NEUROPAZ IV
PEACE AS A SCIENTIFIC CHALLENGE
In tribute to: Emile Bruneau
NOVEMBER 21–22, 2025
PLACE: PONTIFICIA UNIVERSIDAD JAVERIANA - AUDITORIO SANTIAGO PÁRAMO. ED FERNANDO BARÓN
BOGOTÁ
NEUROPAZ IV
Context
Neuropaz is a conference and collaborative platform that brings together peacebuilders, behavioral scientists, policymakers, and community leaders to connect theory, practice, and programs based on peace science and translational research.
Since 2022, we have engaged more than 1,500 participants in cities such as Bogotá, Medellín, and Cartagena, integrating perspectives from neuroscience, psychology, and the social sciences, along with leading researchers from around the world, to address real challenges in regions affected by armed conflict.The Behavioral Scientist magazine has highlighted this work, and the spirit of the initiative is inspired by the legacy of peace neuroscientist Emile Bruneau.
Emile Bruneau was a pioneering neuroscientist dedicated to putting science to work for peace He significantly influenced the field of conflict resolution. He directed the Peace and Conflict Neuroscience Lab at the University of Pensilvania and was the lead scientist at Beyond Conflict. His work focused on understanding the psychological and neural mechanisms underlying intergroup conflict and all forms of violence and paths to overcoming them.
Together with colleagues, Bruneau developed interventions aimed at reducing socio-psychological barriers and promoting reconciliation between opposing groups through evidence-based intervention contests.
His legacy continues to inspire initiatives such as Neuropaz, which seek to apply scientific knowledge to collaboration between researchers, communities, and decision-makers, fostering peace and overcoming divisions in areas affected by violent conflict.
As part of this legacy, in Colombia we have decided to advance his proposal for translational science to co-create effective interventions that reduce barriers to peacebuilding and prosocial development in the country's teritories.
Peace as a Scientific Challenge
In recent years, Colombia has experienced a resurgence of urban and rural violence. The perception that violence has increased has also grown among Colombians, and the idea that peace is increasingly distant continues to gain ground. Despite efforts to understand the many causes of violence and the obstacles to its reduction, achieving peace has been profoundly elusive.
At the same time, the last decade has seen extraordinary growth in research on conflict resolution based on scientific evidence, including contributions from economics, psychology, cognitive science, and neuroscience, among others.
Despite these scientific advances, few attempts have been made to translate academic and laboratory lessons into the practical contexts of communities most affected by war.
In order to bring scientific research on conflict resolution closer to the Colombian context of violence, Neuropaz IV has three objectives:
-
Present findings from Colombian leading territorial scientific research projects that have explored conflict as a scientific challenge.
-
Suggest how viewing peace as a scientific challenge can create new opportunities for training, employment and life projects, not only to better understand the causes and solutions to armed conflict but also to support its resolution and inspire other areas of human development.
-
Serve as a prelude to prepare the Panel on Colombian Experiences to be presented at the first edition of Neuropaz Global on February 6, 2026. This new online version will feature guests such as Nobel laureate in Economics James A. Robinson (University of Chicago), Betsy Levy Paluck (Princeton University), Daniel Bar-Tal (Tel Aviv University), Jamil Zaki (Stanford University), and Emily Falk (University of Pennsylvania), among other pioneers and innovators of peace science.
For this reason, we are calling for innovative Colombian projects that advance territorial science for peace and inclusive development—sharing lessons, challenges, and opportunities, but most importantly, identifying what works to break cycles of violence and promote systemic change from local transformations.
Agenda
Place: Pontificia Universidad Javeriana - Auditorio Santiago Páramo. Ed Fernando Barón
Date: November 21–22, 2025
Pre-registration: Maximum 200 participants.
DAY 1, Friday, November 21
7:30 a.m. – 8:20 a.m.
Registration and Coffee
8:20 a.m. – 9:00 a.m.
Putting behavioral science at the service of Colombian families with a territorial focus. David Escobar y Juan Esteban Restrepo (Laboratorio de hábitos y ciencias del comportamiento - Comfama)
9:00 a.m. – 9:45 a.m.
International guest lecture: Dr Leor Zmigrod. (Cambridge University) The Ideological Brain: Exploring the Science of Susceptible Minds
Discussant Felipe De Brigard. Q&A
9:45 a.m.
10:00 a.m. – 12:00 p.m.
12:00 p.m. – 1:30 p.m.
1:30 p.m. – 2:30 p.m.
2:30 pm - 3:45pm
4:00 pm - 5:00 pm
Coffee break.
Memory and Forgiveness: The Case of Montes de María
-
Peace science as an investment in the future. Felipe De Brigard (Duke University/Universidad de Los Andes)
-
A neuroscientific exploration of reconstructive memory among victims of the armed conflict in Montes de María. Gabriela Fernández-Miranda (Duke University)
-
Neuroscience and restorative justice: Towards deliberative peacebuilding. Pablo Abitbol (Universidad Tecnológica de Bolívar)
Discussant. Andrés Moya. Q&A.
Lunch Break
Celebrating Semillas de Apego
-
Andrés Moya (Universidad de Los Andes). The psychosocial immunology of early childhood interventions.
Discussant Andrés Casas and Wilson López (Pontificia Universidad Javeriana)
Experiences incorporating evidence-based behavioral methodologies to prevent crime and support resocialization.
Presentation. Henning Peters (Deputy Director). Transformative Action Foundation (ACTRA).
Panel discussion. Lessons learned and challenges from the field.
-
María Camila Cuéllar, Change Manager. Tiempo de Juego foundation.
-
María Camila Arenas, Restorative Justice Coordinator, Undersecretary of Justice, Cali
-
María Botero, Psychosocial Team Coordinator, Acción Interna. Foundation
-
Rafael Espinoza, Director of the Prevention Program, Undersecretariat of Security, Cali
Moderator: Laura Castro (Executive Director, ACTRA)
Conversation. How to protect peace with science and community governance amid polarization? Discussion with speakers from the Special Jurisdiction for Peace.
Moderator: Claudia Liliana Erazo Maldonado, Undersecretary, Special Jurisdiction for Peace (JEP).
Commentary: Ana María Trujillo Currea (Tadeo Lozano University). Questions and answers from the audience.
5:00 pm – 6:00 pm
Difficult conversations: using science to guide policies in times of urban polycrisis.
-
Miguel Silva Moyano, Secretary General of the Mayor's Office of Bogotá.
-
Jairo García, Secretary of Security and Justice, Mayor's Office of Santiago de Cali.
-
César Andrés Restrepo Flórez, District Secretary of Security, Coexistence, and Justice of Bogotá.
Moderator: Katherine Díaz. UNDP - Colombia.
5:00 pm – 6:00 pm
Difficult conversations: using science to guide policies in times of urban polycrisis.
-
Miguel Silva Moyano, Secretary General of the Mayor's Office of Bogotá.
-
Jairo García, Secretary of Security and Justice, Mayor's Office of Santiago de Cali.
-
César Andrés Restrepo Flórez, District Secretary of Security, Coexistence, and Justice of Bogotá.
Moderator: Katherine Díaz. UNDP - Colombia.
DAY 2. Saturday, November 22
8:30 a. m.
9:00 a. m. – 12:00 p. m.
12:00 a.m. – 1:00 p.m.
1:00 p.m. – 2:30 p.m.
2:30 p.m. - 3:45 p.m.
4:00 p.m
Reconnection Coffee. Space for one-on-one meetings.
Evidence that scales in the territories: the work of Innovations for Poverty Action and its allies in Colombia.
9:00–9:20 a.m. Evidence that scales: from pilot to public policy.
The IPA seal: Learning in Phases and using evidence beyond the RCT to mature and implement programs. Juan Felipe García (IPA)
9:20–9:45 a.m. ICBF Evidence Lab: government that learns in phases.
How the ICBF institutionalizes continuous learning to adopt and scale what works.
Ana María Serrano (IPA)
9:45–10:10 a. m. APAPACHO: Preventing Childhood Violence: From Design to Integration
Design, pilots, and lessons learned from integration in the public system for sustainability and scale.
Óscar Pineda (IPA). Jorge Cuartas (NYU)
10:10–10:30 a.m. ALIVE: Self-Regulation to Reduce Depression and Anxiety in Adolescents.
Program Construction and Evaluation in Three Countries, with Comparative Learning.
Daniela Trujillo
10:30–10:55 a.m. Entertainment Against Xenophobia
From the Co-Creation of Digital Narratives to the Evaluation of Their Impact.
Natalia Durán (IPA) & María Victoria Durán (World Bank)
10:55 a. m.–12:00 p.m. Comments by Andrés Casas (Neuropaz)
Lunch break.
From the social determinants of brain health to community-based biopsychological Health
-
Violence, Resilience and Brain Health. Hernando Santamaría (Universidad Javeriana, Bogotá).
-
Healing the wounds of conflict in the minds and brains of Colombia. Juan Felipe Cardona Londoño (Universidad del Valle, Cali).
-
Building biopsychological Health from the community. Wilson López (Universidad Javeriana, Bogotá).
-
Invisible Wounds: How Armed Conflict Affects Brain Health and Psychosocial Well-being in Colombia. Laura Milena Nítola Pulido. (Universidad Javeriana, Bogotá).
Commentary: Diana Matallana. Questions and answers, discussion, and next steps with the audience.
Evidence-Based Innovations for Prosocial Change
-
Patricia Padilla, Bogota's efforts for peacebuilding. Peace Advisor, Mayor's Office of Bogotá
-
Adriana Mejía, Bogotá Security Secretariat. From Compliment to Harassment - It Was Unintentional
-
Irina del Mar Nieto and Gabriel Contreras, Sinnetic. "Financial Health as a Predictor of Addictive, Delinquent, and Criminal Behaviors in Colombia"
-
Natalia Rodríguez, Bogotá Innovation Lab (iBo Lab). Using Behavioral Science to Foster Prosocial Appropriation of the Bogotá Metro.
-
Katherine Díaz and Mariana Santos, UNDP - Colombia. "Humanizing Justice from a Behavioral Science Approach."
Commentary: Jairo Matallana, Program Manager - Rule of Law and Crisis Response at UNDP - Colombia. Questions and asswers, discussion, and next steps with the audience.
Rezarta Bilali. Integrating Geopolitics Into the Psychological Study of Intergroup Conflict and Violence: The Role Of Collective Narratives.
5:00 p.m. Closing
Towards a manifesto for territorial science for peace and development.
Andrés Casas & Felipe de Brigard. Presented by the Neuropaz Rapporteurship.
International speakers
Rezarta Bilali
Rezarta Bilali is Associate Professor of Psychology and Social Intervention at New York University. Before joining NYU, she worked as Assistant Professor of Conflict Resolution at the University of Massachusetts, Boston. Bilali holds a PhD in Social Psychology with a concentration in peace and violence from the University of Massachusetts, Amherst. Bilali's research focuses on (1) the role of social psychological factors underlying mass violence; (2) the role of historical narratives in collective action for social change, and (3) development and evaluation of interventions to promote intergroup reconciliation, with a focus on narrative interventions via media. Rezarta Bilali (New York University) Dr. Bilali employs multiple methodologies in her research, including field and lab experiments, surveys, and interview studies. She has conducted research in various parts of the world, including Albania, Burundi, Burkina Faso, the Democratic Republic of the Congo, Rwanda, Turkey, and the United States. Her research has been funded by numerous foundations, including the Spencer Foundation, Russell Sage Foundation, USAID, American Psychological Foundation, and Psychology Beyond Borders, among others. Dr. Bilali has over 15 years of experience collaborating with non-governmental organizations to develop and evaluate media programs focused on violence prevention and reconciliation. She has published 50 peer-reviewed articles and book chapters, as well as written a dozen technical reports for various collaborating organizations.
.png)
Dr. Leor Zmigrod
Dr Leor Zmigrod is a political psychologist and neuroscientist, and author of The Ideological Brain. Her research centers on what makes some individuals susceptible to extreme ideologies and the harms that ideologies pose to individual’s cognitive freedom. She studied at Cambridge University as a Gates Scholar before winning a Junior Research Fellowship at Churchill College, Cambridge. She has held visiting fellowships at Stanford, Harvard, and both the Berlin and Paris Institutes for Advanced Study. She was listed on ‘Forbes 30 Under 30’ in Science and has won numerous prizes, including the Women of the Future Science Award and the Glushko Prize. Dr Zmigrod’s popular science book The Ideological Brain reveals the psychological and neurobiological traits that predispose some minds to extremism as well as the ways in which immersion in rigid ideologies might transform our brains and bodies. The book is being translated into over 15 languages and has been recognized as one of the most hotly anticipated non-fiction books of 2025 by The Guardian, The Los Angeles Times, New Scientist, and Financial Times.
Speakers
Pablo Abitbol
Political scientist with a master's degree in philosophy and a doctorate in economics. He has served as an advisor to the national, departmental, and municipal governments in Colombia, as well as to various social, non-governmental, and international organizations, on strategic planning, institutional design, applied social research methodologies and analysis, and public policy formulation and evaluation. He has served as an undergraduate and graduate professor at the universities of Los Andes, Javeriana, and Witten/Herdecke (Germany). He develops basic and applied research projects (with an emphasis on participatory action research - PAR) on collective memory, social learning, behavioral transformation, cultural change, deliberative democracy, reconciliation, and peacebuilding. He is currently a professor of New Political Economy, History of Ideas, and Theories of Democracy and Development at the School of Business, Law, and Society of the Technological University of Bolívar (UTB), where he coordinates the Regional Historical Memory Group, the Memory Seedbed, and the Cultural Evolution Workshop. He is a member of the Montes de María Regional Peacebuilding Space and a columnist for El Universal, and previously for Las 2 Orillas and La Silla Vacía.
Maria Camila Arenas
Internationalist and Master's in Public Policy Economics. She has worked in various areas related to citizen security, violence prevention, and juvenile justice. She currently works as a Justice Advisor at the Secretariat of Security and Justice of the Mayor's Office of Cali, where she leads strategies for child protection, the implementation of the Restorative and Therapeutic Juvenile Justice Program, and the promotion of restorative alternatives to imprisonment. Through international cooperation, she has supported initiatives to strengthen state capacities in the prevention and investigation of crimes such as the recruitment and use of children and adolescents and migrant trafficking.
María Botero Giraldo
Maria is a clinical, legal, and forensic psychologist with a differential and intersectional approach. She currently works as Manager of Inclusive Employability at the ANDI Foundation and Coordinator of the Psychosocial Team at the Internal Action Foundation. She has a solid track record in providing psychosocial support to incarcerated, post-sentence, and other vulnerable populations. She has led interdisciplinary and inter-institutional processes, promoting coordination between the public and private sectors and social organizations to create second opportunities and build more inclusive environments.
Juan Felipe Cardona Londoño
Is a full professor at the Faculty of Psychology at the Universidad del Valle, where he leads the Neuroscience and Clinical Psychology Research Group (NIPSY, category A1 – MINCIENCIAS). His work focuses on mental and brain health in contexts of social inequality. He has participated in international projects on brain aging, trauma, and global health. He holds a PhD in Medicine with an emphasis on Cognitive Neuroscience from Favaloro University and the Institute of Cognitive Neurology (INECO), and a Master's degree in Cognitive Psychology from the University of Buenos Aires.
Juan José Castellanos
Juan José Castellanos is the Child Protection Researcher at War Child Alliance in Africa and Colombia. He joined the organization in 2020 and has extensive experience in community-based child protection, as well as in psychosocial support and mental health programs. Juan José has worked collaboratively with local actors and communities in conflict-affected contexts across Latin America and Africa, with a special focus on preventing the recruitment and use of children and adolescents by armed forces and groups.
Laura Sofía Castro
Colombian globetrotter with 4+ years of experience at IPA, helping over a dozen organizations design data-driven, cost-effective programs. Holds a degree in Government, Economics, and Behavioral Science from Minerva University. Co-Executive Director. ACTRA.
Gabriel Contreras
Studies in psychology (UCIA) and statistics (Duke), machine learning specialist (EAN), consumer behavior and market research specialist (EAN), MBA (U. Andes), MSc in business innovation management (Externado), MSc in statistics (U. Santo Tomas). Founding partner of SINNETIC. He has 20 years of consulting experience in behavioral sciences, data analytics, and market research, working for Fortune 100 brands in Latin America (Coca-Cola, AB InBev, Nestlé, Abbott, Pfizer, Claro, Banco de Bogotá, Davivienda, Bancolombia, among others). His entire experience has focused on the consulting world, working with McKinsey, Kantar, GfK, SAS Institute, and Sinnetic.
Jorge Cuartas
Jorge Cuartas is an Assistant Professor in the Department of Applied Psychology at New York University, Director of the Catalyzing Action for Resilient Ecologies (CARE) Lab, and Researcher at CESED, Universidad de los Andes. His research focuses on promoting early childhood development, preventing violence, fostering protective environments, and examining the links between climate change and human development. Through this work, he aims to contribute to the design of scalable and effective policies and programs in a global context. His work has been published in high-impact journals such as The Lancet, Nature Human Behaviour, The Lancet Child & Adolescent Health, Nature Mental Health, Child Development, World Development, Developmental Science, and Developmental Psychology. His research has received prestigious awards from the American Psychological Association and the Society for Research in Child Development, among others, establishing him as an influential voice in the field of early childhood development. Dr. Cuartas earned his Ph.D. in Education and Human Development from Harvard University, where he also completed a Master’s in Psychology and Human Development. He holds a Master’s in Economics from Universidad de los Andes and a Bachelor’s degree in Economics from Universidad Jorge Tadeo Lozano.
María Camila Cuéllar Vanegas
She is a political scientist with an emphasis on International Relations, a Master's degree in International Law and International Studies, and a specialist in Human Rights and International Humanitarian Law. With more than 20 years of experience, she has worked in various areas related to juvenile justice, peacebuilding, and the protection of the rights of children and adolescents. She has led projects to prevent the recruitment and use of children and adolescents and has served as Deputy Director of the Criminal Responsibility System for Adolescents (SRPA) in Colombia. She has collaborated with public and private institutions to design public policies and implement social inclusion strategies for at-risk youth. Her work includes creating inclusion models for SRPA graduates and forging alliances with international organizations and the public and private sectors. She currently serves as the Manager of "Cambio de Juego" at the Tiempo de Juego Foundation. https://tiempodejuego.org/
Felipe De Brigard
Felipe De Brigard, PhD is Professor in the departments of Philosophy and Psychology and Neuroscience and in the Center for Cognitive Neuroscience at Duke University. He is also Principal Investigator of the Imagination and Modal Cognition Laboratory (IMC Lab) within the Duke Institute for Brain Sciences. He earned a bachelor's degree from the National University of Colombia, where he studied philosophy and neuropsychology. He then earned a master’s degree from Tufts University, where he studied philosophy and cognitive science, and a doctoral degree from the University of North Carolina, Chapel Hill, where he studied philosophy and cognitive neuroscience. Before arriving to Duke, he spent two years as a post-doctoral fellow in the Cognitive Neuroscience of Memory Lab and the Center for Brain Science at Harvard University. He has published a few books, including Clinical and Cognitive Neuropsychology (UN Bogota), Neuroscience and Philosophy (MIT Press) and Memory and Remembering (Cambridge University Press), as well as over 130 articles in philosophy, psychology and neuroscientific venues. He has also received a number of awards, including being named Rising Star by the American Psychological Association, the Stanton Prize by the Society for Philosophy and Psychology, and the Early Career award by the Psychonomic Society. His research focuses on the nature of memory and its relations to other cognitive faculties, such as perception, imagination, attention and consciousness, and he is also interested in the foundations of neuroscience and moral psychology. He is also co-director of the Summer Seminars in Neuroscience and Philosophy (SSNAP), which have been hosted every year at Duke University since 2016. Finally, since 2021, he has been the director of the Duke's Memory and Forgiveness project, that takes place both in the US as well as in Colombia.
Katherin Diaz Albarracín
Head of Justice, Security, and Coexistence for UNDP in Colombia A public administrator with over 17 years of experience in the design and implementation of social and public management strategies aimed at strengthening justice, security, and coexistence in local communities. Passionate about innovation and creativity as drivers for transforming realities and collaboratively solving social problems. She has led key processes in the public sector for understanding and designing tools that improve the lives of incarcerated individuals with dignity, as well as for coordinating reintegration policies and income generation programs for people in the process of reintegration and those in vulnerable situations. Specialist in Finance and Administration from the Nueva Granada Military University, Specialist in State, Public Policy, and Development from the University of the Andes, and Master in Innovation from EAN University.
Natalia Duran
Senior Policy Manager at Innovations for Poverty Action (IPA), where she leads the migration portfolio. She holds a Bachelor’s degree in Political Science from Pontificia Universidad Javeriana, a Master’s in Development Studies from the University of Melbourne, and a Specialization in International Cooperation from Universidad Externado de Colombia. She has also completed studies in Migration Management at Maastricht University and Multidimensional Poverty Indicators at the Oxford Poverty and Human Development Initiative (OPHI). She has professional experience in the public sector, both at local and national levels, as well as in international cooperation.
Maria Victoria Duran Jaramillo
World Bank Social Development Consultant for Latin America, specializing in the design and implementation of communication strategies that link public policy with citizens, strengthening institutional legitimacy and social cohesion. Her work focuses on promoting inclusive narratives and informed conversations, as well as developing innovative tools—such as edutainment—that challenge stereotypes, foster dialogue, and contribute to the integration of diverse population groups.
Claudia Liliana Erazo Maldonado
Undersecretary, Special Jurisdiction for Peace (JEP). Lawyer and Master's degree holder in Human Rights and Democratization. For 18 years, she worked in human rights organizations in leadership and representation roles, in activities promoting respect for and the promotion of human rights in Colombia, and as a victim representative before local authorities and international organizations.
David Escobar Arango
Director of Comfama, is a Production Engineer and holds a Master's degree in Public Administration from Harvard Kennedy School.
Rafael Espinosa del Vallín
Currently the Head of the Violence Prevention Area at the Secretary of Security and Justice of Cali, and Coordinator of the “En la Buena!” strategy. He is a physician and epidemiologist with 30 years of experience in the field of citizen security and violence prevention. He has designed and implemented surveillance systems for external injuries and citizen security and violence observatories in municipalities across Colombia, as well as supported similar initiatives in Panama, Nicaragua, Ecuador, Peru, El Salvador, Guatemala, Honduras, the Dominican Republic, and Haiti. He has also contributed to the implementation of citizen security policies and violence prevention programs in Honduras and Central America. Professional experience: Lecturer in Epidemiology of Violence, Forensic Medicine Specialization, Pontificia Universidad Javeriana de Cali. Project Leader for Territorial Citizen Security at the Swiss Agency for Development and Cooperation (SDC) in Honduras. International Advisor on Citizen Security and Coexistence for the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) in Honduras and at the Regional Centre for Latin America and the Caribbean in El Salvador and Panama. Researcher and Project Coordinator at the Institute for Research and Development in Violence Prevention and Social Coexistence Promotion (CISALVA), Universidad del Valle.
Gabriela Fernández-Miranda
Gabriela Fernández-Miranda is a Ph.D. candidate in Cognitive Neuroscience at Duke University, working with Dr. Felipe De Brigard. She earned her B.A. in Psychology from Universidad Javeriana and her M.A. from Universidad de los Andes (Bogotá, Colombia). Her research focuses on understanding the cognitive mechanisms behind forgiveness and the processes by which memories of wrongdoings change. She uses behavioral and psychophysiological methods, in-depth interviews, and ethnography to investigate how the emotions associated with these memories can be modified when we recall them. Gabriela works with diverse populations and conducts her research both inside and outside the lab.
Sandra García
Sandra García is a Full Professor at the School of Government, Universidad de los Andes. She has over 15 years of experience in research on education and social policy. She has conducted technical studies for the Ministry of National Education of Colombia, Fundación Compartir, UNESCO, UNICEF, the UNDP, and the OECD. Sandra holds a Bachelor’s degree in Industrial Engineering from Universidad de los Andes, a Master’s in Public Administration from Columbia University, and a Ph.D. in Social Policy from Columbia University.
Jairo García
Secretary of Security and Justice. Mayor’s Office of Santiago de Cali.
Juan Felipe García
Juan Felipe García Rodríguez is the Country Director of Innovations for Poverty Action (IPA) in Colombia, where he works with governments, social organizations, and donors to ensure that public decisions are grounded in rigorous evidence. Before joining IPA, he worked at the Colombian Family Welfare Institute (ICBF) and the Inter-American Development Bank (IDB). He holds Bachelor’s degrees in Economics and Political Science from Universidad de los Andes, a Master’s in Economics from the same university, and a Master’s in Public Administration from Columbia University.
Wilson López López
Psychologist. PhD in Basic and Social Psychology from the University of Santiago de Compostela, Spain. Summa cum laude thesis on "Media, Conflict, and Peace: Psychosocial Framing of Conflict and Peace in Colombia." Wilson Lopez Lopez. Professor at the Pontificia Universidad Javeriana, Editor of Universitas Psychologica, leader of the research group "Social Bonds and Cultures of Peace." Winner of several national and international psychology awards. With extensive research experience, he develops two lines of research and publication: Social Psychology (Social Conflicts and Peace) and Scientific Communication. He has published more than 100 articles in scientific journals and chapters in books and publications. He is an opinion columnist for media outlets such as Razón Pública magazine and El Espectador newspaper. He has held leadership roles in international psychology organizations. He is President-elect of the Political Psychology Division of the International Association of Applied Psychology (IAAP).
Jairo Matallana
Program Manager – Rule of Law and Crisis Response, UNDP Colombia.
Adriana Mejía Ramírez
Adriana Mejía Ramírez is a political scientist and lawyer with postgraduate studies in public policy and development. She works for the Bogotá Secretariat of Security, Coexistence, and Justice, focusing on violence prevention and civic culture. She has over 15 years of professional experience in citizen participation and engagement, and approximately 5 years of experience implementing an evidence-based approach to cultural transformation within national and district public administration.
Andrés Moya
Andrés Moya is an Associate Professor at the Faculty of Economics, Universidad de los Andes in Bogotá, Colombia. He holds a Ph.D. in Agricultural and Resource Economics from the University of California, Davis, and both a Master’s and a Bachelor’s degree in Economics from Universidad de los Andes. He currently serves as a Commissioner on The Lancet Commission on Health, Conflict, and Forced Displacement 2024–2025. Andrés’s research agenda focuses on understanding the consequences of conflict and forced displacement, and how these experiences can push people into poverty through economic, psychological, and behavioral mechanisms. He has also studied the integration of Venezuelan refugees in Colombia. Building on this knowledge, Andrés designs and evaluates interventions to mitigate these effects and promote pathways out of poverty. A leading example of this work is Semillas de Apego, a group-based psychosocial program for primary caregivers in communities affected by conflict and forced displacement, which he currently directs. The program aims to promote maternal mental health both as an end in itself and as a means to strengthen early childhood development. It is now being scaled up across 15 municipalities, reaching 12,000 caregivers in Colombia.
Irina Del Mar Nieto
Business administrator, Master's degree in Behavioral Economics, member of the Board of Directors of the Scientific Society of Behavioral Economics (Spain). Master's degree in Executive and Financial Coaching. Over 13 years of experience coaching athletes, doctors, and executives in international organizations in the automotive, healthcare, pharmaceutical, retail, technology, and financial sectors. Senior consultant for over 10 years in cultural transformation and CX processes using neuroscience and behavioral science tools for multinationals. Creator of financial health and behavioral economics programs for financial institutions, stock exchanges, and multinationals with over 9,000 students. She has taught behavioral sciences for the University of Los Andes, CESA, the Bogotá Chamber of Commerce, Evidentia University (USA), among others. Columnist in economics, finance, and current affairs sections.
Laura Nítola
Laura Milena Nítola Pulido holds a degree in psychology from the Universidad de los Andes and a PhD in Pharmacology from the Federal University of Paraná, Brazil. She is currently coordinating a national project at the Pontificia Universidad Javeriana on brain health and sociopolitical violence. She has taught in undergraduate and graduate programs in Colombia, publishing in international journals and giving presentations at conferences in Latin America and Europe. Her research interests include the relationship between neuroscience, psychology, and mental health in contexts of violence. She has received awards, including the Orquídeas – Women in Science scholarship from the Colombian Ministry of Science.
Patricia Padilla
Patricia is the Director of Peace and Reconciliation at the Bogotá Peace, Victims, and Reconciliation Office. She has experience in institutional strengthening of public entities, having worked for USAID's Responsible Governance program. Previously, she coordinated the monitoring of the implementation of the Peace Agreement at the Office of the Attorney General of Colombia, a task she also performed at the Office of the Comptroller General of Colombia. She was also part of the team that developed the Framework Implementation Plan for monitoring the Peace Agreement and has participated in impact and outcome evaluations of public policies for peacebuilding at the National Planning Department. She holds a Master's degree in Public Policy from the University of Michigan, a specialization in conflict resolution, and a double degree in economics and political science.
Henning Peters
Serial non-profit entrepreneur who helped shut down a coal power plant, created an eco-village and multiple climate camps from scratch and advised over 50 grassroots groups. Psychologist with an M.Sc. and B2 level in Spanish. Co-Executive Director. ACTRA.
Oscar Pineda
Oscar is a Senior Policy Manager at IPA Colombia, where he leads the Early Childhood and Environment & Climate Change portfolios, as well as the Evidence Labs Initiative in Colombia. He currently coordinates three labs focused on Early Childhood and Child Development, Financial Inclusion, and Crime and Security. He has experience in the design and implementation of evidence-based programs in child development, education, social inclusion, financial inclusion, and poverty reduction. Oscar has an extensive background in government, consulting, and research, with an emphasis on the use of data, rigorous evaluation, and iterative learning approaches to design and improve public policies. He holds a Master of Public Policy (MPP) from the Hertie School and a Bachelor’s degree in Political Science from Universidad del Rosario.
Caroline Reis
Caroline Reis is a Luso-Brazilian behavioral scientist, with degrees in Economics and Psychology and an MBA in Behavioral Economics. She is co-founder and Executive Director of the Brazilian Institute of Behavioral Sciences and works on projects across the public and private sectors, applying behavioral science to challenges in health, innovation, and public policy. She is one of the leaders of the Global South Group and the Behavioral Systems Group at Bescy, a global, volunteer-led network advancing the practice of applied behavioral science.
Juan Esteban Restrepo
Juan Esteban (Juanes) Restrepo is a behavioral scientist. He is currently in charge of the habits and behavioral sciences laboratory at Comfama. He has led organizational projects related to social welfare, sports, travel, habits, and scientific experimentation.
César Andrés Restrepo Flórez
District Secretary of Security, Coexistence and Justice of Bogotá.
Natalia Rodríguez Triana
Designer, architect, and Master in Design for Innovation. She has led the national Public Innovation agenda in Colombia from the National Planning Department (DNP) and has supported multiple public and private-sector initiatives in innovation, entrepreneurship, and non-traditional approaches to public policy. She is currently the Leader of iBO – Bogotá Public Innovation Lab, where she promotes design and innovation to address major city challenges, either through innovation cells within public entities or through connections with the GovTech ecosystem. iBO promotes public intrapreneurship, the revitalization of the innovation ecosystem, and the creation of spaces for meeting, collaboration, and experimentation in the city.
Hernando Santamaría-García
Director of the PhD in neuroscience at Pontificia Universidad Javeriana. Psychiatrist researcher at Hospital San Ignacio, UN. Atlantic Fellow at Global Brain Health Institute. Chief Editor Colombian Psychiatry Journal.
Mariana Santos Milachay
Technical Advisor in Behavioral Sciences for UNDP in Colombia An administrator with a Master's degree in Management and Development Practice (MDP) and over seven years of specialized experience applying behavioral sciences and mixed-methods research to address complex development challenges, such as peacebuilding, poverty reduction, and the provision of justice. With a strong track record in designing strategies, Monitoring, Evaluation, and Learning (MEL) frameworks, and behaviorally informed data collection instruments, her experience ranges from applied research and evaluation to teaching and consulting, always with the goal of translating findings into high-impact social interventions.
Ana Serrano
Ana is the Associate Director of Public Policy and Development at IPA Colombia. She leads the organization’s work on public policy engagement and project development, strategically sharing evidence to inform policy decisions and building a strong portfolio of research projects relevant to the local context. Before joining IPA, she was a Research Manager at the Poverty Lab of the University of Chicago, where she worked on access to postsecondary education and youth employment. She also served as a Data and Accountability Project Manager at the Chicago Public Schools. In Colombia, Ana worked as a consultant on citizen security at the National Planning Department (DNP). She holds a Master of Public Policy (MPP) from the Harris School of Public Policy at the University of Chicago and a Bachelor’s degree in Political Science from Pontificia Universidad Javeriana.
Miguel Silva Moyano
Secretary General of the Mayor’s Office of Bogotá.
Daniela Trujillo
Daniela is an Associate Research Manager at IPA Colombia, leading projects on adolescent mental health, classroom pedagogy improvement, socioemotional skills development, and prevention of domestic violence. Daniela is currently pursuing a Ph.D. in Global Mental Health at King’s College London. Before joining IPA, she served as an Advisor to the Minister of Health of Colombia and as a Policy Advisor on citizen participation, peacebuilding, and anti-corruption in several government agencies. Daniela also worked as a Research Assistant at the Berlin Social Science Center (WZB), conducting studies on education and socioemotional development of children in vulnerable communities. She holds a Master of Public Administration (MPA) from the London School of Economics (LSE) and a Master of Public Policy (MPP) from the Hertie School in Berlin. Daniela earned Bachelor’s degrees in Psychology and Industrial Engineering from Universidad de los Andes.
Neuropaz volunteer team
Andrés Casas
He is the founder and annual organizer of Neuropaz. He was a student and co-author of Émile Bruneau. He is a doctoral researcher in neuroscience at the Faculty of Medicine (Javeriana University) and in Conflict Management (Tel Aviv University). He holds a degree in Behavioral and Decision Science (MBDS) from the University of Pennsylvania, with a Master of Philosophy (MA) and a Political Science degree from the Javeriana University. In his multifaceted academic and professional experience in public policy, applied research, and knowledge management, he has used Brain and Behavioral Sciences, Social and Behavioral Change Communications, and participatory technological innovations. He specializes in context-sensitive field experiments aimed at prosocial territorial transits and local ownership by strengthening community agency. He is the author of several books, scientific publications, policy reports, and award-winning science communication content. He is a Research Fellow at the Boris Mints Institute and a lecturer for executive programs at the Business School and the School of Government at Los Andes University. Andrés has collaborated with several UN Agencies, National and Local Governments, Businesses, and NGOs to advance the translational research approach, which develops co-creative innovations, and the application of the UN 2.0 Quintet for Change, to foster organizational adaptation and sustainability practices in the context of the global Meta crisis. Since 2010, he has been the PI for the World Values Survey in Colombia and collaborated with the V-DEM project. Since 2022, he has founded and directs the Neuropaz International Network to foster Dr Emile Bruneau's legacy to promote Peace Science.
Anamaría Trujillo Currea
Anamaría Trujillo Currea is a Political Scientist with a Master’s in International Affairs and additional studies in the Psychology of Knowledge and Learning. She does not merely study conflict — she transforms it into lenses through which we can view reality from new perspectives. She has been part of pivotal milestones in Colombia’s pursuit of memory and truth, from the Group of Historical Memory to the Truth Commission and the National Center for Historical Memory, where she has learned to listen and weave together the mosaic of voices that make up a country. Her career also reflects a deep commitment to social change through knowledge management and the evaluation of peacebuilding and transitional justice programs, in collaboration with USAID and the United Nations. In academia, she has inspired new generations as a professor at universities such as Universidad Jorge Tadeo Lozano, Pontificia Universidad Javeriana, Universidad El Bosque, and Universidad Externado de Colombia. Her current interests focus on symbolic violence and on the narratives of denial and invisibilization surrounding the past and the teaching of history.
Rousbeh Legatis
Peace and conflict researcher and international consultant on conflict transformation and dealing with the past. PhD candidate in Politics and International Studies at SOAS, University of London. He teaches on peace, Communication for Peace (C4P), media in conflict transformation, and memory work at universities. He was a UN correspondent for IPS News and International Editor of Memory, Mind & Media.
Natalia Riveros Anzola
Is a strategic communications consultant with nearly 15 years of experience, specializing in behavioral studies for over three years. With a Master's degree in Post-War Recovery Studies from the University of York (United Kingdom) and a degree in social communication from the Pontifical Javeriana University, she has worked with governments, international cooperation agencies, the private sector, and social organizations on advocacy, strategic narratives, and peacebuilding. Through her platform, Compropósito, she promotes initiatives that combine communication, behavior, and partnerships to generate sustainable change. In 2024, she was a catalyst at Neuropaz, contributing to the dialogue between neuroscience, communication, and peace.
Ana Casas Casas
Strategic creative with over twenty years of experience in communication, design, and digital marketing. Her work integrates graphic and audiovisual storytelling with behavioral sciences to craft innovative narratives, interactive tools, and high-impact campaigns. She has supported social organizations, companies, and national and international projects in processes of advocacy, digital literacy, and the construction of disruptive narratives. She is recognized for her ability to translate complex ideas into clear messages and to create content that connects with diverse audiences. Since 2022, she has been part of the Neuropaz team, and in 2025 she contributes as Digital Communications Lead, supporting the development and design of the event’s website and enhancing the visibility of dialogues between neuroscience, communication, and peace.