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Center News Archive
December 8-9, 2010
Six African Nations Build a Vision for Regional Prosperity Powered by Science and Science Education
Increasing scientific and educational cooperation in East Africa is a key component of regional integration in the region (e.g., East African Community). The conference in Kigali, Rwanda, co-organized by the Rwandan Ministry of Education and AAAS, focused on how regional cooperation and increased commitment to science can advance development of the region. Government leaders at the meeting, representing Burundi, Democratic Republic of Congo, Kenya, Rwanda, Tanzania, and Uganda, pledged to establish a permanent forum of science ministers designed to better integrate the nations’ science efforts.
July 2010
The AAAS Center for Science Diplomacy releases second Year in Review
The Year in Review covers summaries of the events held and publications written from July 2009 - July 2010 by the Center's staff.
June 24-27, 2010
Turekian Invited Speaker at Wilton Park Conference [external link]
Wilton Park held a conference that sought to address the relationship between science diplomacy and governance, development and capacity building, and policy-making and the mechanisms for harnessing science cooperation. [external link]
May 11, 2010
AAAS-Led Delegation Visits Myanmar
The delegation, led by AAAS Chairman of the Board, Peter Agre, met with Burmese science and academic leaders, revealing Myanmar’s enthusiasm to work with the United States on a range of issues from forestry management to health.
February 20, 2010
Science Diplomacy Aids Conflict Reduction [external link]
February 12, 2010
New Policy Statement Affirms Science Diplomacy as a Crucial Piece of U.S. Foreign Policy [external link]
The Partnership for a Secure America (PSA), in conjunction with the U.S. Civilian Research and Development Foundation (U.S. CRDF) and AAAS, officially released a statement on science diplomacy as a crucial component of U.S. foreign policy. The statement is signed by more than twenty distinguished Democrats and Republicans from the diplomacy, national security, and science communities.
Read a related opinion piece in the Baltimore Sun by Ambassador Thomas R. Pickering and AAAS President Dr. Peter Agre.
January 11, 2010
Joint Report from the Royal Society and AAAS Released [external link]
A joint Royal Society/AAAS science diplomacy report was released on January 11, 2010, during which the UK's Foreign Secretary, David Miliband, spoke about "A call for convergence: Science and Diplomacy in the modern age." The report entitled "New frontiers in science diplomacy: Navigating the changing balance of power" discusses the role of science diplomacy today, including barriers, widening the use of science diplomacy, and case studies.
December 9, 2009
AAAS President Peter Agre Leads Delegation to Democratic People’s Republic of Korea for Talks on Academic Science Collaboration
Nobel laureate Peter C. Agre led a delegation of four U.S. organizations to the Democratic People's Republic of Korea for five days of talks on practical academic science exchange and cooperation. The Center for Science Diplomacy’s director, Vaughan Turekian, was also a part of the delegation.
November 10, 2009
U.S. Delegation on Science Policy Travels to Cuba
A non-governmental U.S. delegation, including AAAS President Peter C. Agre, visited Cuba for discussions on science policy from 10-13 November. Despite a history of tension between the two countries, both Cuban and American scientists have been urging expanded scientific cooperation. Meetings with leading Cuban scientists and policy officials are meant to explore the research issues and multilateral science venues conducive to U.S.-Cuba scientific cooperation.
July 2009
The AAAS Center for Science Diplomacy has released its first Year in Review
The Year in Review includes summaries of the events held and publications written over the past year by the Center's staff. It also includes the testimony given by AAAS Chief Executive Officer Alan Leshner, on 15 July 2008 to U.S. House of Representatives Committee on Science and Technology, Subcommittee on Research and Science Education, during which he announced the launch of the AAAS Center for Science Diplomacy.
May 5, 2009
Article: "The Science of Diplomacy" [external link]
U.S. President Barack Obama has won over the scientific community. Now, he should adopt their resources and influence for a novel use: bolstering America's foreign policy. Published in Foreign Policy magazine.
See also a response letter from U.S. Senator Richard Lugar, and related AAAS news release.
March 26, 2009
Syria-U.S. Science Diplomacy Yields Agreement to Seek Collaboration in Water, Energy, Agriculture and Other Fields
The four-day meeting between Syrian officials and U.S. non-governmental representatives in Damascus came at a time of thaw for relations strained by regional politics. Science, especially water use in agriculture and the development of an integrated innovation system, is a priority for the Syrian government in its vision for better cooperation with the U.S. The U.S. delegation visited relevant Syrian facilities then discussed with their Syrian counterparts how the two countries could work together in developing science, health capabilities, and higher education as they build more positive interaction.
March 24, 2009
House Science Subcommittee on Research and Science Education: Hearing on Coordination of International Science Partnerships - Testimony by Norman Neureiter [external link]
Testifying before the Subcommittee, Norman Neureiter, Senior Advisor to the AAAS Center for Science Diplomacy, spoke to the reestablishment of the Committee on International Science, Engineering and Technology (CISET). Neureiter expressed support for a well-staffed CISET as a mechanism of soft power and Congressional backing for S&T cooperation. He cautioned, however, that CISET should leave the role of foreign negotiator to the State Department and take pains not to become a security gate hindering scientific exchange. He also stressed the importance of funds to empower CISET as an effective tool active in international projects and influential with domestic agencies.
January 30, 2009
Editorial: U.S.-China S&T at 30 [external link]
Starting with the Agreement of Cooperation in S&T signed between the U.S. and China 30 years ago, scientific education and research exchange between the two countries has been growing steadily. In the face of the U.S. trade deficit, areas of contention such as Taiwan, and China’s military development, all of which leads to mutual mistrust, science cooperation, from increased dialogue and funding to a reform of the U.S. visa system, needs to be a priority in easing tensions. Published in Science magazine.
January 2009
Editorial: Building an International Network of Knowledge [external link]
Scientific collaboration between the U.S. and Russia goes back to the Cold War and holds increasing potential in a time when common problems eclipse the polarized philosophies of the past. In light of financial crisis and renewed tensions, it is important to focus on the mutual benefits of researching everything from nuclear physics to clean energy. S&T is rising to the fore of global priorities and it is essential Russian-U.S. interaction expands onto the multilateral level, including nations like Cuba and North Korea, and encompasses all parties, from scientists and government officials to the public and individuals. Published in the ISTC newsletter.
July 24, 2008
AAAS Opens New Center for Science Diplomacy to “Promote International Understanding and Prosperity”
Drawing on a history of scientific diplomacy going back to the Cold War, and growing out of the worldwide respect for U.S. S&T at a time when the U.S. is increasingly unpopular, the new AAAS Center for Science Diplomacy under Vaughan Turekian will spearhead efforts to engage with other countries, even if government-to-government dealings are strained. There is increasing support for science diplomacy by the U.S. government as universities and NGOs like AAAS reach out to countries, from Rwanda to China, and foster balanced, science-based, relationships that build respect and positive interaction.
February 9, 2007
New article: "Time for a New Era of Science Diplomacy", Science magazine. [external link]