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4 Support of Science and Technology Policies, Programs, and Outreach by U.S. Embassies
Pages 57-72

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From page 57...
... This structure provides important channels for conveying foreign policy messages and representations directly to host governments and international organizations and also to the general public. On-the-ground staffs assist the department in understanding security, political, economic, and social dynamics in host countries and in identifying opportunities for positive interactions with government officials and nongovernmental organizations.
From page 58...
... , ESTH officers should be able to comment on proposed activities and not just provide administrative facilitation. They also should reach out to host government officials to help resolve barriers to specific cooperative activities as well as to provide advice to both sides on neglected fields for cooperation.
From page 59...
... In particular, the Ambassador and the Deputy Chief of Mission often become involved in S&T issues and have important venues for promoting related interests with senior officials and important S&T leaders of the host countries. Economic MinisterCounselors or Economic Counselors at the embassies often have internal responsibilities for guiding S&T efforts as well as responsibility for following economic developments of interest in the host country that often involve development of technology.
From page 60...
... Overall about 3,700 officials are deployed at embassies and other facilities, including about 200 Public Affairs Officers, 1,500 Public Diplomacy Officers and Specialists, and 2,000 locally hired public diplomacy staff members. Many of these local specialists have over many years developed very valuable perspectives on opportunities for public diplomacy involving S&T.
From page 61...
... Thus, new approaches to engagement initiated by the embassies that can reach appropriate and frequently large audiences have been essential. Among the efforts currently underway are expanding the use of social media, carrying out interactive telecasts and webinars, and making arrangements with highly respected local institutions to host events of interest both to the institutions and to the embassies.
From page 62...
... In Washington, some FSOs with S&T experience and interests favored assignments in the regional bureaus, which are focal points for political and economic developments. Such assignments often led to favorable embassy postings with bright prospects for promotion, whereas S&T-oriented functional bureaus, such as OES, did not have comparable influence over future assignments of FSOs serving in their bureaus.
From page 63...
... Nearly one-third of embassy respondents indicated that important ESTH issues were not being addressed at their posts. The survey indicated that many ambassadors, as well as the Science Counselors and ESTH officers, recognize the value of ESTH as an important tool to support diplomacy.
From page 64...
... In most cases these will be outstanding Foreign Service Officers with extensive experience in S&T-related issues and other qualifications such as language fluency, regional expertise, and excellent diplomatic acumen. Some S&T Counselors might be drawn from the department's cadre of Civil Servants, or exceptionally qualified outsiders.
From page 65...
... Often, public diplomacy or other department travel funds are available to take advantage of these opportunities, but the opportunities to obtain such funds are not always clear to ESTH officers. Among the funds available in Washington, which appear to be seldom known to ESTH officers, are the Education Diplomacy Fund, the Environmental Diplomacy Fund, and the
From page 66...
... As noted above, while ESTH officers have explicit responsibilities for S&T issues, other embassy officers in the course of their political, economic, or public diplomacy activities also should be alert to opportunities for enhancing policies and programs with significant S&T and also explicit innovation content. This award would be comparable in importance and symbolism to awards of the department devoted to accomplishments in the fields of (a)
From page 67...
... B0X 4-4 Examples of STEM Collaboration The Embassy Science Fellows Program provides U.S. embassies access to the expertise of U.S.
From page 68...
... While public diplomacy activities of the department have long included international speaker visits abroad, a new program of carefully selected early career innovators with impressive achievements would raise the level of expertise and relevance to 1 Envoys appointed in 2014 were as follows: Dr. Peter Hotez, Baylor College of Medicine; Dr.
From page 69...
... As cited in Chapter 2, the Frontiers of Engineering programs carried out by the National Academy of Engineering together with similar Frontiers of Science programs that have been carried out by the National Academy of Sciences provide fertile grounds for recruiting outstanding representatives of the S&T strengths of the United States, who have early-career successes and look forward to multi-decade careers. In short, they BOX 4-5 Science Envoys 2011-2014 • DR.
From page 70...
... The department primarily uses social media to reach foreign audiences for public diplomacy purposes -- directly connecting the U.S. government and American citizens to foreign citizens in order to improve their understanding about the United States, to inform audiences about U.S.
From page 71...
... Of special importance, the recommendations require recognition by the department that S&T developments increasing permeate the entire structure of both the Foreign Service and the civil service workforces. If implemented, the recommendations will have a significant effect in elevating the long-term S&T literacy of many individuals and key components of the department.
From page 72...
... 1999. The Pervasive Role of Science, Technology, and Health in Foreign Policy: Imperatives for the Department of State.


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