The Science Diplomats Club (SDC) is a

social club A social club or social organization may be a group of people or the place where they meet, generally formed around a common interest, occupation or activity with in an organizational association known as a Club (organization), club. Exampl ...

that was founded in

Washington, D.C. Washington, D.C., formally the District of Columbia and commonly known as Washington or D.C., is the capital city and federal district of the United States. The city is on the Potomac River, across from Virginia, and shares land borders with ...

in 1965. The membership includes Science and Technology counselors, attachés, or representatives of research institutions from more than 40 Washington-based embassies, about half from Europe. In addition, a few former science counselors, as well as some U.S. personalities, have been granted the status of SDC honorary members.

Mission

The principal purpose of SDC is:

"''to provide an informal meeting place and networking channel for the Science Diplomats. Newcomers quickly find a group of colleagues with whom they can meet and 'learn the ropes' of the Washington science scene. Second, SDC offers a meeting forum where, on an almost monthly basis, we get together to receive briefings on central science and technology issues of the day. Such encounters are useful in that they provide highly relevant information and insights on central matters, through discussion sessions with people from one of the many think tanks in Washington, with representatives from NIH, NSF, AAAS, the National Academies, NOAA or NIST. Also, dialogues with representatives from universities or various federal departments on pertinent issues of clear international relevance and consequence. ... SDC is thus a useful and dynamic two-way information and communications forum, benefiting the members and those science, technology and higher education stakeholders in Greater Washington wishing to stay in touch with the international science community. We are open to new suggestions and ideas on how to become an even more attractive and internationally oriented knowledge-promoting networking instrument''".

History

The Science Diplomats Club was established during a lunch held by the Embassy of Denmark at the

Cosmos Club The Cosmos Club is a 501(c)(7) private social club in Washington, D.C., that was founded by John Wesley Powell in 1878 as a gentlemen's club for those interested in science. Among its stated goals is, "The advancement of its members in science, ...

in January 1965. The club was the initial site for luncheons; when the

Embassy of the Netherlands This is a list of diplomatic missions of the Kingdom of the Netherlands, excluding honorary consulates. Ambassador of the Netherlands are officially known as His Majesty's Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary, with their Diplomatic Mission ...

took over the secretariat, luncheons were also held at their embassy and other local restaurants. Starting in 1988, various science counselors started hosting luncheons either at their embassies, Meridian House, scientific/technical organizations, and, later on again, at the Cosmos Club. During these luncheons, guest speakers from the government, associations, universities, and industries informed SDC members about developments in science and technology policy and on progress in R&D. In recent years, the club has also made visits to S&T organizations inside and outside the Washington area. In 2007 the

Embassy of France The French Republic has one of the world's largest diplomatic networks, and is a member of more multilateral organisations than any other country. France's permanent representation abroad began in the reign of Francis I, when in 1522 he sent a d ...

began organizing "Science Breakfasts", which take place eight to ten times a year. Apart from attending monthly luncheons and site visits, members are also invited to attend meetings at scientific and technical institutions, such as the

National Academy of Sciences The National Academy of Sciences (NAS) is a United States nonprofit, NGO, non-governmental organization. NAS is part of the National Academies of Sciences, Engineering, and Medicine, along with the National Academy of Engineering (NAE) and the ...

, National Institutes of Standards and Technology, etc. The following persons have been chair of the SDC:

Activities

As a social club, the SDC organizes social activities (e.g. summer and winter parties). However, it also organizes meetings with American personalities in the domain of science and diplomacy, and encounters with US science advisers, international bodies, and think tanks. Nowadays, such meetings are organized on a more regular basis (the Science Breakfasts). The SDC also organizes external activities to visit science centers or technology parks, jointly with agencies or diplomacy-related associations, and participates in co-sponsoring events related to

science diplomacy Science diplomacy describes how scientific exchanges and the cross-border collaboration of scientists or scientific organizations can perform diplomatic functions in the context of international relations. Most often this diplomacy happens as part o ...

Science Breakfasts

Since January 2007, together with the SDC, the ''Office of Science and Technology'' of the Embassy of France has organized monthly "Science Breakfasts", inviting a prominent member of the American science and technology community to speak to an audience of counselors from embassies in Washington. Since the first session, in January 2007, 30 to 40 guests from 15 to 20 different countries, have had to strengthen ties with American leaders in science and technology and ask them questions and spur dialog within a favorable context.

References

External links