Update from the Fulbright Academy of Science & Technology
This Issue Has Three Sections.
1. Updates and Opportunities for Fulbrighters interested in North Africa
2. Seeking Fulbright Alumni Leaders (outside of USA)
3. Deadlines, such as nominations for a fully-funded Young Professionals Trip to Libya
Eric S. Howard
Executive Director, Fulbright Academy of Science & Technology (FAST)
This issue focuses on the Fulbright Academy's Science Diplomacy activities in North Africa and the "Muslim World" - a region that stretches from Morocco to Indonesia. "Science Diplomacy" means international science cooperation to foster communication and cooperation among the peoples of diverse nations to promote greater global peace, prosperity and stability. Fulbright grantees are chosen because of their leadership and ability to promote peaceful ties among nations, and so it is no surprise that the Alumni are active or interested in FAST's programs.
FAST started working in this region because of several Fulbrighters who became active in FAST in 2006 - our first year of full-time operation. Several Moroccan alumni attended our First Annual Conference in Berlin in 2006. We have organized conferences in Rabat and Doha, and done outreach to alumni in Algeria, Egypt, Tunisia, Pakistan, UAE and Yemen, among others. Three of the nine members of our Board of Directors were born in the region.
FAST's activities are also influenced by the political process. In June 2009, President Obama made a major speech to the Muslim World during a visit to Cairo University. One year later, the State Department issued a Fact Sheet on U.S. Government Science and Technology Engagement With the Muslim World - Progress in Realizing the President’s Vision of Enhanced Science and Technology (S&T) Partnership in the Muslim World. (PDF File).
Young Professionals Study Tour to Libya - Fully-funded - August 17-22, 2010- Our fully-funded program to Tripoli done in conjunction with the opening of 2010 United Nations International Year of Youth, and the FAST delegation to the National Youth Celebration will be primarily Fulbright grantees and alumni ages 22-40. The program is fully-funded--including travel--and there is no cost for the 20+ participants.
- In 2008, about 20 Libyan graduate students attended FAST's Annual Conference in Boston through a $25,000 grant that FAST received from the R Lounsbery Foundation. We are pleased to be able to reciprocate and bring a group of US and international Fulbrighters to a special program in Libya.
- Members of the FAST delegation will be young professionals from Europe and North America - in business, technology, journalism, education and related fields. Most will be grantees or alumni, but staff from the international offices of universities and graduate students are also welcome to self-nominate as well.
- The final plans for the five-day program in Tripoli will be based on the professional backgrounds of the participants.
- Nominations are due by July 22 via our nominations website: www.tinyurl.com/fast2010-Libya
- In 2007, FAST co-organized a 3-day workshop in Rabat, Morocco on access to digital information - focusing on impacts to science, education and culture - with major support from the US National Science Foundation, UNESCO and the Moroccan Government.
- Institutional and individual members of FAST took the lead on follow-up activities. The US Civilian Research & Development Foundation (CRDF) was awarded several million dollars in June 2010 to help fund their Global Innovation through Science and Technology (GIST) initiative in Africa.
- One of the three main activities is follow-up on FAST's Maghreb Digital Library work, because " the establishment of digital libraries in the Maghreb region of North Africa will fill critical gaps in access to international research, improve the communication of research outcomes and support regional and international collaboration among scientists." (CRDF Press Release)
- FAST is now expecting a $40,000 award from the US National Science Foundation to bring Fulbright scholars and other experts to Washington, DC for a meeting in November/ December 2010. Fulbrighters with expertise in library science, digital archives, publishing of scientific literature, etc. should contact FAST for an invitation.
- CRDF has received is to help organize a major 2011 science and technology innovation conference in the Middle East to identify and establish research priorities and construct the necessary framework to support and sustain collaboration.
- FAST expects to be working with CRDF and Fulbright scholars who work for US stakeholders and institutions in the region to help assure that the unique knowledge and expertise of Fulbright alumni are being tapped.
- In May 2010, the Egyptian and US Governments announced that 2011 will be the Egypt-US Year of Science & Technology.
- This year-long enterprise will celebrate US Egypt engagement in science, promote interest among Egyptian youth in science-related careers and research, and promote digital engagement among the Egyptian science community with US peers and institutions.
- FAST may be one of the US coordinators for activities next year - and we will be seeking US-based grantees and alumni to help out by co-hosting events at their institutions.
- Our Exec Director spent one week in Cairo and Alexandria meeting with staff from the Fulbright Commission, the Egyptian Science & Technology Development Fund, and government officials from Egypt and USA, including the US Ambassador to Egypt.
- The announcement of the Egypt-US Year of Science & Technology took place during the study tour.
- One-on-one meetings with alumni were also arranged, as FAST is seeking alumni to serve on FAST's International Advisory Council.
- FAST submitted three funding proposals to the Egyptian Government for activities to link Fulbrighters in Egypt with alumni in other countries.
We Need Your Contacts:
During our first five years, FAST has been particularly active in the US-science community. At the same time, we recognizes that two-thirds of the Fulbright alumni are non-US citizens. Important work is being done by Fulbrighters in other countries, and we need your help to know about their activities. We are looking for Fulbright alumni in positions of influence in other countries so that we can invite them to be speakers and participants in our high-level events.
FAST is also seeking alumni at all levels to serve on our International Advisory Council. The council will be comprised of several Fulbrighters from each country, and we serve as our eyes-and-ears in the country, as well as our mouth - helping us learn about opportunities worldwide, and helping others learn about FAST's activities and opportunities.
This summer and fall, we will be particularly focused on Europe (host for our 2011 Annual Conference) and North Africa/Middle East (see above paragraph), but alumni from all countries are welcome to be involved. Submit names or websites to ehoward@FulbrightAcademy.org.
FAST is looking for Fulbrighters who are:
- Current leaders in government and in government agencies (outside of the USA)
- Past leaders in government (but still active in international affairs)
- Members of National Academies of Science
- Leaders in the Medical and Health Community
- Leaders in the Academic Community (we know of at least 30 institutions of higher education led by Fulbrighters)
- Leaders in the Business World
DEADLINES:
Nominations for the Young Professionals Tour to Libya are due by July 22 via this website: www.tinyurl.com/fast2010-Libya
Proposals for panels and workshops at FAST's Sixth Annual Conference and Ideas Forum are due by the end of August. Please suggest topics as well as possible speakers - for programs that are 1.5-to-8 hours long. The broad theme is social sciences, and it will be held at the University of Heidelberg, Germany, on March 16-19, 2011. Proposed topics include:
* Business and Social Science - the science of marketing
* Business and Social Science - the science of managing staff
* Global Health - contributions from social science
* Fulbrighters and Philanthropy
* The Science of Happiness - Csikszentmihalyi and other Fulbrighters
* Social Science and Climate Change Policy
* Human Rights & Bioethics
Please Submit your proposals as well as news and events for the next newsletter to info@FulbrightAcademy.org.
Support FAST by making your gift today. Go to
http://www.FulbrightAcademy.org/page/giving/
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http://www.Facebook.com/Fulbright.Academy
To join our Group on
LinkedIn visit:
http://www.linkedin.com/groupInvitation?gid=1570
FAST receives over $100,000 in in-kind contributions from institutions with alumni affiliations each year. Some our activities require cash. If you haven't made a donation or membership contribution to FAST in the past year, please consider doing so now. Payments can be made on-line and any amount is welcome. (www.FulbrightAcademy.org/page/giving/).
- $10 is what you might spend on a few cups of coffee - and that pays most of our bill for a month.
- $30 fills your tank with gas or buys dinner for one in the city - and that pays for an outreach luncheon for one.
- $60 is our standard membership amount - and we ask you to donate this amount.
- $500 gives you a life membership in FAST - and discounts to all of FAST programs.
- $1,000 gets you into the Director's Circle - and invitations to special FAST events.
The Fulbright Academy of Science & Technology (FAST) is a non-partisan, non-profit
organization that serves Fulbright scholars and alumni -
executives, educators, and researchers worldwide.
FAST members and sponsors include individuals and institutions such as universities, corporations, government agencies and
foundations. Membership is open to institutions that support the FAST mission and to individual Fulbright scholars and alumni, hosts of scholars and friends of
the Fulbright program. Because FAST is not affiliated with or funded by the Fulbright Exchange Program, the US Department of State or the US Fulbright
Association, partnerships and
member contributions are critical to FAST's continued success. Please learn more about the work of the Fulbright Academy by visiting our website: www.FulbrightAcademy.org
Most FAST activities are initiated by FAST members. If you would like to help lead a
forum, conference or research initiative in partnership with FAST, please contact Eric Howard, FAST's Executive Director. Expected program areas for 2010 and
2011 include Sustainability, Global Health, Entrepreneurism, Counterfeiting, and Access to
Digital Information.
(Click here for our calendar of upcoming
activities)