Events

Conference "Science and Foreign Policy: the Swiss Science Counselors in Washington and in the World (1958-2008)"

Bern, December 3.-4. 2008

The position of science counselor at Swiss embassies was created fifty years ago, when the first counselor was sent to Washington on October 1, 1958. Today 17 science counselors work abroad, at embassies and in several «swissnex», the Swiss houses for scientific and technological exchange. The historical context of this initiative, which is supported by the political authorities and promotes national and international scientific activities, remains unknown. The purpose of this conference is to achieve a better understanding of the work of science counselors in the past and the present and to evaluate the role science plays in Swiss foreign policy.
This conference is organized by the Swiss Diplomatic Documents Publication Committee, the Swiss Academy of Humanities and Social Sciences, the Federal Department of Foreign Affairs and the State Secretariat for Education and Research.

Programme