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Ambassador Beyrle addressing the guests
Ambassador Beyrle addressing the guests

Remarks by Ambassador Beyrle at the Reception in Honor of the 50th Anniversary of Science Cooperation Between the U.S. National Academies and the Russian Academy of Sciences

Spaso House

June 17, 2009

It is my privilege to host our esteemed academy presidents, Dr. Ralph Cicerone and Academician Yuriy Sergeyevich Osipov, and your delegations here in Moscow for this auspicious occasion – the 50th anniversary of your partnership in science.   

A special welcome to Minister Andrey Aleksandrovich Fursenko of the Russian Ministry of Education and Science, and to Dr. Nina Fedoroff, the Science Advisor to the Secretary of State and USAID.  Jocelyn and I are honored and inspired by the accomplishments of all of the distinguished scientists, academicians, and officials from government and scientific organizations that have joined us this evening!         

In his letter of June 15 to President Cicerone, President Obama requested that we “extend his best wishes to all of the American and Russian participants for a productive meeting as we celebrate past achievements and develop new endeavors.”

 

President of the Russian Academy of Sciences Academician Yuriy Osipov, President of the U.S. National Academies Dr. Ralph Cicerone and Ambassador John Beyrle celebrating the Anniversary at Spaso House
President of the Russian Academy of Sciences Academician Yuriy Osipov, President of the U.S. National Academies Dr. Ralph Cicerone and Ambassador John Beyrle celebrating the Anniversary at Spaso House
President Obama wrote that by “working together, the academies have made many contributions to international science – from proving elusive mathematical theorems to providing new insights into the secrets of outer space to probing the bountiful resources of the earth – as well as to the critically important domain of international security and arms control.  Dialogues sponsored by the academies on arms control issues that began during the cold war and continue today are especially important.” The president then stated, “Overall, the academies working together have provided a rudder of stability in the overall relationship between the United States and Russia.”   


Indeed, the 1960s witnessed agreements for atomic energy cooperation and expansion in scientific exchange in joint fusion-related research.   In the 1970s, we signed and implemented 11 bilateral science and technology agreements.  The great spirit of this cooperation was captured by the historic “handshake in space” in 1975.   

Minister Andrey Fursenko of the Russian Ministry of Education and Science, Ambassador Beyrle and Dr. Nina Fedoroff, the Science Advisor to the Secretary of State and USAID
Minister Andrey Fursenko of the Russian Ministry of Education and Science, Ambassador Beyrle and Dr. Nina Fedoroff, the Science Advisor to the Secretary of State and USAID
It’s useful to reflect that scientific cooperation between Russia and the U.S. goes back much farther than fifty years.  It began even before the United States was independent, when Benjamin Franklin sent the minutes of the American Philosophical Society to Professor Lomonosov in St. Petersburg, saying that he wished to share the fruits of the scientists of the New World with the great scientists of the Old World.   Franklin became the first American Member of the Russian Academy.

Today your work is not only contributing to world science, it is also helping our two governments to set scientific policy.   President Obama stressed that “the interagency program has also helped set the state for a variety of intergovernmental initiatives – in physics, Arctic science, biosecurity, and nuclear-materials protection, for example.  Now, as we expand our interests in energy conservation, climate change, biomedical advances, and international education, we will continue to look to you for ideas and for important venues that can help us move forward in unison with the Russian government.”  

The president concluded his letter by expressing that he “will be particularly interested in your report of the discussions of future opportunities for cooperation that will emerge during your celebration in Moscow.” For we all know that in all key fields, our governments rely on you, our scientists, to be the pathfinders.  Pathfinders who will not only lead us safely through still unexplored scientific territories to improve lives, but will guide our statesmen to find solutions that benefit the whole planet.   

 

 
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Русский