University, Henry Luce Foundation announce support for U.S.-DPRK Scientific Engagement Consortium activities

On behalf of the U.S.-DPRK Scientific Engagement Consortium, CRDF Global and Syracuse University have announced a three-year grant of $350,000 from the Henry Luce Foundation in support of an interrelated program of initiatives to promote and advance scientific cooperation and academic exchanges between the United States and the Democratic People’s Republic of Korea (DPRK).

“The Luce Grant will give the consortium the opportunity to build on the first four-year phase of its work and take the consortium to the next level in getting actual science engagements under way between the United States and the Democratic People’s Republic of Korea,” says Cathy Campbell, president and CEO of CRDF Global. “We are incredibly grateful to the Luce Foundation for its insight and willingness to fund one of the few long term engagement initiatives between the U.S. and the DPRK.”

“Academic exchanges are an important means for advancing scientific and technical knowledge and building dialogue and mutual understanding between the United States and the Democratic People’s Republic of Korea” says Stuart Thorson, Donald P. and Margaret Curry Gregg Professor at the Maxwell School of Syracuse University. Thorson has been working to build academic ties with the DPRK for the past 10 years.

Founded in August 2007, the consortium is currently comprised of four organizations: the American Association for the Advancement of Science, CRDF Global, SU and The Pacific Century Institute. Collectively, the consortium members have decades of extensive experience in successfully establishing and advancing international scientific collaborations.