Mapping and engaging the Costa Rican scientific diaspora: experiences from over a decade implementing the hipatia.cr...

By describing the framework developed by the hipatia. cr initiative for mapping the Costa Rican scientific diaspora and engaging it with local actors and sectors, this policy and practice review provides a practical guideline that may be useful for other emerging countries seeking to connect this valuable resource to their country of origin. This initiative was launched in 2012 by the State of the Nation Program of the National Council of Rectors, to provide a yearly updated overview of the country's STI capabilities and supporting public-private decision-making processes. Implementing the Costa Rican scientific diaspora framework has involved five sequential steps: a) Gather initial contact information from various sources to establish the preliminary pool of potential members; b) Design and implementation of an online data-collection form aimed at identifying, mapping, and characterizing this scientific community abroad; c) Develop a database and an online dashboard integrated into the hipatia.cr portal, to make relevant information about the profile of this community publicly accessible; d) Introduce and position the topic within the national narrative and mobilizing diverse actors such as academic, public institutions, policymakers, media, and industry sectors; e) Design innovative mechanisms to engage them with diverse local stakeholders, as well as supporting monitoring in national STI policies. The resulting mapping currently constitutes the most comprehensive registry of the Costa Rican scientific diaspora available in the country. Several aspects of this initiative intersect with key development goals and main challenges faced by the country.