The Fulbright Academy of Science & Technology (FAST) is an international organization committed to improving the state of the world by engaging Fulbright scholars and other leaders in partnerships that advance science and society. Membership is open to Fulbright scholars, hosts and friends and to institutions having an interest in our work.

The initial results of our reader survey are in, with 100+ responses. Half of the respondents quickly scan these bulletins for information about upcoming FAST programs. The other half read it more carefully, seeking information about , funding opportunities or new research, and may go to the links. We will try to add more about funding & research in future issues.

One-third of the respondents would attend a luncheon in their city if FAST hosted one. Our response: we need a small group of volunteers to help us set it up. Reply to this email if you are willing to help. Upcoming luncheons are in Doha, Qatar (March 22), Washington, DC (May 28 or 29), Boston, MA (August 16), Liverpool, UK (September 9), Singapore (October 20).

Forty percent of respondents were contributing members, individually or through their institution. About 6,000 grants are awarded each year, and there are over 275,000 alumni - at least one-third of them are in science or technology related fields. Memberships and unrestricted contributions make it possible for us to host luncheons, produce newsletters, sponsor events, and continue to be an active, entrepreneurial organization. If you have not given a contribution to FAST in 2008, please do so at this time. A link is at the bottom of this email.

If you did not respond to the Surveymonkey.com questionnaire, please do so at this time. The nine-question survey should not take more than three to five minutes for you to complete. We value your feedback.

Our Third International Conference was the most successful to date, with 150 registered participants from over two dozen countries. We were especially pleased to have participants from countries such as Singapore, Lebanon, South Africa, El Salvador, Ecuador, Hungary and Macedonia. The group also included current grantees from Pakistan, Libya, Turkey, Brazil, Germany, Laos, and Spain who are in the US doing research on topics such as dentistry, psychiatry, biomedical engineering, business management, physics and information technology.

Dr. Nina Fedoroff, who serves as the Science & Technology Advisor to the US Secretary of State, was one of our special guests on Friday. She spoke about science diplomacy and the need for greater S&T collaboration among global scientists as a means for enhancing international understanding. Her position is not a political appointment, so Dr. Fedoroff will continue in this capacity into the next presidential administration. Her talk was videotaped, and we are planning on posting extracts on the FAST website in the near future. The S&T Advisor position was created during the Clinton Administration, and the first one was Dr. Norm Neureiter, a Fulbright scholar to Germany in the 1960s and an invited keynote speaker at the first FAST conference in Berlin in 2006.

In addition to panels and keynote presentations, the FAST conference also featured five workshops, each with significant audience participation. The topics were (1) science diplomacy, (2) architecture & urban planning, (3) women in science, (4) science policy, and (5) FAST futures. Our goal was to have each workshop come up with several concrete projects or ideas for follow-up activities in 2008 and beyond. We have over 30 new project ideas - some led by FAST, while others are championed by groups of conference participants.

Just looking at the first few letters in the alphabet, here is a selection of our newest members: Mr. Tariq Ahmed, a Pakistani Fulbright Grantee in Engineering at the University of Massachusetts, Amherst; Dr. Hosam Alrqiq, a Libyan Fulbright Grantee in Dentistry at Boston University; Dr. Stanley Bull, an Associate Director at the National Renewable Energy Lab, Golden, CO; Dr. Ahmed Busnaina; Director, NSF Nanoscale Science & Engineering Center, Northeastern University; Dr. Regina Campbell, Superintendent of Maine School Administrative District #74, Dr. Michel Chaloub, Chairman of the School of Business at the Lebanese American University in Beirut; Ms. Phavanhna Douangbouphaf, a Fulbright Grantee from Laos in Information Technology at Rochester Institute of Technology; Ms. Gozde Durmus, a Turkish Fulbright Scholar in Biomedical Engineering at Boston University; Ms. Mary Graham, Founder of Practical Small Projects; and Ms. Jennifer Helgeson, Environmental Economist at the National Institute of Standards and Technology.

We are very thankful to Northeastern University for hosting the Third Annual Conference and to the many institutions and organizations that sponsored or partnered with FAST on the event. During the conference we had a raffle of international items donated by conference attendees and a fund-raising challenge. The two actitivies raised over $5,500 for future FAST programs.

“Futuropolis 2058: Creating Sustainable Urban Environments through Innovation” is the title of our Fourth International Conference, which will be held in Singapore on October 21-22, 2008 (Tuesday-Wednesday). Additional special events will be held on October 19-20 for participants who arrive on the weekend.

Hosted by FAST and Singapore’s Agency for Science, Technology & Research (A*STAR), this conference will bring together many of respected technical experts and visionaries to shape the thinking and practice of urban leaders. The conference will be a catalyst to influence how the urban environments of the future are studied, planned and managed through areas such as urban infrastructure, city management, renewable energy, social networking technologies and future transportation systems.

Our partner is A*STAR, Singapore's lead agency for fostering world class scientific research and talent for a vibrant knowledge-based Singapore. A*STAR actively nurtures public sector research and development in Biomedical Sciences, Physical Sciences and Engineering, with a particular focus on fields essential to Singapore's manufacturing industry and new growth industries. It oversees 14 research institutes, 7 research consortia and supports extramural research with the universities, hospital research centers and other local and international partners, such as FAST.

The program will be filled with senior leaders who have expert business or technological knowledge in creating and maintaining sustainable urban environments. Please contact us via email (ehoward@FulbrightAcademy.org) if your ground-breaking research should be included in the poster session or if you or your colleagues have valuable experience to share with our delegates.

Special Discounts are available to Fulbright scholars and staff at FAST institutional members if you sign up through FAST before April 15. Call for details: 1-207-799-3098. If you would like a brochure about the conference, simply respond to this email.

The Lithuanian Minister of Education and Science Ms. Roma Þakaitienë and the US Ambassador John McCloud signed a new agreement on January 31 to develop and invigorate cultural and educational ties between the two countries. This agreement will bolster and expand the Fulbright Academic Exchange Program in Lithuania by stimulating cooperation between educational, scientific and research institutions. It also encourages measures to improve the qualifications of academic professionals, scholars, educators and students in Lithuania.

On the other side of the world on that same day - January 31 - the Papua New Guinea–USA Alumni Association held an inaugural General Meeting. The meeting was attended by roughly 60 alumni of PNG-US exchanges, including Fulbright exchanges. One distinguished PNG Fulbright alumnus does not live in PNG – Evan Jeremy Paki is in Washington, DC, where he serves as the PNG Ambassador to the United States.

Also in January, a Fulbright South Asia Alumni Conference was held in Nepal: “Public Service and Building Civil Society.” Fulbright alumni from Afghanistan, Bangladesh, Bhutan, India, Nepal, Pakistan, Sri Lanka and the United States and Fulbright Commission staff from in India, Nepal, Pakistan, and Sri Lanka participated in the Conference. The 50 or so attendees had ample opportunity to discuss various topics during the sessions. For example, alumni from India made presentations on social issues pertaining to South Asia and on the efforts of Fulbright alumni to address issues concerning child rights, disaster management, human trafficking, and empowerment of marginalized sections through strengthening democracy and agricultural practices. Another highlight of the conference was a hike led by a Nepali Ashoka Fellow Megh Ale that culminated in a clean up campaign on the banks of the Bagmati - Nepal's spiritually holiest, but heavily polluted river.

These stories are from the Alumni.State.Gov website, a global web-based community for alumni of US Government exchange programs. FAST has no relation to this website.

FAST is a non-profit 501-c-3 membership-based organization that serves scientists, executives, and scholars worldwide. Our annual report is available upon request, and our federal tax return is available through Guidestar.com. At their January 2008 meeting, the board adopted a $222,000 annual budget - not including an estimate of $210,000 of in-kind support in 2008 from organizations such as A*STAR, the Qatar Foundation, NASA, and many institutional members and supporters.

Our members and sponsors include individuals and institutions such as universities, corporations, government agencies and foundations. FAST is not affiliated with the US Fulbright Association or the Fulbright Exchange Program. Regular membership is $60 for individuals and $500 for most institutions. Discounts are available; visit our website for details or to watch a 10-minute video about the Academy: "FAST is a Blast!"