USRA, GWU Space Policy Institute to Host U.S. Export Controls and Space Science Symposium

The Universities Space Research Association (USRA) and The George Washington University's Space Policy Institute will host a symposium, entitled "U.S. Export Controls and Space Science," on Thursday, March 31, from 1 p.m. to 5 p.m. The symposium will be held at the Grand Hyatt Hotel Conference Theater, located at 1000 H Street, NW, Washington, D.C., and will be followed by a reception hosted by the USRA Council of Institutions.

The 2011 symposium will focus specifically on the International Traffic in Arms Regulations (ITAR) and its effect on collaborative space research. At 1 p.m. , the symposium will commence with a welcome speech by Scott Pace, the Director of the Space Policy Institute. The Keynote Address, which will be delivered at 1:30 p.m. , will be given by Brian Nilsson from the National Security Council. Presentations on Export Controls and Science will begin at 2 p.m. and will include contributions by Tobin Smith, of the Association of American Universities; Daniel Baker, of the University of Colorado, Boulder; Steve Eisner, of Stanford University; and Adilia Koch, of the California Institute of Technology. At 3:30 p.m. , the conference will shift to cover Export Controls and Government Agencies. This segment will include remarks by Paula Geisz, of NASA International and Interagency Relations; Charles Shotwell, of the Department of State, PM; and David Turner, of the Department of State, OES/SAT. From 4:30 p.m. until the symposium closes, Ed Rice, of the House Foreign Affairs Committee, and Lauren Airey, of the Office of Rep. Don Mazullo (R-ILL), will speak on Export Controls and Congress. The symposium will be immediately followed by the reception.

While there is no fee for attending, registration is required due to limited seating space. Those interested in attending are encouraged to register early, as this is a "widely-attended gathering" for U.S. government employees. To register, please visit: http://www.gwu.edu/~spi/exportcontrolrsvp.cfm or call (202) 994-7292.

Founded in 1969, USRA is an independent research corporation with competencies that span space, Earth, and life sciences related disciplines, which are closely aligned with the nation's science and national security agencies. As a non-profit corporation with 105 major research university members, USRA's scientific and technical staff collaborate with over 300 universities annually. This depth of reach into the research community provides a unique platform for advancing science and technology.

The Space Policy Institute focuses its activities on policy issues related to the space efforts of the United States and cooperative and competitive interactions in space between the United States and other countries. The Institute provides a setting in which scholars, policy analysts, practitioners, and students can work together to examine and evaluate options for the future in space.