WASHINGTON (December 6, 2022) — World Resources Institute (WRI) Distinguished Senior Fellow Frances Seymour has been named one of seven new Science Envoys for the U.S. Department of State’s Science Envoy Program in 2023.

An initiative of the U.S. Department of State’s Office of Science and Technology Cooperation, the U.S. Science Envoy program chooses eminent scientists and engineers as citizen ambassadors and empowers them to advance scientific collaboration with priority countries and to collaborate on solving shared challenges. Seymour is recognized as one of the world’s foremost authorities on the role of tropical forests in addressing climate change and sustainable development.

“Frances Seymour has been a prolific leader in forest conservation throughout her career. The U.S. Science Envoy Program will benefit significantly from her leadership, influence and deep expertise,” said Ani Dasgupta, President & CEO, World Resources Institute. “WRI is proud that Frances will be at the forefront of efforts to advance collaboration among scientists across the United States and in partnership with other countries to solve the toughest challenges facing our world today. Her sharp mind and legacy of engaging local communities will be a tremendous asset to the United States as it seeks to address the threats facing forests and the people who depend on them around the world.”

Through the Science Envoy Program, eminent U.S. scientists and engineers leverage their expertise and networks to forge connections and identify opportunities for sustained international cooperation, championing innovation and demonstrating America’s scientific leadership and technical ingenuity.

Like their 23 predecessors, these esteemed scientists are approved by the Secretary of State and will engage internationally at the citizen and government levels to enhance relationships between other nations and the United States, develop partnerships, and improve collaboration. Science Envoys travel as private citizens and help inform the Department of State, other U.S. government agencies, and the scientific community about opportunities for science and technology cooperation.

“I am honored to serve as a U.S. Science Envoy in the distinguished company of this group and to have the opportunity to raise awareness of the importance of forests to both climate and development objectives,” said Seymour. “In light of the immense threats facing the world’s forests, it’s more important than ever that we collaborate across national boundaries to find common solutions to integrate the many benefits of forests into climate action strategies.”

Seymour has been an influential leader in the forestry space during her time at WRI as well as in her prior roles at the Center for Global Development, World Wildlife Fund, and as the Director General of the Center for International Forestry Research (CIFOR) in Indonesia. She is most recently the lead author of the WRI report, Not Just Carbon: Capturing All the Benefits of Forests for Stabilizing the Climate from Local to Global Scales and the book Why Forests? Why Now? The Science, Economics, and Politics of Tropical Forests and Climate Change.

About World Resources Institute   
World Resources Institute (WRI) is a global research organization that spans more than 60 countries, with international offices in Brazil, China, India, Indonesia, Mexico and the United States, regional offices in Ethiopia (for Africa) and the Netherlands (for Europe), and program offices in the Democratic Republic of Congo, Turkey and the United Kingdom. Our more than 1,700 experts and staff turn big ideas into action at the nexus of environment, economic opportunity and human well-being. More information at www.wri.org or on Twitter @WorldResources.