WASHINGTON D.C. - Global Pulse 2010, a three-day virtual event aimed at bringing together thousands of people from around the globe to discuss the world's most pressing challenges and envision solutions, will launch March 29, 2010. Created to enable listening, learning and sharing of ideas, this initiative marks the commitment of the U.S. to meeting the challenges of the 21st century by working towards universal goals in partnership with a wide variety of stakeholders.

"We want to hear from individuals who are not normally seated at the table with key decision makers," said Dr. Rajiv Shah, Administrator of the U.S. Agency for International Development. "To meet our collective challenges, we must take advantage of new technologies that allow us to engage in dialogue with individuals and communities from around the globe."

The themes for Global Pulse 2010 are 10 pressing global challenges within the fields of science and technology, economic opportunity, and human development. This global event will feature international leaders from government, private industry, and civil society organizations, along with influential individuals who will log on to guide the live conversations, encourage participation, provoke deeper thinking, and offer insight into the topics at hand.

Global Pulse 2010 is sponsored by the U.S. Agency for International Development, in partnership with the Departments of State, Education, Commerce, and Health and Human Services. The Global Pulse 2010 platform will support thousands of participants and guide them to the conversations in which they are most interested.

The U.S. Government hopes motivated individuals will join this global conversation, and online ideas are turned into real world action.

For more information about Global Pulse 2010 visit www.GlobalPulse2010.gov; for more information about USAID, visit www.usaid.gov.