U.S.-Chile Commission on Science and Technology Cooperation to Review Progress and Collaboration

Claudia A. McMurray, Assistant Secretary of State for Oceans, International Environmental and Scientific Affairs will visit Chile from May 9th to 13th.

The Assistant Secretary will lead the U.S. delegation at the U.S.-Chile Joint Commission Meeting on Science and Technology Cooperation and meet with leading authorities and academics from the Chilean scientific community.

Assistant Secretary McMurray will participate in the bilateral May 9-10 sessions to review several topics, including biodiversity, oceanography and marine issues, astronomy, energy, geology, natural disasters, earth observations, biotechnology and agriculture, bioinfomatics, the role of women in science, science education and climate science.

On Thursday, May 10, at 15:00, the Assistant Secretary, U.S. Ambassador to Chile Craig Kelly; Chilean Foreign Ministry’s Director of Energy, Science and Technological Innovation Gabriel Rodriguez; and the President of Chile’s National Science and Technology Commission (CONICYT) Vivian Heyl will present the U.S.-Chile Commission’s conclusions.

This bilateral commission was established by the U.S. and Chilean governments in 1992 as part of a cooperation agreement on science and technology.

Assistant Secretary McMurray will also attend a conference on "Women in Science" organized by the American Academy of Science and Technology on Friday, May 11, at 9:30 at the Santiago campus of the Universidad de Talca (Quebec 415, Providencia). At 12:00 noon she will visit Colegio Valle Hermoso in Peñalolen, a school that actively participates in the International GLOBE environmental program.

The Assistant Secretary’s activities include a meeting with former President Ricardo Lagos and Chilean government officials responsible for environmental issues. She will also visit the Tololo observatory and meet with astronomers in the fourth region.