International Partnerships/Opportunities at NASA and NSF
Friday, February 23, 2007
Dr. Michael P. Crosby
Executive Director
National Science Board
Good afternoon. Thank you for inviting me to participate as a moderator for this session on International Partnerships and Opportunities at NASA and NSF. My name is Dr. Michael Crosby, and I am the Executive Director of the National Science Board. I am joined by Garvey McIntosh, International Program Specialist in the Office of External Relations at NASA, along with Ms. Kathryn Sullivan, Deputy Director for the Office of International Science and Engineering at NSF.
The National Science Board is an independent body established by Congress through the National Science Foundation Act of 1950 to promote the progress of science; to advance the national health, prosperity, and welfare; and secure the national defense.
The National Science Board has two important roles:
á It provides oversight for, and establishes the policies of the National Science Foundation.
á It also serves as an independent body of advisors to both the President and Congress on national policy issues related to science and engineering research and education.
Members of the National Science Board are appointed by the President and confirmed by the Senate.
National Science Board International Efforts
In September 2005, the Board established a Task Force on International Science to study issues related to partnerships between U.S. and non-U.S. scientists and engineers, both in the U.S. and in other countries, as well as how these partnerships might be used, in cooperation with the efforts of other U.S. federal agencies, to achieve benefits beyond just doing ÒgoodÓ science, such as improved relations between countries and improved quality of life and environmental protection in developing economies.
Board perspectives on the Benefits of International S&E Partnerships
U.S. Federal agencies currently fund a wide range of international science and engineering partnerships that support both basic and applied research. In a few moments we will hear about some of these partnership activities supported by NSF and NASA.
Science and engineering partnerships not only advance research, but also have the potential to serve as vehicles for achieving improved relations between countries, capacity building, and environmental awareness.
The benefits of international science partnerships stand at the forefront of solving the most pressing issues facing the world today. Climate change, energy resources, and the spread of disease are only a few of the issues that have a global reach and require a global effort in science and engineering research and education.
Economic development, cultivation of civil society, promotion of gender equity, and the direction of scientists towards productive pursuits are also important indirect positive benefits to these partnerships. Likewise, international partnerships serve a crucial public diplomacy role.
As the world of scientific research becomes increasingly global and intensely competitive, it is important to establish an environment for future generations of researchers to perform in a more Òglobally awareÓ manner. Future generations of researchers will need to be more cognizant of, and be able to successfully address, the various international and cultural issues that may influence the development and implementation of science and engineering partnerships.
Major Task Force Activities
The Board Task Force has hosted two roundtable discussions to examine international science and engineering partnership activities as they interplay with science policy, foreign policy and domestic policy objectives, and more specifically assess the role of the U.S. Government in both facilitating and directly supporting science and engineering partnerships outside the U.S.
In addition, the Task Force plans to convene one additional forum in March in Brussels to discuss the value of international S&E partnerships between the U.S. and the European Community, especially to improve the quality of life, environmental protection and science capacity in, and relationships with, developing countries.
Following this third roundtable discussion and other information gathering activities, the Board will prepare a final report with general recommendations that address the role of the U.S. government in supporting international science and engineering partnerships, as well as specific guidance to the National Science Foundation on its role in this broader effort.
Open for Panelist Presentations
I look forward to hearing now from our esteemed panelists, Mr. McIntosh and Ms. Sullivan on strategies used by NASA and NSF to successfully carry out and sustain international collaborations supported by their respective agencies. Following each speakerÕs comments, we will have time for a question and answer segment (time allotments?).