Update – the bill text is now available

Senator Richard Lugar, (R-Indiana) introduced a bill yesterday calling for the creation of “Science Envoys” through the State Department’s Bureau of Educational and Cultural Affairs (H/T ScienceInsider).  These envoys would receive grants for short-term stays abroad.  While abroad, the scientists would forge connections between their host institutions in the U.S. and those in the country where they are posted.  This would be distinct from the Consular Officers responsible for science that are posted to some State Department facilities around the world.

Unfortunately, Senator Lugar’s website is not as current as you might like, so the statement he issued on the program is not yet available online (though it appears to have been excerpted in full at a different site).  Likewise, the bill (S838), is not yet available via THOMAS, the legislative tracking site administered by the Library of Congress.  Once it is, you can read it here.

I like the idea, as it would be a welcome supplement to the international exchanges already happening with some universities establishing branch campuses overseas, and with scholars pursuing opportunities like the Fulbright program to pursue research and teaching in other countries.  The U.S. has succeeded with this kind of public diplomacy before, so why not try again?  Hopefully the legislation will allow for stays of sufficient duration, and will be funded with sufficient resources to encourage top scientists to pursue these opportunities.