printable banner

Subject IndexSunday, November 22, 2009

You are in:

 Under Secretary for Democracy and Global Affairs > Office of the Science & Technology Adviser > STAS Mission and Objectives

STAS Mission and Objectives

History

The Office of the Science and Technology Adviser to the Secretary was created following the recommendation of the National Research Council report The Pervasive Role of Science, Technology, and Health in Foreign Policy -- Imperatives for the Department of State. This report concluded that 13 of the 16 goals of U.S. foreign policy encompass science, technology and health considerations that underlie five of the seven National Interests of the International Affairs Strategic Plan -- National Security; Economic Prosperity; Law Enforcement; Humanitarian Response; and Global Issues. In consideration of this report the State Department established a Senior State Department Task Force, and its response, Science and Foreign Policy: The Role of the Department of State, echoed the call for the appointment of a Science and Technology Adviser. Secretary of State Madeleine Albright further supported the initiative with her May 15, 2000 Policy Statement on Science & Technology and Diplomacy.

Mission

The mission of the Science and Technology Adviser is to ensure that comprehensive, accurate, and current scientific and technologic expertise are available in timely fashion to the Secretary and senior Department officials in support of the design and implementation of US foreign policy.

In addition, the Adviser leads the US Science Diplomacy initiative by facilitating bilateral and multilateral scientific cooperation between the US and foreign countries, and by promoting the establishment and consolidation of science and technology capacity in developing countries as a central activity of modern US diplomacy.

Objectives

To fulfill its mission, the Office of the Science and Technology Adviser pursues four specific objectives:

1. Enhancing science and technology literacy and capacity of the Department of State by increasing the number of scientists in the Department and by the exposure of Department personnel to science and technology issues through the following initiatives:

2. Building partnerships with the US science and technology community by engaging the U.S. Government technical agencies, the private sector, and the scientific academic community:

  • Higher Education Summit for Global Development
  • Global Dialogues on Emerging Science and Technology (GDEST)
  • Islamic World Forum
  • Framework Initiative for a Safe and Secure Society

3. Providing accurate scientific and technological advice to the Department by directly advising the Secretary of State, other senior State Department officials, and US Embassies abroad on science and technology issues such as:

  • Climate change
  • Energy security and alternative energy
  • Food security
  • Biotechnology
  • International Thermonuclear Experimental Reactor (ITER)
  • Global health

4. Shaping a global perspective on emerging scientific and technological developments to create a proactive rather than crises-management environment for decision-making in U.S. science and technology foreign policy through projects like:
  • Project Horizon
  • State 2025
  • National Research & Development (R&D) Strategy for for Regional Stability

The Office of Electronic Information, Bureau of Public Affairs, manages this site as a portal for information from the U.S. State Department. External links to other Internet sites should not be construed as an endorsement of the views or privacy policies contained therein.