U.S. Science Envoy Travels to South Africa, Mauritius, and Seychelles

Photo credit: Wayne Hoggard, Stanford News

Office of the Spokesperson
Department of State
Washington, DC
July 17, 2015

U.S. Science Envoy Dr. Jane Lubchenco will travel to South Africa, Mauritius, and Seychelles July 17 – 31 in support of President Obama’s initiative to strengthen the United States’ science and education relationships overseas. Dr. Lubchenco is serving as the first U.S. Science Envoy for the Ocean, building on the momentum created at the Our Ocean Conference held at the State Department in June 2014. Dr. Lubchenco will engage with local leaders, scientists, representatives from the academic and business communities, and ocean users to build and strengthen opportunities to understand the ocean and use its resources sustainably.

Dr. Lubchenco is a Distinguished University Professor of Marine Biology at Oregon State University and former Administrator of the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA). She has served as president of the American Association for Advancement of Science (AAAS), and is a member of both the International Council for Science and the Ecological Society of America. Dr. Lubchenco has also played an important role in setting the national scientific agenda through her 10 years of service as a member of the National Science Board. As one of the most highly cited ecologists in the world, eight of her publications are recognized as science citation classics. Dr. Lubchenco is an elected member of the National Academy of Sciences, the American Academy of Arts and Sciences, and the American Philosophical Society.

The U.S. Science Envoy Program is a core element of the Administration’s commitment to global engagement in science and technology. Since the announcement of the program by President Obama in Cairo in June 2009, 13 Science Envoys have visited 30 countries.

The Science Envoys travel as private citizens and share the knowledge and insights they gain abroad with the U.S. scientific community upon their return. These exchanges contribute to further cooperation and dialogue with key international partners.