Science And Diplomacy--Cuban Scientist Sergio Pastrana

http://cen.acs.org/articles/93/i23/Science-Diplomacy.html

Almost half a year has passed since the Presidents of Cuba and the U.S. first announced that they would engage in conversations with the aim to restore full diplomatic relations. After more than 50 years of stalemate, the historic deal last December marked the beginning of a new chapter for both nations. So far, discussions involving teams of negotiators from both countries have provided a series of further announcements, including one that heralded the opening of full embassies in both countries, an event that should be expected soon. But alongside those diplomatic discussions, talks have started on a number of issues that are important for the societies of both nations. Law enforcement, migration, communications, and many other subjects have been visited. Among them, prominently, there have been talks about science and research in a number of areas that are of immediate concern to both societies.

During many years of estrangement, scientists from both countries have always found a way to talk and exchange ideas. From physicians and meteorologists, to engineers, biologists, chemists, and physicists, many have in the past found a way to exchange information on common interests, scientific trends, state-of-the-art technology and knowledge, and everything else scientists, engineers, and scholars talk about when they get together. This was first done in international venues, but beyond that, many scientific societies in both countries decided to lend a hand to colleagues and friends on the other side of the political divide. I must say that meteorologists, chemists, and physicists have been among those who have done it consistently over the years.

During my tenure as the representative of the Cuban Academy of Sciences to the International Council for Science and the InterAcademy Partnership, I have had the opportunity to meet an impressive array of excellent scientists from both countries. Over the years, they have successfully built longtime relationships and scientific connections that have provided ground for all types of cooperation, including the publication of shared research papers, articles, and books. My only regret has been that almost all those exchanges have been done under the overpowering presence of the embargo on Cuba. As such, they have been subject to scarcity of funds, limitations to travel, difficulties sharing specimens and technical equipment, and the lack of an environment conducive to sharing research activities among scientists. For many, there was always the concern that they might be doing something questionable, to say the least, when they were just behaving as scientists doing what scientists are expected to do.