On Thursday February 25, 2010, Partnership for a Secure America (PSA), U.S. Civilian Research & Development Foundation (CRDF), and American Association for the Advancement of Science (AAAS) hosted a reception celebrating the release of a Bipartisan Statement supporting the elevation of Science Diplomacy’s role in U.S. foreign policy. The statement, signed by over two dozen prominent political and scientific leaders, urges the U.S. to utilize its scientific and technological strength to deepen international partnerships and tackle global challenges.

Speaking at the reception were Representative Brian Baird (D-WA), Ambassador Paula J. Dobriansky, Ambassador James F. Collins, Dr. John H. Moore, and Dr. William Wulf. Ambassador Dobriansky, who served as Under Secretary of State from 2001-2009, discussed the State Department's work with science diplomacy, emphasizing her belief that science could be used to "advance the welfare of a community and also promote stability." 

Representative Brian Baird, who serves on the House Committee on Science and Technology, spoke about the Committee's work and legislative efforts to promote science as a tool for international relations, calling science diplomacy "a mutually beneficial enterprise....(and) an investment in our own future." Ambassador Collins shared his personal experiences as the U.S. Ambassador to Russia, emphasizing how important scientific contacts are for improving bilateral and multilateral relationships between nations. Finally, Dr. Wulf, who served as the President of the National Academy of Engineering from 1996-20007, shared examples of science diplomacy's successes, saying that science diplomacy works because "scientists and engineers share a set of values which transcend culture and political ideology," thus allowing people from different nations and backgrounds to find common ground.

To see video coverage of the speaker's remarks, please visit CRDF's YouTube page.

To view a copy of PSA's bipartisan statement on Science Diplomacy, click here.