was Chief Executive Officer of Grand Challenges Canada, and from 1996-2006 he was Sun Life Financial Chair and Director of the University of Toronto Joint Centre for Bioethics. He is Professor of Medicine at University of Toronto In 2011, Dr Singer was appointed an Officer of the Order of Canada, recognized for his contributions to health research and bioethics and for his dedication to improving the health of people in developing countries, and in 2007 he received the Michael Smith Prize as Canada's Health Researcher of the Year. He is a Fellow of the Royal Society of Canada, the Canadian Academy of Health Sciences, U.S. National Academy of Medicine, and TWAS.

Cerda is prof. at the College of Business Administration, U. de Talca, Talca, Chile. He obtained his PhD (1991), MSc (1989), and MBA (1991) at Oregon State U., USA. At the U. de Talca, he is Director of The Graduate School (University of Talca) and former dean of Faculty of Economic and Business Administration and served as dir. of the Entrepreneurial Development Center. He was also head of the Department of Economics and director of the Center of Resource Economics and Master Degree Program on Environmental and Resource Economics at the Univ. de Concepción, Chile. He is the leading environmental and resource economist in Latin America. His work on the theory and practice of valuation of environmental and econometrics is world class. He has also been instrumental in building capacity in environmental economics in Latin America and was president of the Latin American and the Caribbean Assoc. of Environmental and Natural Resources Economics (2007-09).

Marquet (PhD, 1993, University of New Mexico, Albuquerque, USA) is Professor at the Departmento de Ecología, Facultad de Ciencias Biológicas, Pontificia Universidad Católica de Chile in Santiago and External Faculty of the Santa Fe Institute (USA). His work has focused on the quest for general principles underlying the complexity of ecological systems, the impacts of Global Change on biodiversity, the integration of theories in ecology and the ecological basis of human social complexity. His works on scaling relationships and on species diversity and size evolution on islands, provided an explicit and novel connection between allometric scaling, island biogeography and evolution. These findings paved the way for later developments in macroecology and metabolic ecology and a deeper understanding of the extent to which our society is sequestering energy from the biosphere to fuel social complexity. He was a Guggenheim Fellow and is currently member of the Chilean Academy of Sciences, Foreign Associate of the National Academy of Sciences (USA), International Honorary Member of the American Academy of Arts and Sciences and Fellow of the Ecological Society of America.