A science attaché (also known as a scientific attaché or a technical attaché) is a member of a

diplomatic mission A diplomatic mission or foreign mission is a group of people from a state or organization present in another state to represent the sending state or organization officially in the receiving or host state. In practice, the phrase usually den ...

, usually an

embassy A diplomatic mission or foreign mission is a group of people from a state or organization present in another state to represent the sending state or organization officially in the receiving or host state. In practice, the phrase usually den ...

. A science

attaché In diplomacy, an attaché is a person who is assigned ("to be attached") to the diplomatic or administrative staff of a higher placed person or another service or agency. Although a loanword from French, in English the word is not modified accord ...

traditionally had three primary functions: advise the ambassador on scientific and technical matters, report on scientific and technological events, and represent his or her country in scientific and technical matters to foreign scientific and technical

academies An academy (Attic Greek: Ἀκαδήμεια; Koine Greek Ἀκαδημία) is an institution of secondary or tertiary higher learning (and generally also research or honorary membership). The name traces back to Plato's school of philosop ...

; to industry; to

intergovernmental organization Globalization Globalization, or globalisation (English in the Commonwealth of Nations, Commonwealth English; American and British English spelling differences#-ise, -ize (-isation, -ization), see spelling differences), is the process of ...

s and agencies; and to

international non-governmental organization An international non-governmental organization (INGO) is an organization which is independent of government involvement and extends the concept of a non-governmental organization (NGO) to an international scope. NGOs are independent of government ...

s. A science attaché has also helped forge formal ties between domestic and foreign scientists and researchers, and acted as a catalyst for scientific exchange initiatives.Robert L. Loftness, ''Why Science Attachés?'', 80 The Scientific Monthly 124 (1955). The non-advising roles of the science attaché seem somewhat less important in the age of the internet and the truly international scientific community it has helped create. The modern trend seems to be to emphasize the advisory role of the science attaché over the facilitation of scientific and technical exchanges. As recently as 1998, the National Academy of Sciences called for the appointment of more science-savvy diplomats to the State Department to improve the quality of the scientific advice available to foreign policymakers. The panel also emphasized the need to encourage general foreign service staff to acquire scientific skills.''Panel Calls for Science-Savvy Diplomats'', 281 Science 1937 (1998). While there has been more emphasis on the advisory role, science attachés could still play a role in facilitating exchanges and collaborations by helping scientists from their home country understand the host nation's science culture and practices. Formerly, being appointed science attaché was viewed as the "kiss of death" for advancement within the foreign service. However, with the growing importance of scientific issues such as

global warming In common usage, climate change describes global warming—the ongoing increase in global average temperature—and its effects on Earth's climate system. Climate change in a broader sense also includes previous long-term changes to E ...

, global infectious diseases, and

bioterrorism Bioterrorism is terrorism involving the intentional release or dissemination of biological agents. These agents are bacteria, viruses, insects, fungi, and/or toxins, and may be in a naturally occurring or a human-modified form, in much the same ...

to foreign policymaking and diplomacy, this perception may be changing.

Historical functions

The role of science attachés of the United States was first outlined in 1950 in a report entitled ''Science and Foreign Relations'', issued by the

United States State Department The United States Department of State (DOS), or State Department, is an executive department of the U.S. federal government responsible for the country's foreign policy and relations. Equivalent to the ministry of foreign affairs of other nat ...

. It listed the primary duties of science attachés as:''Science and Foreign Relations'', Department of State Pub. 3860, Lloyd V. Berkner, ed. (1950) # Reporting on significant scientific and technological developments # Assistance in the exchange of scientific information # Assistance in the exchange of scientific persons # Assistance in the procurement of scientific apparatus, chemicals, and biologicals # Cooperation with all United States groups abroad having programs with scientific and technological aspects # General representations of United States science # Scientific and technical advice to the Embassy staff # Arrangements for collaborative research projects between the United States and foreign scientists # General promotion of better understanding between the United States and foreign science

Historical functions

Notes and references

See also