From Lab to Market Seminars

From Lab to Market are a series of annual Fulbright enrichment seminars hosted by the U.S. Department of State’s Bureau of Educational and Cultural Affairs (ECA) for students in science and technology fields from developing countries as part of its flagship Fulbright program. In 2010, these four-day events were held in Cambridge, MA and in Austin, TX, and, in 2011, the seminars took place in Cambridge and Seattle, WA. In 2012, the seminars will again be held in Cambridge and Seattle. Each seminar introduces participants to scientific innovators and experts in the applied sciences, public-private research consortia, centers of innovation, start-up companies, and research and development laboratories.

The seminars provide a forum for participants to exchange ideas and resources with a focus on how technological advances across scientific disciplines can support achievements in fields of public health and nutrition; and environmental sciences and clean energy. In 2012, the Cambridge seminar will focus on public health and nutrition and the Seattle seminar will focus on the environment and clean energy. Each event includes discussions with experts, visits to industry-leading companies and research institutions and the opportunity to develop ideas with fellow Fulbrighters in a group workshop. Participants build upon their knowledge and establish a network of peers to address the challenges facing the developing world.

The seminars’ overall goal is to encourage participants to consider best ways in which science and technology can help address social challenges around the world. The seminars offer examples of leaving the academic lab to leverage scientific knowledge and skills for the benefit of local and global communities. Whether this takes shape of a business, a social enterprise or anon-profit is a matter of students’ analysis of the social problem.

Over the past two years, some of the organizations that met with Fulbrighters included Partners in Health, the Clinton Health Access Initiative, the city of Austin’s Pecan Street Project, and Gardens for Health International. Students visited the Cat Cove Marine Laboratory in Salem, MA, the BioGen Idec Innovation Incubator, the ReVision Urban Farm, the Sand Hill Energy Center in Del Valle, TX and Imagine Solar in Austin, TX.

And each seminar also introduces the participants to the history and culture of the host city – in Cambridge, students sampled traditional New England cuisine, took a walking tour of the Freedom Trail and visited the Old State House. In Seattle, students took a ferry across the Puget Sound to visit the Coast Salish Native American tribe on Blake Island, toured the Seattle Art Museum and visited the Space Needle.