PH Ambassador to Vienna Imparts Call to Action for Science Diplomacy

Ambassador to Austria Maria Cleofe R. Natividad answers queries during her talk on Science Diplomacy. Joining her was Attorney Azela Arupac Marte, Director at DFA-Office of Treaties and Legal Affairs and former Alternate to the Permanent Representative to the IAEA. (Vienna PE photo)

MANILA 30 April 2019 – Ambassador to Austria Maria Cleofe R. Natividad spoke about science diplomacy as a tool to support the Philippines’ development goals, and highlighted the importance of mainstreaming this approach within the broader Philippine foreign policy strategy at a lecture held on 25 March 2019 at the Department of Foreign Affairs (DFA) in Pasay City.

Entitled “Orientation on Science Diplomacy for DFA Personnel,” the lecture was organized by the DFA’s Foreign Service Institute (DFA-FSI).  The event was attended by Foreign Service Officers in leadership positions and other DFA personnel.

She shared the bilateral and multilateral efforts she has initiated in Vienna in order to maximize the benefits of science and technology-based solutions towards addressing Philippine development needs. “Why Vienna? Because it is the city where science and diplomacy literally converge. Vienna is home to the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA), the UN Office for Outer Space Affairs (UNOOSA), and the UN Industrial Development Organization (UNIDO). It is the perfect crossroads from which we can interface and coordinate our science diplomacy initiatives,” she said.

Ambassador NAtividad also encouraged the participants to continue the conversation on the value science diplomacy in their respective offices. END

Ambassador Natividad shows the participants an audio-visual presentation of the Philippine Embassy in Vienna’s mission and vision on Science Diplomacy. (Vienna PE photo)

For more information, visit www.viennape.dfa.gov.ph, www.philippine-embassy.at or https://www.facebook.com/PHLinAustria/ or https://twitter.com/PHLinAustria