CORRECTED TEXT: THE FIRST SCIENCE ENVOYS AND

UNCLAS STATE 126780

SENSITIVE
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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