U.S. SPEAKER EVALUATION: PROF. CALVIN MACKIE EDUCATES

UNCLAS SECTION 01 OF 03 KUWAIT 001416 SIPDIS SIPDIS STATE FOR R, NEA/ARP, NEA/PPD, IIP/NEA/SCA, NEA/PI, ECA E.O. 12958: N/A TAGS: KPAO OEXC OIIP KMPI SCUL XF KU SUBJECT: U.S. SPEAKER EVALUATION: PROF. CALVIN MACKIE EDUCATES KUWAIT ON STATUS OF NEW ORLEANS, STUDY IN THE U.S. Summary -------------- ¶1. GPRA FY06Q3: April 18-19, target-of-opportunity U.S. Speaker Dr. Calvin Mackie informed Kuwaiti officials and the public of the state of reconstruction efforts in New Orleans. During an intensive two-day visit, the award-winning engineering professor and Louisiana Recovery Authority member sought to initiate ties between institutions of higher education and research in New Orleans with Kuwaiti counterparts. He thanked the government and people of Kuwait for their pledge of $500 million USD and $2.7 million in private donations following Hurricane Katrina. In inspiring talks at Kuwait University and with ACCESS English-language students, he promoted higher education at America's premier universities and colleges. Dr. Mackie's visit achieved significant press coverage and a guest spot on Kuwait TV's leading early morning news and current events program, "Good Morning Kuwait." End Summary. Fostering U.S.-Kuwaiti Links -------------- ¶2. Dr. Calvin Mackie, an assistant professor of mechanical engineering at Tulane University and appointed member of the Governor of Louisiana's Recovery Authority (LRA) visited Kuwait April 17-21, 2006. Professor Mackie thanked Kuwait for its extraordinary support following the devastation of his home state by Hurricane Katrina. He articulated the current situation in New Orleans and the Gulf states to a range of Kuwaiti contacts and media. A Morehouse graduate and alumnus of Georgia Tech University, the Presidential Award-winning motivational speaker, author and inventor encouraged Kuwaiti students to pursue their dreams and consider study in the U.S. Dr. Mackie invited Kuwaiti institutional leaders to establish formal linkages between Kuwaiti research organizations and universities with corresponding institutions in the United States, particularly those situated in New Orleans. A Public/Private Venture -------------- ¶3. Dr. Mackie's trip to Kuwait was sponsored by Mr. James E. Johnson, an Alexandria, Louisiana native and Co-founder of XGI Consulting Solutions International. His speaking tour coincided with the Embassy's National Day Celebration. Dr. Mackie was recognized as a special guest at the April 18 event that showcased a Mardi Gras theme and was attended by well over 4,000 Mission contacts. He also was regaled as the guest of honor at the initial concert of the New Orleans All-Star Brass Band during its return visit organized by the Public Affairs Section in coordination with Kuwait's National Council for Culture, Arts, and Letters on April 17 (septel). Leaders of key research, research funding, investment, and philanthropic institutions, held productive meetings with Dr. Mackie, including: Dr. Nader Al-Awadhi, Deputy Director General of the Kuwait Institute for Scientific Research (KISR); Dr. Hilal Sayer, Vice President of the Kuwait Red Crescent Society (KRCS); Dr. Ali Abdullah Al-Shamlan, Director General of Kuwait Foundation for Advancement of Sciences (KFAS); and Mr. Hisham Al-Woqayan, Deputy Director General at the Kuwait Fund for Arab Economic Development. Engineering the Message -------------- ¶4. Dr. Mackie delivered a compelling lecture before 40 undergraduate students and their professors at Kuwait University's Department of Mechanical Engineering titled, "The Challenges of Rebuilding New Orleans and their Socio-political Ramifications," highlighting the powerful impact and significant role that engineers have within a democratic society. Public Affairs organized a tea for Dr. Mackie to share his views with members of Kuwait's academic community, including the acting President of the American University of Kuwait, the President of the Australian College of Kuwait and a professor from Kuwait University's Engineering Department. Dr. Mackie also presented a rousing motivational address to a select group of ACCESS students and instructors at AMIDEAST on the importance of education and pursuing one's dreams. Mr. Sabah Al-Rayes, a Kuwaiti Tulane University engineering school alumnus and honorary citizen of Louisiana, introduced Dr. Mackie as his guest of honor at a lavish dinner and musical presentation at his residence attended by approximately 40 illustrious Kuwaiti guests. Dr. Mackie concluded his trip to Kuwait with a luncheon at the chalet of Mr. Sheikhan Al-Farisi, father of MP Bader Al-Farisi, to thank him for his $1 million USD personal donation to Hurricane Katrina relief. Justification and Objectives -------------- ¶6. Dr. Mackie's visit to Kuwait advanced the Embassy's goals to enhance mutual understanding, promote American society and values, and increase the number of Kuwaitis considering educational opportunities in the U.S. This program is part of a broader strategy to accomplish these objectives through intensive and vivid KUWAIT 00001416 002 OF 003 engagement with Kuwaiti target audiences. Kuwaiti students and academics gained access to an impressive American educator in a field of specialization that is of primary importance to the Kuwaiti economy. Dr. Mackie, a noted American author, celebrated academician, and inspirational speaker spoke knowledgeably and authoritatively about aspects of American society, politics, and academia that was of great interest to Kuwaiti interlocutors. The Embassy seeks to unite organizations and institutions of higher education and research with their respective counterparts in the U.S. to promote the exchange of knowledge, people and resources and Dr. Mackie furthered that aim throughout his program. Eloquent Impact -------------- ¶7. Dr. Mackie effectively and dramatically engaged Kuwaiti leaders as well as diverse groups of students and faculty on recovery and rebuilding in New Orleans as well as on the importance of quality education in the U.S. Using well-documented examples and graphic anecdotes that gave insight into the workings of American local, state and federal government, he clearly explained the status of the recovery and reconstruction efforts in the state of Louisiana and the city of New Orleans. Through private meetings, lectures, presentations, and media events, Professor Mackie reached hundreds if not thousands of Kuwaitis with his message of hope and determination of the American people. Fomenting Bilateral Cooperation -------------- ¶8. At the Kuwait Institute for Scientific Research (KISR) on April 18, Deputy Director Dr. Nader Al-Awadhi expressed great interest in establishing a mechanism for cooperation and partnership with American institutions. Modeled after Bechtel Corporation, KISR is a scientific research center. He stated that their institution has never had a true partnership or participated in a joint study with a reputable institute under Kuwait's environmental conditions. The University of California-Santa Barbara graduate eagerly pointed out that KISR has seven Ph.D. and two master's degree candidates pursing their education at top U.S. universities. He encouraged Tulane and other American universities to connect with KISR's Training Department to help Kuwaiti students pursue graduate degrees in engineering and other scientific fields in the U.S. He stressed that Kuwaitis have deep, positive feelings for the American people due to their role in the 1991 liberation of Kuwait. He commented that he would like to see greater cooperation similar to their collaboration with Japanese research institutions, particularly in the fields of environmental science, agriculture, fuel cell technology, urbanization, and energy conservation. The Power of Volunteerism -------------- ¶9. Later that day, Dr. Mackie joined the Vice President of Kuwait's voluntary humanitarian society, the Red Crescent, Dr. Hilal Al-Sayer, in a roundtable discussion with Kuwaiti media. During that meeting, Dr. Al-Sayer proudly indicated that Kuwait was the largest contributor worldwide to Hurricane Katrina relief. (Note: Kuwait pledged $500 million USD, $25 million of which was delivered by then-Prime Minister and current Amir, Sheikh Sabah Al-Ahmed Al-Sabah. The Kuwait Red Crescent Society also handed over $2.7 million of donations from Kuwaiti private citizens.) Answering press queries, the former chairman of the Surgery Department at Kuwait University and former dean of the Medical College recounted details of his visits to devastated areas of Louisiana and Mississippi and meetings with the American Red Cross. Dr. Al-Sayer remarked that he had been moved most deeply by the spirit of volunteerism of the average American man-on-the-street during the disaster. Wanted: Joint Science Projects -------------- ¶10. On April 19, Dr. Mackie met with the Director General of the Kuwait Foundation for Advancement of the Sciences (KFAS),a research-funding institution. The director enthusiastically welcomed cooperation with American universities. In their conversation, Dr. Al-Shamlan highlighted existing linkages with Harvard University for top Kuwaiti executives from the public and private sectors. An eminent and highly-regarded patron of the arts and sciences, Dr. Al-Shamlan, encouraged Tulane and Xavier Universities to submit research or project proposals in cooperation with KISR and Kuwait University for possible funding by KFAS, in water, environment, and health fields. Investment Opportunities -------------- ¶11. Dr. Mackie also met with Mr. Hashem Al-Woqayan, Deputy Director of the Kuwait Fund for Arab Development. This economic development KUWAIT 00001416 003 OF 003 foundation provides loans, grants and humanitarian aid as well as technical assistance and services. During their courteous and friendly exchange, Mr. Al-Woqayan pledged to raise the issue of investing in New Orleans reconstruction with the Kuwait Fund board. Teaching Success to ACCESS -------------- ¶12. Dr. Mackie delivered a rousing presentation to the 15 top ACCESS scholarship students at AMIDEAST, encouraging them to pursue excellence, study hard, and consider future education in the U.S. Using personal examples, he described taking pains to improve his reading and exam-taking skills to attend first-class universities and graduate with honors. Dr. Mackie urged the students to pursue personal interests, remain devoted to their studies, and avoid the dangers of destructive distractions, such as drugs and alcohol. While persuading them to "aim for the moon," one female student expressed her interest in becoming an astronaut. He gave her a copy of his inspirational book "A View from the Roof" and encouraged her to realize her dreams. He pushed the students to be more competitive and exchanged emails with them so that he could follow their progress as their mentor and friend. Extensive Media Coverage -------------- ¶13. Dr. Mackie's activities in Kuwait received positive coverage in all media outlets: Television: --Al-Rai satellite TV interview at the New Orleans All-Star Brass Band concert at the Abdul Aziz Hussein Cultural Center, taped on Monday, April 17, 2006. Broadcast on evening news. --"Good Morning Kuwait," television interview on Kuwait TV, broadcast live on Tuesday, April 18, 2006. Print: April 19, 2006: --Al-Anbaa, p. 10, 1/8 page --Al-Rai Al-Aam, p. 5, 1/8 page, 1 photo --Al-Qabas, p. 4, 1/8 page, 1 photo --Arab Times, p. 2, 1/8 page, 1 photo --Kuwait Times, p. 5, 1/8 page, 1 photo --The Daily Star, p. 2, 1/8 page Cost Sharing -------------- ¶14. Non-USG Funding: International air travel was funded by a Kuwait-based American corporate sponsor, XGI Consulting Solutions International. ¶15. USG Support: Public Affairs Kuwait organized Dr. Mackie's visit, arranged for his participation in the Mission's National Day event, and provided him with honorarium and per diem for two program days. LEBARON