USAID Science and Technology Advisor Dr. Alex Deghan outlines great challenges that require diplomatic solutions that incorporate science and technology, at the October 19, 2010 Science Diplomacy Boot Camp for Journalists.

1. Five Laws of Science Diplomacy Dr. Alex Dehgan Science & Technology Adviser to the Administrator U.S. Agency for International Development

2. “ The United States is no longer bordered by just Canada and Mexico.” Our backyard is much bigger now. Saeb Erakat You are here

3. Rule 1: We are all in it together

4. Global Climatic Disruption Climate change will both affect the US and the Middle East, Central Asia, and North Africa substantially – this is a national security issue, an economic issue, a diplomacy issue.

5. Environmental Degradation

6. Loss of Biodiversity Loss of Pollinators (Colony Collapse Disorder: 20-40% of US bee colonies, perhaps 50 billion bees; 90% of bat colony collapse in NE caves, Increased invasive species, increased disease risk (Chytrid fungus contributing to extinction or decline of 200 ssp. of frogs), unprecedented rates of species loss.

7. New diseases are emerging at a "historically unprecedented" rate of one per year. In the last five years alone, WHO has documented more than 1,100 epidemics including bird flu, polio and cholera. Emerging Infectious Diseases

8. Ungoverned Voids

9. Rule 2: Science Diplomacy Works Best with our Most Challenging Relationships

12. Science as Public Diplomacy Science is the one area in the Islamic World where the United States enjoys an overwhelming popular opinion. The language of science is the same worldwide. Supporting scientific capacity allows the U.S. to counter arguments that it seeks to keep the Muslim World oppressed. Science provides a common language, common values, and common culture for engagement that is valued by all countries.

13. Promoting Moderation & Rationality Scientific engagement serves U.S. interests to promote stability by empowering a traditional source of moderate leadership in the country. Scientists frequently are the intelligentsia of society, and play important roles as leaders in many developing countries.

14. Scientific Engagement with Iran ?

16. Environmental Diplomacy with Iran Panthera WCS

18. Rule 3: Science Diplomacy requires True Scientific Exchange

20. Rule 4: Science diplomacy is not the relationship, but the scaffolding for it.

22. Promotes American Values The values inherent in science include honesty, doubt, respect for evidence, transparency and openness, meritocracy , accountability and tolerance and indeed hunger for opposing points of view.

23. Rule 5: Development is how we will meet our shared challenges