This award provides partial support for a week-long conference of U.S. Embassy Environment Science and Technology Officers in Washington in late September or early October this year. The Environment, Science and Technology Counselors/Attaches are key parts of Embassy country teams. They work in support of USG interests as the focal points in Embassies on topics including environmental, space, health, energy, nuclear non-proliferation, economic competitiveness, oceans, population and other issues. They advise Ambassadors and report and make representations on these issues. These officers also conduct and manage bilateral science and technology agreements. OES has held such conferences not only in updating the Embassy representatives on current developments, but in providing Washington officers an opportunity to debrief them directly. The conferences have also enlisted much attention and participation from the Congress and technical agencies. The conference presents an important opportunity both for NSF staff to consult directly with many of the officers with whom they deal and for the Science Officers to improve their understanding of NSF concerns and priorities.
