Diplomacy for the 21st Century: Embedding a Culture of Science and Technology Throughout the Department of State (2015)

Chapter: Appendix M: Results of Department State's Questionnaire to ESTH Officers

Previous Chapter: Appendix L: Environment, Science, Technology, and Health Officers Posted Overseas
Suggested Citation: "Appendix M: Results of Department State's Questionnaire to ESTH Officers." National Research Council. 2015. Diplomacy for the 21st Century: Embedding a Culture of Science and Technology Throughout the Department of State. Washington, DC: The National Academies Press. doi: 10.17226/21730.

APPENDIX M

RESULTS OF DEPARTMENT STATE’S QUESTIONNAIRE TO ESTH OFFICERS

July 2014; Total responses: 96

  1. If there were consultations you wish you had done before arriving at post or in conjunction with your home leave, but did not, what were they? Check all that apply. (weighted average rating, 1-5, with 5 being the highest)
    More with OES3.46
    More with other parts of DOS3.43
    More with other USG agencies3.66
    More with non-USG entities3.28
    N = 93
      
  2. Do you feel adequately informed on ESTH issues and how your Post can advance them? Please check the box that applies (percent of respondents)
    Not informed4.55%
    Slightly informed28.41%
    Adequately informed31.82%
    Well informed17.05%
    It depends on the issue18.18%
    N = 88
      
  3. What is the most useful method of receiving information from the State Department and other agencies in Washington on ESTH matters? Rate 1-5, with 5 being the most useful and 1 being the least useful. (weighted average rating)
    Newsletter2.83
    E-mail4.14
    Cable3.61
    Telephone call3.13
    Intranet website2.49
    N = 88
      
Suggested Citation: "Appendix M: Results of Department State's Questionnaire to ESTH Officers." National Research Council. 2015. Diplomacy for the 21st Century: Embedding a Culture of Science and Technology Throughout the Department of State. Washington, DC: The National Academies Press. doi: 10.17226/21730.
  1. How do you communicate with the State Department (OES, Regional Bureau, etc.) and other agencies in Washington on ESTH matters? Rate 1-5, with 5 being the most useful and 1 being the least useful. (weighted average rating)
    E-mail4.51
    Cable3.41
    Telephone call3.29
    Intranet website1.92
    N = 88
      
  2. How do you communicate with the Regional ESTH Office on ESTH matters? Please number in order of frequency with 1 being the most frequently used method of communication. (1—5, weighted average)
    E-mail2.96
    Cable2.62
    Telephone call2.82
    Intranet website2.64
    N = 81
      
  3. Does your mission and section (or if you are a single officer, do you) have a written strategic plan for advancing priority ESTH issues in your country of assignment? (percent of respondents)
    Yes19.74%
    No80.26%
    N = 76
      
  4. What ESTH issues are in your embassy’s Integrated Country Strategy? (percent of respondents)
    None10.39%
    I don’t know15.58%
    Please list*74.03%
    N = 77
      

    *Examples included Presidential initiatives such as PEPFAR and climate change, energy, health, water, S&T cooperation, environment, and wildlife trafficking.

  5. Are there important ESTH issues not being addressed at your post that should be? (percent of respondents)
    No67.53%
    Yes32.47%
    N = 77
      
Suggested Citation: "Appendix M: Results of Department State's Questionnaire to ESTH Officers." National Research Council. 2015. Diplomacy for the 21st Century: Embedding a Culture of Science and Technology Throughout the Department of State. Washington, DC: The National Academies Press. doi: 10.17226/21730.
  1. If yes, what are the ESTH issues not being addressed?
    N = 28
      

    Examples included: e-waste; energy efficiency, sustainable energy projects, and water; climate change

  2. If yes, why are these issues not being addressed? (1-5, weighted average rating)
    No capacity—skills2.78
    No capacity—not enough time/people4.26
    No support from Washington or Embassy Front Office3.13
    No interest from host country3.16
    N = 34
      
  3. Do you routinely collaborate with other embassy sections or USG agencies at post on ESTH activities? (percent of respondents)
    Yes85.9%
    No14.1%
    N = 78
      
  4. If yes, check the agency with which you collaborate most often. (percent of respondents)
    USAID54.72%
    Foreign Agricultural Service30.19%
    CDC1.89%
    DOD13.21%
    N = 53
      
  5. If no, please tell us why you don’t collaborate with other sections or agencies at post.
    N = 13
      

    Examples: small post; few or no other agencies here; ESTH not as high a priority for the other sections/agencies

  6. How do you engage on ESTH issues at post? (% of respondents)
    Delivering demarches17.33%
    Public outreach20.00%
    Reporting30.67%
    Programs12.00%
    Policy engagement/public diplomacy20.00%
    N = 75
      
Suggested Citation: "Appendix M: Results of Department State's Questionnaire to ESTH Officers." National Research Council. 2015. Diplomacy for the 21st Century: Embedding a Culture of Science and Technology Throughout the Department of State. Washington, DC: The National Academies Press. doi: 10.17226/21730.
  1. Do you think training would help you be a more effective ESTH officer? (percent of respondents)
    Yes85.71%
    No14.29%
    N = 77
      
  2. If yes, what training would be helpful? (percent of respondents)
    N = 56
      

    Examples: Anything; technical training on climate change; issue-specific, ESTH-specific writing

  3. Please rate the support you receive from OES, with 5 being excellent and 1 being virtually nonexistent. (percent of respondents)
    5 Excellent6.49%
    4 Good38.96%
    3 Fair33.77%
    2 Poor12.99%
    1 Virtually nonexistent7.79%
    N = 77
      
  4. Please rate the support you receive from the Regional Bureau on ESTH matters, with 5 being excellent and 1 being virtually nonexistent. (percent of respondents)
    5 Excellent11.84%
    4 Good30.26%
    3 Fair32.89%
    2 Poor18.42%
    1 Virtually nonexistent6.58%
    N = 76
      

SOURCE: Bureau of Oceans and International Environmental and Scientific Affairs, U.S. Department of State, 2014.

Suggested Citation: "Appendix M: Results of Department State's Questionnaire to ESTH Officers." National Research Council. 2015. Diplomacy for the 21st Century: Embedding a Culture of Science and Technology Throughout the Department of State. Washington, DC: The National Academies Press. doi: 10.17226/21730.
Page 171
Suggested Citation: "Appendix M: Results of Department State's Questionnaire to ESTH Officers." National Research Council. 2015. Diplomacy for the 21st Century: Embedding a Culture of Science and Technology Throughout the Department of State. Washington, DC: The National Academies Press. doi: 10.17226/21730.
Page 172
Suggested Citation: "Appendix M: Results of Department State's Questionnaire to ESTH Officers." National Research Council. 2015. Diplomacy for the 21st Century: Embedding a Culture of Science and Technology Throughout the Department of State. Washington, DC: The National Academies Press. doi: 10.17226/21730.
Page 173
Suggested Citation: "Appendix M: Results of Department State's Questionnaire to ESTH Officers." National Research Council. 2015. Diplomacy for the 21st Century: Embedding a Culture of Science and Technology Throughout the Department of State. Washington, DC: The National Academies Press. doi: 10.17226/21730.
Page 174
Next Chapter: Appendix N: Science and Technology Agreements Currently In Force
Subscribe to Emails from the National Academies
Stay up to date on activities, publications, and events by subscribing to email updates.