Boston, MA - On February 16, Dr. Alex Dehgan, Science and Technology Adviser to USAID Administrator Rajiv Shah and Director of the USAID Office of Science and Technology, will participate in a panel discussion, Bridging the Gap Between Global Environmental Change Research and Development, at the annual meeting of the American Association for the Advancement of Science in Boston. 

This panel discussion will focus on how new science-based initiatives and international collaborations are bringing researchers and development practitioners together to ensure that science plays a key role in development decision making. Robert Watson, Chief Scientific Adviser of the Department of Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, Government of the United Kingdom, will also serve on the panel as well as Bonizella Biagini, Head of Climate Change Adaptation Strategy and Operations, Global Environment Facility, Washington, D.C.

Dr. Dehgan will address Catalyzing Global Action to Address Environmental and Development Challenges, and explain how USAID is creating new incentives to encourage collaboration among scientists, development professionals, and the private sector, to improve development outcomes in countries around the globe.  Through USAID’s new Grand Challenges for Development program and other non-traditional competitions, prizes, and open innovation platforms, USAID is challenging the world to find solutions to some of the greatest development problems.