Science Envoy Travels to Cambodia, Laos, and Thailand

Science Envoy Travels to Cambodia, Laos, and Thailand

Media Note
Office of the Spokesperson
Washington, DC
March 2, 2015

U.S. Science Envoy Dr. Geraldine Richmond will return to Southeast Asia March 2-14 in support of President Obama’s initiative to strengthen the United States’ science and education relationships overseas. This is Dr. Richmond’s second trip to Southeast Asia as a U.S. Science Envoy. Dr. Richmond will build on her previous visit by meeting with representatives from the scientific, academic, nonprofit, and business communities to discuss ways to build and strengthen research collaboration networks between scientists and engineers in the United States, Cambodia, Laos, and Thailand.

Professor Richmond is the Presidential Chair of Chemistry at the University of Oregon, and a member of the National Academy of Sciences. She is a chemist recognized for her work on complex surface chemistry, with relevance to important problems in energy production, environmental remediation, atmospheric chemistry, and biomolecular surfaces. Professor Richmond has also played an important role in setting the national scientific agenda through her service on many science boards and advisory panels. She is president of the American Association for the Advancement of Science (AAAS) and a Presidential appointee to the National Science Board. Professor Richmond is also the founder and chair of Committee on the Advancement of Women Chemists (COACh), a grass-roots organization that has provided professional training and networking for over 12,000 women scientists in the United States and developing countries.

The U.S. Science Envoy Program is one element of the Administration’s commitment to global engagement in science and technology. President Obama announced the program in Cairo in June 2009. Since the program’s inception, Science Envoys have visited 27 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 partners.

ENDS

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