CORRECTED TEXT: THE FIRST SCIENCE ENVOYS AND

UNCLAS STATE 126780 SENSITIVE SIPDIS C O R R E C T E D TEXT PARAS 1-3 5 6 8 10 AND 11 UNCLASSIFIED//FOR OFFICIAL USE ONLY AND IN PARTICULAR FOR JOINT CONSIDERATION BY ESTH OFFICERS PAO'S AND CAO'S E.O. 12958: N/A TAGS: ECON ISCON KISL KSCA OEXC OVIP PREL SCUL SENV SOCI TNGD, TSPL, CN, MV, PU, SO, XC, XF, XI, ZP, ZR SUBJECT: CORRECTED TEXT: THE FIRST SCIENCE ENVOYS AND GLOBAL ENGAGEMENT IN SCIENCE AND TECHNOLOGY REF: A. STATE 124834 CANCELED AND REVISED IN THIS CABLE ¶B. STATE 71325 AND POST RESPONSES ¶C. STATE 112468 AND POST RESPONSES ¶D. POTUS'S JUNE 4 CAIRO SPEECH ¶E. POTUS'S INAUGURAL ADDRESS ¶F. POTUS'S NOWRUZ AND RAMADAN MESSAGES AND ANKARA SPEECH ¶G. SECRETARY'S NOVEMBER 3 SPEECH IN MARRAKECH AND ACCOMPANYING MEDIA NOTE ¶H. EMAILED CORRESPONDENCE AND OTHER COMMUNICATIONS WITH POSTS ¶I. INTERNAL USG AND EXTERNAL POLLING DATA ¶1. (SBU)Summary: The Secretary announced the U.S. Science Envoy Program on November 3. The Science Envoys will seek to identify new opportunities and build new partnerships in Science and Technology (S&T) cooperation. The first three envoys will begin travel in January and February, and posts are requested to support their visits, to develop notional itineraries, and to input directly to the planning process for the envoys led by the White House's Office of Science and Technology Policy (OSTP) through the State Department's Bureau of Oceans, Environment, and Science (OES) with the assistance of the Science Adviser to the Secretary (STAS). Comments or suggestions from all missions to countries with significant Muslim populations that would like to participate in this initiative and related S&T engagements are welcome. End Summary. ¶2. (SBU)The U.S. Science Envoy Program is intended to be a core element of an array of S&T engagements, including those outlined on June 4 by the President in Cairo. In that speech, the President said, "On science and technology, we will launch a new fund to support technological development in Muslim-majority countries, and help transfer ideas to the marketplace so they can create jobs. We will open centers of scientific excellence in Africa, the Middle East and Southeast Asia, and appoint science envoys to collaborate on programs that develop new sources of energy, create green jobs, digitize records, clean water, grow new crops." ¶3. (SBU)In a speech delivered in Marrakech on November 3 at the meeting of the Forum for the Future, the Secretary announced officially the establishment of the U.S. Science Envoy Program. The envoys would deepen and develop partnerships in all areas of science and technology and foster meaningful collaboration to address common challenges and realize shared goals. ¶4. (SBU)The first three science envoys will be Dr. Ahmed Zewail, Dr. Bruce Alberts, and Dr. Elias Zerhouni. They will travel in the first quarter of 2010 to several countries in the MENA region and to Indonesia. Some elements of the program are firm or nearly firm, such as the initial countries that each envoy intends to visit, and other elements are still being worked out with post input welcome. Throughout 2010 the program will expand to cover other countries and regions with the goal in subsequent years of becoming truly global. ¶5. (SBU)U.S. science and technology continue to be one of the most admired aspects of U.S. society in Muslim-majority countries, and everywhere people are eager for opportunities to cooperate with U.S. scientists, engineers, and entrepreneurs. The Science Envoy program exemplifies the U.S. commitment to cooperate in areas of mutual interest and to involve young scientists. Short visits by the first group of highly respected American scientists will demonstrate good will and help identify new opportunities for long-term scientific collaboration. ¶6. (SBU)The first envoys will serve under temporary appointments with the Department to facilitate their travel. Travel grants will be made available for envoys and include modest honoraria, although it is possible that one or more of the envoys may travel under "invitational travel" guidelines. They will travel to a specified region (or country) for one to two weeks, and each envoy is likely to take one or two trips. ¶7. (SBU)Envoys may be accompanied by a small Interagency delegation or may travel alone with representatives of OSTP and the Department. OSTP will handle all communication with the envoys. Each envoy will present findings to a White House-led Interagency team and relevant Department officials. These reports will help guide U.S. government initiatives on international science and technology collaboration. ¶8. (SBU)We encourage Posts to actively assist envoys to engage both foreign governments and research, educational, non-profit, and business communities. We are interested in involving not only leaders but also young science students and science graduates in all aspects of these programs. We would encourage Posts to set up meetings that permit the envoys to address issues and opportunities in their areas of expertise as well as areas of the greatest priority and opportunity for S&T cooperation. The envoys may consult with the U.S. government on opportunities for sector-specific regional funds for science and technology development and innovation and on establishing and nurturing Centers of Excellence. ¶9. (SBU)Science Envoys should be provided public diplomacy opportunities as appropriate. This may include interviews and op-ed pieces with print media and TV/radio, as well as webchats or any other medium that reaches target audiences of young scientists, as well as students. It is understood that the Science Envoys do not speak on behalf of the U.S. government or President Obama, but will offer their insights to USG officials upon their return. ¶10. (SBU)The first Science Envoys were selected by a consultative process involving OSTP, DOS, and the National Academies of Science from a slate of leading scientists with international experience. ¶11. (SBU)A series of cables will follow with information pertaining to specific envoys and confirming which countries they will visit and with information pertaining to other S&T engagements currently in development. OES, STAS, and OSTP continue to welcome comments and suggestions from all missions to countries with significant Muslim populations indicating in what ways they would like to participate in these Global Engagement initiatives. Any responses to this cable related to Global S&T Engagement can and should be directed via OES/STC to the appropriate agencies, offices, or individuals. Communications related to the upcoming Science Envoy visits outlined in this cable should be directed to Dr. Jason Rao of OSTP at JRao@ostp.eop.gov or 202 456 6056 and to Dr. William Lawrence of OES at LawrenceWA@state.gov or 202 663 2619 or (urgently at) 617 605 7774. ¶12. (SBU)Minimize considered. CLINTON