The U.S. Department of State’s Bureau of Educational and Cultural Affairs has selected 20 outstanding scholars to engage in collaborative thinking, analysis, problem-solving and multi-disciplinary research on improving the quality of life through environmental changes in the Western Hemisphere in one of three inter-related topics: Science, Technology and Innovation; Entrepreneurship; and Sustainable Energy. Approximately one-third of grantees will be selected from the United States and two thirds will originate from Western Hemisphere countries. Program activities started in November 2012 and will conclude in September 2013. Participants will engage in this program through international exchanges, seminars, and collaborative research.

Launched in 2010, the Fulbright Regional Network for Applied Research (NEXUS) Program is supported by the Government of the United States and partner countries around the world. It supports foreign policy initiatives that fight poverty and encourage innovation in market-driven and socially responsible ways. Program participants explore public-policy research questions and involve governments, NGOs, businesses, and communities in the implementation of their projects. The Fulbright NEXUS Program offers a collaborative model for regional scholarly exchange that moves beyond theory into practice.