Dr. Heather Walden recently participated in the Department of State’s Speaker Program and met with individuals at the US Mission to the UN Agencies in Rome and Vienna and FAO and IAEA.
Dr. Walden gave 3 seminars and led an international panel discussion regarding global collaborations around New World Screwworm. She also toured the IAEA insect labs where they use sterile insect technique to manipulate Tsetse, mosquitoes, and Mediterranean fruit flies.
Attendees for all events included ambassadors, diplomats, scientists and researchers from Europe, Central and South America including Ambassador Lynda Blanchard, US Ambassador, US Permanent Representative to the UN Agencies in Rome and Douglas Hoelscher, Minister Counselor for Agriculture, USDA, US Mission to the UN Agencies in Rome.
The meetings in Rome provided a much-needed catalyst for sparking conversations, next steps, and renewed collaboration within the UN and with Central American governments around combatting the New World Screwworm.
The Vienna meetings and presentations helped convene, raise awareness among, and educate a wide range of key stakeholders, including: 40 IAEA lab technicians and scientists, 35 IAEA Technical Cooperation staff and Central American Member State representatives, 20 expert representatives from international organizations across Latin America, and approximately 15 US Mission staff.
The hope is to build on the momentum of this program as they continue coordinating with the IAEA and FAO on US priorities related to the screwworm and efforts to keep the United States safer.
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