Announcing: Discussion 1 - Transboundary Resources in China and India: Science Diplomacy and Peace Parks

Sharing Insights on Science, Technology, and Environmental Resources Series
Discussion 1 -
Transboundary Resources in China and India: Science Diplomacy and Peace Parks


Tuesday, May 25, 2010
9:30 a.m. to 2:30 p.m.
AAAS, 1200 New York Avenue NW, Revelle Room, Washington, D.C.
Enter through Entrance between 12 St. NW and H St. NW
Working Lunch Discussion - Lunch will be provided.


The theme of the first meeting is Transboundary Resources in China and India: Science Diplomacy and Peace Parks. The purpose of this discussion is to gain insights from the implementation of transboundary peace parks as a means of science diplomacy and scientific research in many parts of the world, and discuss their possible application in the context of China and India. Recently, Science magazine published an article, “China, India, and the Environment,” that highlights the importance of China and India in shaping the environmental outcomes for our planet, and describes the benefits and barriers to cooperation.

We will review four peace parks that have been implemented or proposed and identify
(i) the strengths and challenges of their implementation,
(ii) general themes or lessons learned from their application,
(iii) strategies that can be applied to the specific context in China and India, and
(iv) the potential role of the U.S. in future science diplomacy efforts between China and India.


Preliminary Agenda

9:30 Initial Welcome and Brief Remarks by AAAS and STPI (5 minutes)

9:35 Participant Introductions (10 minutes)

9:45 Intended Purpose and Goals of the Discussion (5 minutes)

9:50 Presentation: Professor Kamaljit S. Bawa, University of Massachusetts-Boston;
“China, India, and the Environment” – Benefits and Challenges to Cooperation (20 minutes)

10:10 Review of Peace/Science Park Case Studies and Q&A

10:10 Case Study #1: Middle East and Asia (25 minutes)

10:35 Case Study #2: Professor Marek Konarzewski, Minister Counselor Science and Technology Affairs, Embassy of Poland; Eastern Europe: Poland-Belarus (25 minutes)
11:00 Break (10 minutes)

11:10 Case Study #3: Professor Romain Murenzi, Former Minister Science, Technology and Scientific Research, Rwanda;
East Africa: Tanzania, Kenya, Uganda, Rwanda, and Burundi (25 minutes)

11:35 Case Study #4: Mr. Kent Biringer, Sandia National Laboratories;
Asia: India-Pakistan-China – Siachen Glacier (25 minutes)

12:00 Informal Conversation and Arrival of Lunch (20 minutes)

12:20 Discussion and Development of Strategies (60 minutes)

1:20 Break (10 minutes)

1:30 Synthesis of Discussion and Summary of Strategies for Cooperation (30 minutes)

2:00 Discussion of Roadmap for Series (20 minutes)

2:20 Wrap-up and Closing by AAAS (10 minutes)

2:30 Adjourn


Stay tuned for more details on speakers and confirmed participants coming soon.