| The AST Forum
grew out of an effort by the Air Force Research Laboratory to educate
the American defense science community about Japanese scientific and
management methods and skills. The first Forum (called the Pentagon
Study Group on Japan) programs were in cooperation with the U.S.-Japan
Center, University City Science Center (UCSC), Philadelphia and the
Japan-US Friendship Commission. The U.S. Japan Center was one of 12
U.S. Air Force-funded research centers to study Japanese science and
technology management and the Friendship Commission is a U.S. government
agency promoting the study of contemporary Japan.
The AST Forum
now includes discussions of regional Asian technology and security
issues. The program is designed for military officials and selected
members of the U.S. defense policymaking community on critical science,
technology, and security issues and trends in Asia. The fora aim
to enhance cooperation among international defense science communities.
Forum participation is limited to American citizens who are neither
lobbyists nor journalists and by invitation only. All programs were
accompanied by papers and resource guides.
The AST Fora
are currently funded by a contract from the U.S. Air Force Office
of Scientific Research, Air Force Research Laboratory (AFRL), International
Office (http://afosr-io.afosr.af.mil/).
The AFRL International Office provides strategic advice, technical
expertise, information, and liaison services in support of the development
and maintenance of AFRL's international programs and activities.
The AST Fora are designed and coordinated by the Japan Information
Access Project (JIAP), an American nonprofit research center examining
cutting-edge issues affecting U.S. policy toward Japan and Northeast
Asia (http://www.jiaponline.org).
JIAP is a subcontractor to DynCorp NSP the current contracting organization
for this project. More information about the AST Forum can be found
at: http://afosr-io.afosr.af.mil/content/int_seminars.asp.
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