The Belfer Center for Science and International Affairs is proud to host a Directors' Lunch on "U.S. Science and Technology: Innovation in a Global Community" with Dr. George Atkinson, Science and Technology Adviser to the Secretary of State.
Dr. Atkinson, named by then-Secretary of State Colin Powell to be Science and Technology Adviser to the Secretary (STAS) in September 2003, has continued to serve in this position under Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice. The STAS is the principal interlocutor for science and technology with the U.S. Department of State.
Dr. Atkinson joined the Department in August 2001, as the first American Institute of Physics Senior Fellow for Science, Technology, and Diplomacy. He continues efforts to strengthen the Department of State's scientific capacity by increasing the number of scientists in the Department, introducing new anticipatory, proactive programs, and developing key domestic and international science and technology relationships.
Dr. Atkinson was Professor of Chemistry at Syracuse University until 1983, when he joined the University of Arizona as Professor of Chemistry and Optical Sciences and Head of the Chemistry Department. He remains a tenured Professor at the University of Arizona.
Dr. Atkinson has more than 160 publications in refereed scientific journals and books, and has authored 66 U.S. and foreign patents. He also founded Innovative Lasers Corporation in 1992.
