U.S. Department of State Embassy Science Fellows Program

The Embassy Science Fellows Program offers U.S Embassies an opportunity to host a working scientist for a one to three month stay. Begun in 2001 as a State Department - National Science Foundation (NSF) partnership, the Embassy Science Fellows Program places USG scientists at posts to provide expertise, advice and assistance with science and technology-related issues. The U.S. Geological Survey (USGS), U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA), National Oceanic and Atmospherics Agency (NOAA), Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) and the National Aeronautics & Space Administration (NASA) have since become participating agencies, thus enlarging the available pool of scientific talent. Specific assignments, to be approved by post's Chief of Mission, will be developed in consultation with parent agency, the Fellow, the post, OES, and State’s regional bureau. The Fellow’s agency pays salary, non-lodging per diem and international travel costs, while posts must provide housing, office space, computer, email/internet access and local travel costs from their own resources.

In May 2000 the Department made public a new policy mandate to strengthen State’s capacity to integrate science, technology and health factors into a broader spectrum of the foreign policy process. This initiative was stimulated by a 1999 report by the National Research Council/National Academies of Science, which concluded that 13 of 16 U.S. international affairs strategic goals encompass science, technology and health issues, and that the State Department must become better prepared to address these factors.

A major objective in this effort was the creation of active, long-term partnerships with the S&T community in government, academia and the private sector. The Embassy Science Fellows program is a successful example of just such a partnership, a joint venture initially between the State Department and premier USG technical agencies. The Embassy Science Fellows Program provides a valuable mechanism through which State can work with other agencies of the USG to assist them in advancing national R& D priorities through international collaboration and explore the degree to which new broad-scope umbrella S&T agreements can provide a venue for the types of relationships, which will benefit the USG technical agencies.

Most agencies choose to send Fellows to countries not already covered by traditional S&T agreements. As a result, the fellows often provide important first impressions as to new institutional linkages with counterpart entities, which could assist USG agencies to fulfill their research and development responsibilities. Their keen observations bring insight, which enable science-based approaches to be applied to US foreign policy objectives.

The program builds upon the complementary strengths and needs of the partner organizations. The Embassy Science Fellows Program meets the objectives of all partner agencies in allowing posts to acquire high-level scientific advisory capacity to address S&T issues important to their missions, while simultaneously providing agency staff an opportunity for valuable international experience, training and networking.

For more information about this program contact the Office of Science and Technology Cooperation (OES/STC) at (202) 663-2619 or fax(202) 663-3236.