science diplomacy

U.S. Sen. Dick Lugar proposed the creation of a Science Envoy program in April 2009. His legislation was soon passed by the Senate Foreign Relations Committee. On November 3rd, Secretary Clinton announced the creation of a U.S. Science Envoy Program.

China is continuing to show interest in developing African research capacity with the announcement of a cooperation program in S&T. According to China’s Ministry of Science and Technology, the priorities will be livelihoods and economic development.

Having long pioneered and dominated futuristic technology, Japan proudly leads the global robot march; it already boasts numerous automated assistants playing various everyday roles – with plenty more on the way. The metallic models that paraded at the exchange event, hosted by the Japanese embassy and its Cambodia-Japan Cooperation Centre in late November, were the mechanised brainchildren of Tmsuk. This unpronounceable company somewhat ominously claims on its Web site to want to "create a safe and comfortable society in which people and robots can coexist".

The next head of the US development agency USAID may bring a stronger science and technology flavor to developing country assistance because of his background in agriculture, say commentators.

On 30 November, the European Community signed technology cooperation agreements with Japan and Jordan that will help identify common research priorities and areas of common interest, such as energy, sustainable development and environment.

China and the United States yesterday said they will open a dialogue on space cooperation, a move experts say will increase understanding and benefit both sides in the long run.

Researchers in China and India have joined forces to explore the best ways of turning unpromising drylands into productive farming land.

From 2 to 4 December, an advanced research workshop in Ferrara, Italy, aims to define a system for detecting and preventing soil erosion, sea level changes and pollution, and exploitation of fish stocks in the Caspian region.

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