Washington Congressman Calls for Return to American "Science Diplomacy" in the Middle East

Arlington, VA (PRWEB) June 26, 2008 -- Rep. Brian Baird (D-WA), in an interview with Conversations, is urging the United States to resume its role as, "a leader in science diplomacy" in the Middle East. Rep. Baird is the second member of the House of Representatives to promote science-based diplomacy along with Rep. Rush Holt (D-NJ), who appeared in a previous edition. Conversations, an online discussion focused on the transforming impact of science, is a project of the U.S. Civilian Research & Development Foundation (CRDF).

In the interview, which is available online at www.crdf.org/conversations, Representative Baird comments on the potential of highly trained scientists and researchers in the Middle East, and states that American science and businesses are missing valuable opportunities for collaboration.

"Sometimes the best scientists in the world are not U.S. scientists," says Baird. "There was a time when the U.S. was not just a leader in the world in science, but we were a leader in scientific diplomacy. That collaborative exchange is incredibly helpful in both a diplomatic sense and in a scientific sense as well. I think there’s a hunger to get back to those days."

Conversations is a monthly exploration of the top issues of our time through the lens of science. Conversations features diverse panels including authors, policymakers, scientists, journalists and those who work on the front lines of major challenges. The latest edition focuses on the role of science in U.S.-Middle East relations and features Representative Baird along with Dr. Beriwan Khailany, Kurdistan Ministry of Higher Education and Research, and Dr. Nadia El-Awady, Arab Science Journalists Association.

Contact CRDF’s EA Dyson at 703-526-2339 or pr@crdf.org for more information.

About CRDF

CRDF is a nonprofit organization authorized by the U.S. Congress and established in 1995 by the National Science Foundation. This unique public-private partnership promotes international scientific and technical collaboration through grants, technical resources, and training.

CRDF Contact:

EA Dyson

703-526-2339

edyson@crdf.org

www.crdf.org/newsroom

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