NNSA Launches Program to Employ Iraqi Scientists

The U.S. National Nuclear Security Administration announced the launch of a new program Wednesday to provide employment for Iraqi scientists, technicians and engineers to prevent them from possibly transferring any WMD-related knowledge they may possess to other countries of concern or terrorist groups (see GSN, Dec. 19, 2003).

The agency is conducting the program in cooperation with the Arab Science and Technology Foundation (ASTF) and the Cooperative Monitoring Center at the U.S. Sandia National Laboratories. Under the first phase of the effort, foundation scientists would conduct a survey of Iraq’s science and technology infrastructure. A workshop would then be held in the region to discuss areas for technical cooperation with Iraqi scientists, and funding would be sought from donor countries and international organizations to begin work on several of the highest-priority projects.

“This program addresses the critical need to provide significant and meaningful employment opportunities for all scientists in Iraq,” NNSA Administrator Linton Brooks said in a statement. “Moreover, it is helping them rebuild Iraqi science and technology infrastructure and reintegrate Iraq into the international science community,” he said (NNSA release, Feb. 25).

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