VZCZCXRO0812
RR RUEHPD
DE RUEHLI #0941/01 1081553
ZNR UUUUU ZZH
R 171553Z APR 08
FM AMEMBASSY LISBON
TO RUEHC/SECSTATE WASHDC 6766
INFO RUEHPD/AMCONSUL PONTA DELGADA 0457

UNCLAS SECTION 01 OF 02 LISBON 000941 
 
SIPDIS 
 
SIPDIS 
 
PASS TO OES/STC (KANE) 
 
E.O. 12958: N/A 
TAGS: KSAC TSPL SENV AMGT APER OTRA PO
SUBJECT: PORTUGAL:  REQUEST FOR EMBASSY SCIENCE FELLOWS IN 
2008 
 
REF: STATE 28712 
 
Summary 
------- 
¶1.  Embassy Lisbon requests Science Fellows for 2008/2009 to 
expand the Embassy's contacts with Portuguese counterparts 
and to develop direct relationships with research 
institutions.  The Science Fellow Program also plays a 
valuable role in our ongoing S&T cooperation with Portugal as 
required by our Bilateral Agreement on Cooperation and 
Defense (ACD).  While all applications are welcome, Post is 
actively seeking specialists in renewable energy sources 
(including bioenergy), climate change, oceans issues, and 
environmental protection.  Point of contact in Portugal for 
the Embassy Science Fellow Program is Gary Applegarth at 
351-21-770-2575; fax: 351-21-726-6559; email: 
ApplegarthGB@state.gov.  Backup is Cari Enav at 
351-21-770-2242, email EnavCR@state.gov.  End Summary. 
 
¶2.  Embassy Lisbon welcomes applications from all agencies 
for the Embassy Science Fellows Program for periods ranging 
from six to eight weeks.  Fellows will enable this Mission to 
fulfill requirements for S&T cooperation under the Bilateral 
Agreement on Cooperation and Defense and build on the success 
of previous Science Fellows from NSF, NASA, NOAA, NIH, USDA, 
and EPA.  We will work directly with interested candidates to 
define an appropriate schedule that combines the Fellow's own 
research specialty with broader Embassy goals for S&T 
cooperation.  Past Science Fellows in Portugal have conducted 
their work in a variety of ways and we will remain flexible 
to take best advantage of each Fellow's background and 
qualifications.  Fellows can expect to include travel within 
Portugal as part of their assignment.  All Fellows will be 
expected to participate in public outreach efforts.  Although 
we welcome Fellows from all agencies, we have outlined below 
some of our interest areas. 
 
National Science Foundation (NSF) 
---------- 
¶3.  NSF Fellows would be called upon to support the Embassy's 
efforts to build partnerships between U.S. and Portuguese 
universities that could lead to joint research projects. 
Past NSF Fellows in Lisbon have conducted science roundtable 
meetings with Portuguese research institutes and high-tech 
companies, organized seminars to promote university-industry 
partnerships, and given lectures on their work to Portuguese 
audiences.  Outlined below are areas of interest for both 
Embassy Lisbon and the Portuguese government. 
 
Environment/Geosciences:  Embassy Lisbon strongly encourages 
applications from individuals specializing in renewable or 
alternative energy sources, in particular bioenergy.  Other 
areas of interest include forest fire prevention and fire 
protection, geological surveying, and geo-spatial imaging. 
 
Science and Technology in Education:  Improving the 
qualifications of the Portuguese workforce comprises one of 
the central elements of Portugal's Technology Plan, the 
government's initiative to increase global competitiveness. 
The Fellow would work with government ministries, non-profit 
groups, and universities to develop projects to increase 
student participation in the sciences. 
 
National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) 
---------- 
¶4.  Embassy Lisbon also welcomes applications from NOAA.  The 
Government of Portugal has sought U.S. expertise in oceans 
policies and coastal management, so applicants with knowledge 
of ongoing work by the U.S. Commission on Ocean Policy and 
the President's Ocean Action Plan would be ideal.  Other 
areas of interest include marine robotics, marine biology and 
the tracking of fish stocks, coastal zone/estuary management, 
and modeling.  NOAA Fellows would visit several top-level 
Portuguese ocean science research institutes and the 
Institute of Meteorology to assess ongoing research programs 
for possible cooperative research programs with U.S. 
universities or federal agencies.  A significant portion of 
the Fellow's stay would be spent in the Azores. 
 
Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) 
---------- 
¶5.  Embassy Lisbon has had great success with recent EPA 
Fellows with climate change and marine environment expertise 
and seeks additional EPA Fellows with experience in 
environmental protection and conservation, particularly as 
they relate to renewable energies and impacts on climate 
change.  These areas continue to be high priorities for the 
Portuguese government, which has publicly pledged to 
dramatically increase investment in the renewable energy 
sector.  Areas of interest include incorporation of bioenergy 
 
LISBON 00000941  002 OF 002 
 
 
into national and regional environmental and energy plans, 
water resources management, forest management and 
conservation, and soil erosion. 
 
Department of Energy (DoE) 
---------- 
¶6.  Although Embassy Lisbon recognizes that the Department of 
Energy is not currently a participant in the Program, we are 
interested in the possibility of an exception, should we 
obtain approval of the Departments of Energy and State and be 
able to identify a willing participant from the Department of 
Energy.  Long-term sustainable collaboration involving 
renewable energy is identified in our 2010 Mission Strategic 
Plan as the number one priority.  Embassy Lisbon has reached 
out to numerous Portuguese experts in renewable energy, 
including wind, solar, wave, and microgeneration, and has 
identified significant ongoing research.  We are also 
currently negotiating a bilateral agreement on renewable 
energy cooperation to be signed during Energy Secretary 
Bodman's May 2008 visit.  An ESF from the Department of 
Energy could help launch our cooperation under this agreement. 
 
Administrative Issues 
---------- 
¶7.  Embassy Fellows are expected to obtain a secret security 
clearance before arrival in Portugal.  Also, USG employees 
working temporarily at a USG overseas location must complete 
appropriate overseas personal security training prior to 
travel.  The Embassy Science Fellows Program has strong 
Embassy support, and Embassy Lisbon will provide housing, 
office support, in-country travel arrangements, and other 
logistical support to Science Fellows.  Embassy Fellows 
should expect to participate actively as a part of the 
Embassy team during their tenure in country.  We will 
encourage all Fellows to consider travel to the Azores if 
relevant to their official agenda. 
Ballard