1. Q1: What are current successes and challenges in delivering transdisciplinary research with stakeholders and collaboration across organizations and countries? How can Future Earth build on these? Successes: Many inter-regional and international initiatives in the region Organisation and expertise in many areas Challenges: Integration of small islands and small countries Gender perspective Lack of inter-disciplinary initiatives and difficult to establish them in the region How to define inter- and trans-disciplinary? What is its added value? Question: What exactly are we trying to achieve with Future Earth?

2. What can Future Earth contribute? Two things of value of Future Earth: subject areas (issues) and networks; Platform to foster dialogue between successful collaborative initiatives (glue); Transforming existing initiatives into more process-oriented structures; Options to translate information from and into the region’s native languages Use social networks

3. Q 2: What infrastructure already exists and what is needed to coordinate Future Earth research? Existing infrastructure: Strong institutions at national level (Ministeries,Universities, Research Councils and National Academies of Sciences Disciplinary research networks Regional offices (ICSU, IGBP, GLP) Yet, need for funding for the building of institutions Funds for mobility needed

4. Q3: How to build on existing activities in LAC in areas such as data, education and capacity building, communication, interface with stakeholders, etc.? Key contribution: Respect diversity of languages and cultures; Multi-dimensional; Disciplinary strengths needed but young scholars could be introduced to inter-disciplinary work at an early stage; Consider heterogenity of the region

5. Q4: What could be the form and functions of a Future Earth regional node/interface? Form: Use existing structures (IGBP, GLP) but consider de- concentration (various offices in sub-regions) Use IAI structures Use National Academies of Sciences Need to complement with social sciences Functions: Connecting local initiatives with the global Future Earth Initiative Science advocacy Need to communicate effiicently about opportunities to get involved.