Professional summary
María works at the intersection of science and diplomacy and joined UKCEH as International Relations coordinators in January 2023. She was recently elected to the Governing Board of the International Science Council, having previously served as a special advisor and a member of its Standing Committee on Outreach and Engagement. She was selected as an expert to the EU Science Diplomacy Working Groups.
Before this, María was Deputy Director of International Affairs at the University of Costa Rica, where she led the development and implementation of the university’s international strategy, negotiated high-level agreements, facilitated policy engagement, and hosted diplomatic visits and global events. She has also worked as a consultant for various United Nations agencies, advising Latin American governments, and has lectured on research methods.
A TEDx speaker, María has been a panelist at major international science policy events, including the United Nations Summit of the Future (2024), United Nations SDG Summit (2023), the 7th UN Multi-stakeholder Forum on STI for the SDGs, and UNESCO CILAC, among others. She holds a Master’s in Science, Technology, and Public Policy from University College London as an FCDO Chevening Scholar. She is the chair and founder of the UNESCO’s OWSD Costa Rican chapter helping to close the gender gap in science, and a AAAS-TWAS Science Diplomacy alumna. She is fluent in English, Spanish, and French.