Engineers confer on cooperation in technology, space programs (07/11/99)

Joint Conferences of Ukrainian American Organizations

Engineers confer on cooperation in technology, space programs

by Metodij Boretsky
Special to The Ukrainian Weekly

ARLINGTON, Va. - During the Joint Conferences of Ukrainian American Organizations held here, the Ukrainian Engineers Society of America held a conference titled "U.S.-Ukraine Science and Technology Cooperation: Status and Opportunities."

The program of the conference on June 25 included opening remarks by Dr. Lev Dobrjanskyj, president of the Ukrainian Engineers Society of America, and a keynote address by Anton D. Buteiko, ambassador of Ukraine to the United States.

During the morning session, devoted to "Space Science and Technology," discussion included such topics as current status, developments and future opportunities in space science research, space technology and commercial space programs. Presentations were made by representatives from NASA, the aerospace industry, and Ukraine's diplomatic and space community. Dr. Vitalij Garber, chairman of Garber International Associates, spoke about changes in information technology from aerospace to defense and the revolution in international relations.

Prof. Roald Sagdeev, director of the East-West Space Science Center and professor of physics at the University of Maryland, spoke about SilkSAT, a space communications mission opportunity; while Academician Yaroslav Yatskiv, director of the Main Astronomical Observatory of the National Academy of Sciences of Ukraine, spoke about space science research programs, collaboration and opportunities in Ukraine.

Dr. Michael Yarymovych, president of the International Academy of Astronautics, was the moderator of the morning session.

During the afternoon session presentations on the topic "Research Technology and Infrastructure" included discussion of U.S.-Ukraine cooperation in basic and applied research and development of infrastructure related to energy, environment and communications. Dr. Marta Cehelsky of the National Science Foundation in Washington spoke about research cooperation. Dr. George Gamota, president of Science and Technology Management Associates and associate director of the International Technology Research Institute of Loyola College in Baltimore, spoke about research and development and incubator programs in Ukraine.

Dr. Walter Stottman, sector leader for water and sanitation at the Europe and Central Asia Region of the World Bank spoke about World Bank programs in Ukraine. Dr. Victor Los, deputy director of the institute for magnetism at the National Academy of Sciences Ukraine and professor at the Taras Shevchenko Kyiv State University, spoke about environmental and resource management programs between Ukraine and the Environmental Research Institute of Michigan.

Dr. Yaroslav Voitko, Ukraine's trade representative to the United States moderated the panel.

A joint panel with The Washington Group was held the next day on the topic "Ukraine's Role in International Space Programs: The International Space Station, Research, and Human Space Flight Programs" (see article on page 11).

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