such as workshops and panels in various areas of engineering, science, and technology. These topics incorporated research into fields of great significance to the people of our country, such as water, earthquake science, nutrition, health, and environment.

I would like to briefly summarize the major cooperative activities that have taken place during the period of 1999-2007:

• Experiences and Challenges of Science and Ethics, 2002, Bellagio, Italy

• Ecology of the Caspian Sea, 2002, Tehran, Iran

• Higher Education, 2002, Tehran, Iran

• Water Conservation, Reuse, and Recycling, 2002, Tunis, Tunisia

• Food Safety and Food-Borne Disease Surveillance Systems 2004, Tehran, Iran

• Drought Forecasting and Management, 2005, Tehran, Iran

• Science and Society, 2006, Toutour, France

The 2007 visit of a delegation from the U.S. National Academies included a workshop at Sharif University of Technology (SUT) at which scientists discussed bilateral scientific relationships in fields of interest to both parties. One of the highlights of that workshop was a lecture given by 1993 Nobel Laureate Joseph Taylor, attended by more than 1,000 young scientists from all over the nation. It was a motivating force and a source of inspiration for all young students in the field of astrophysics. After serious deliberation and discussion, several items were accepted for establishing the following projects: