U.S.-Iran Engagement in Science, Engineering, and Health (2000-2009) Opportunities, Constraints, and Impacts (2010) / Chapter Skim
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5 Impacts and Future Directions
5 Impacts and Future Directions
Pages 57-70
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From page 57... ...
Scientific benefits of sharing experiences among specialists who are working in similar fields but in different geographic and cultural environments -- such as the different environments of the United States and Iran -- have often been apparent to the participating scientists, immediately or after short periods of time. For example, international cooperation has sensitized scientists to the strengths and weaknesses of capabilities and approaches of foreign counterparts in addressing problems of mutual interest (e.g., stem cell research in the United States and Iran)
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From page 58... ...
. Joint efforts have frequently clarified the magnitude and importance of problems that should be of international concern but are not receiving adequate preventive attention in national programs (e.g., dust storms reaching central Tehran due to sand uptake far to the west of the capital)
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From page 59... ...
government officials, the political impacts of even limited engagement efforts are important in helping to gradually restore a more positive U.S-Iranian relationship and in beginning to set the stage for broader people-to-people programs. FOLLOW-ON ACTIvITIES TO INITIAL ENgAgEMENT EvENTS Previous reports of the National Academies have presented surveybased evaluations of follow-on activities related to much larger exchange programs in other regions of the world.
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From page 60... ...
continuing calls in Washington for more stringent economic sanctions, which may have a spillover effect in constraining scientific cooperation. Chapters 3 and 4 have identified a number of the near-term follow-on activities that have resulted from specific workshops and other cooperative events.
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From page 61... ...
universities effectively sustained active science cooperation with Iranian universities for a few years with no involvement of the National Academies. Such sustained relationships seemed to have increased the commitments of individual scientists to working with colleagues across the ocean.
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From page 62... ...
Many Iranian scientists, including some who occupy or have occupied important government positions, have long been aware of the importance of the integrity of the process that leads to scientific publications. They know the requirements for publishing in journals that are covered in the Web of Science Citation Index maintained by the Institute of Science Information (ISI)
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From page 63... ...
The newly recognized journal must now operate under international ground rules that should help ensure its integrity as a reliable publication. Twenty-eight Iranian journals, primarily in biomedical and engineering fields, are ISI journals;4 but Scientia Iranica is unique in its broad swathe of science and engineering disciplines and topics.
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From page 64... ...
At the conclusion of each three-week session, representatives of the Department of State meet with the Iranian visitors to listen to comments on their visits and suggestions for future exchanges. Observations pro vided by the Department concerning the overall Iran program, which has involved more than 250 Iranian visitors to the United States since 2006, are as follows: The program began the process of reestablishing contacts between aca demic, professional, and cultural communities in the two countries and helped reconnect Iran to the United States.
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From page 65... ...
Unfortunately, distinguished American scientists are increasingly rare visitors to Iran due to the political turmoil in the country. When they have given presentations to audiences of 100 students or 30 faculty members, for example, the reactions have been punctuated with desires to want to hear more.
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From page 66... ...
As such information spreads, it can also help clarify for the international community opportunities for engaging Iran, which must look outward if it is to maximize the effective use of its technological capabilities. Openness becomes particularly important if the information that is shared relates to developments of broad international importance.
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From page 67... ...
When asked as to whether the program of the National Academies usefully complements other exchange programs, the answer of U.S. officials has always been the same: "Yes, and we are eager to learn about your experiences." LESSONS LEARNED Throughout this report, many suggestions have been offered concerning steps to help ensure that cooperative activities take place and that they are rewarding for the participants and their institutions.
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From page 68... ...
FuTuRE DIRECTION OF THE PROgRAM OF THE NATIONAL ACADEMIES At the level of individual scientists, there are conflicting voices in both Iran and the United States as to whether scientific exchange programs can be effectively carried out within the constraints imposed by the security policies in the current political environment. Nevertheless, most well-informed scientists in the two countries with whom the National Academies have contacts favor continuation of engagement activities to the extent possible.
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From page 69... ...
designation of an international network of centers of excellence for improving seismic resilience of structures through enhanced construction designs and practices in Tehran and other major cities from Turkey to Pakistan, (c) upgrading one or more Iranian national parks to international status for preservation of biodiversity, and particularly unique plant and animal species of the region, and (d)
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From page 70... ...
Cooperative projects can continue to facilitate integration of Iran's scientific aspirations with global realities and with the interests of the United States and other science leaders. Scientific cooperation is one of the few options for bridging differences that separate the two governments.
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