A network is being created to provide support and promote links between Irish scientists working in the U.S. and those in Ireland, according to the Irish Times.
 
The Wild Geese Network of Irish Scientists in North America, which was formed after talks between US-based Irish scientists and Embassy official Cathy O’Connor, will provide information and support for Irish scientists working or studying in the US.
 
“We want to emphasize the significance of Irish scientists abroad, emphasize their successes and build collaborations between Irish and American-based scientists,” said the Network’s president, Prof Nicholas Farrell.
 
The venture was announced last week in Washington DC at the annual meeting of  the American Association for the Advancement of Science. The reception was organized by the Irish Embassy and was attended by the Government’s chief science adviser, by the head of the Marine Institute and by representatives of other government agencies.
 
The organization hopes to build its membership and be working on scientific collaborations by the time Dublin becomes the European City of Science and host of the EuroScience Open Forum science meeting in 2012.
 
Farrell, who is also a professor of chemistry at Virginia Commonwealth says that the network will “connect the human resource that is the Irish scientific diaspora in North America.”
 
The network is now open and is actively seeking new members. A website is in the works, but in the meantime the Wild Geese Network can be reached at wildgeesenetwork@gmail.com.