Office of Science & Technology - Kick-Off of the George C. Marshall Austrian-US Visitors Program

Kick-Off of the George C. Marshall Austrian-US Visitors Program

First US Environmental Technology Experts’ Visit to Austria
bridges vol. 16, December 2007 / Feature Article

The delegation poses in their hardhats at the Spittelau Waste Incineration Plant in Wien.

From October 7^th to 14^th of this year, the George C. Marshall Austrian-US Visitors Program was held for the first time in Austria. The establishment of such a program was originally announced during a meeting between then-Austrian Federal Chancellor Wolfgang Schüssel and US President George W. Bush at the Vienna EU-US Summit in June 2006.

Each year from now on, a delegation from the US Senate, the House of Representatives, and various federal and state-level agencies and universities will be invited to visit Austria. They will participate in a weeklong series of presentations, briefings, and meetings that highlight Austrian innovations in industry and technology, while improving mutual understanding through communications on both a personal and a professional level.

The Marshall Visit 2007 focused on "Environmental Technology," an area in which Austria is among the leaders worldwide and

Marshall delegation at Lobau_JuB_small.jpg

The delegation at the Biodiesel Refinery at Lobau Harbor.

is able to provide best practice models, expertise, and innovative know-how. The comprehensive weeklong visitors' program was prepared and coordinated by the Ministry for European and International Affairs in cooperation with the responsible federal ministries, the Austrian Parliament, the City of Vienna, the regional government of Lower Austria, and the Austrian Economic Chamber. The heavy schedule included not only numerous meetings with experts on sustainability and environmental technologies, but also visits to facilities such as Biodiesel Vienna in Lobau, to Europe's largest passive house office building in St. Pölten, Lower Austria, and to the waste incinerator of the Fernwärme Wien in Spittelau.

Apart from offering Austrian and American experts and entrepreneurs a unique personal platform for exchanging information and best practice models in the area of environmental technologies, the visit also helped to build useful contacts and develop networks within the professional community. Currently, two concrete projects are being pursued: a "Memorandum of Understanding" regarding Environmental Technologies between Austria and the government of California, and a potential participation of the City of Vienna in a conference on the topic of restoration of river beds planned for spring 2008 in Washington, DC.

The following Q&A is based on an interview in which Austrian Information spoke with Dale Medearis, senior environmental planner with the Northern Virginia Regional Commission and a participant in this year's visit.

Access to the full article is free, but requires you to register. Registration is simple and quick – all we need is your name and a valid e-mail address. We appreciate your interest in bridges.

bridges Volume 24 - now online!
Click here to see the newest issue of bridges, the OST's Online Magazine on Science & Technology Policy.

Live Stream of Bologna Ministerial Anniversary Conference on March 11-12, 2010 in Budapest and Vienna

The Austrian Federal Minister of Science and Research Dr. Beatrix Karl and the Hungarian Minister of Education and Culture Dr. István Hiller invite their colleagues from the other 44 countries participating in the Bologna Process to an extraordinary Ministerial Anniversary Conference on March 11 and 12. For details on the conference, and to join the live stream during the conference, please visit the Web site of the Austrian Federal Ministry of Science and Research.

Eurodoc Annual Conference: March 11-15, 2010

The international Annual Conference of Eurodoc, the European Council of doctoral candidates and young researchers, will be held in Vienna, Austria, March 11-15, 2010. The aim of the Conference is to provide a framework for young European researchers to meet with stakeholders from different fields to discuss the construction of the European Research and Higher Education Areas (ERA and EHEA). The framework topic of this year’s Conference is “Stocktaking and prospects: Doctoral Training and Research – The Link between EHEA and ERA”. Further information, full program, and registration, is available at Eurodoc's Web site.

Kick-off for 2010: Guest Scientist program: Translational Brainpower

Apply by March 25, 2010 for the translational brainpower grants. As part of the translational research program funded by the Austrian Federal Ministry for Transport, Innovation and Technology, the program aims to integrate international scientists from all disciplines into basic research and applied research projects in Austria. Further details on target groups, procedures and funding are available in German at the FWF's Web site.

EURAXESS – Researchers in Motion

“EURAXESS – Researchers in Motion” is a joint initiative of the European Commission and the countries participating in the European Union's Framework Program for Research. It offers four main help and information sections for researchers seeking to advance their careers and personal development by moving to other countries. EURAXESS Austria provides access to current and comprehensive information on all questions essential to the mobility of researchers and their families. For further information, go to the EURAXESS-Web site.

Save the Date: Austrian Science Talk (AST) 2010 in Vancouver, Sept. 18
This year’s AST will take place on September 18, 2010 in Vancouver. Details on exact location and topics tba. The AST brings together Austrian scientists and scholars in North America with a delegation of Austrian experts in science, research, and technology Policy to discuss policy developments and new opportunities. The event provides an excellent opportunity for networking with fellow scientists. Further information on previous years’ events is available at brainpower austria’s Web site.

OST Scientist Network Event San Diego, February 20
On the occasion of this year’s annual AAAS Conference in San Diego, the OST and ASciNA were organizing a reception for Austrian scientists. After a workshop organized by the European Commission on European scientists in the US, where Peter Nagele was speaking, a networking dinner took place. Information on European Workshops held during the AAAS Conference is available via Euraxess Links Web site.

ASciNA Awards Ceremony at the Embassy of Austria, Washington, DC
The ASciNA Awards 2009 were granted to Gerlinde Wernig (Young Scientist Award), Peter Winzer and Martin Hetzer (Junior PI Award) on November 12, 2009 by the Austrian Ambassador Christian Prosl in the Austrian Embassy in Washington, DC. Prof. Gary Cohen, Director of the Center for Austrian Studies at the University of Minnesota, was awarded the Austrian Cross of Honor for Science and Art 1st Class. Please follow the link for the agenda.