Signing of a Memorandum of Understanding between the Prince Albert II of Monaco Foundation and the Smithsonian Institution
Monaco
On the occasion of a trip of H.S.H. the Sovereign Prince to the United States for the opening ceremony of the “Antarctica Treaty Summit,” held at the Smithsonian’s National Museum of Natural History, on November 30th, the Prince Albert II of Monaco Foundation and the Smithsonian Institution have signed a Memorandum of Understanding.
The Smithsonian Institution and the Prince Albert II of Monaco Foundation, in recognition of their shared objectives and interests in science, environmental protection and sustainable development, have agreed to share knowledge and mutual expertise, in an effort to provide enhanced support for efforts in these areas. By signing a Memorandum of Understanding, these two entities will identify common fields of action.
Joint activities will be pursued in the fields of biodiversity conservation, climate change, renewable energies, water management and sustainable development, in the Prince Albert II of Monaco Foundation’s priority zones as defined in preamble of the MOU. Efforts will be launched in the development of exhibits, programs and public outreach concerning natural history themes.
Collaborative support will be provided to Smithsonian-based, international projects, including the Encyclopedia of Life, established to make comprehensive, authenticated information about the world’s biodiversity freely available over the internet; and The Consortium for the Barcode of Life, an initiative devoted to developing DNA barcoding as a global standard for the identification of biological species.
Representing the Prince Albert II of Monaco Foundation at the signing were H.S.H. the Sovereign Prince Albert of Monaco, H.E. Mr. Bernard Fautrier, Vice-President Chief, Executive Officer, and John B. Kelly, President of the US branch of the Foundation. The Smithsonian was represented by Elizabeth Duggal, Associate Director, National Museum of Natural History. Dr. Cristian Samper, Director, National Museum of Natural History, is the lead signatory of the Memorandum of Understanding, on behalf of the Smithsonian.
About the Smithsonian Institution
The Smithsonian’s mission is the increase and diffusion of knowledge. The National Museum of Natural History is dedicated to inspiring curiosity, discovery, and learning about the natural world through research, collections, exhibitions and educational outreach programs. The Smithsonian, through the National Museum of Natural History, is engaged in research and education about biodiversity, conservation, climate change including renewable energies, and cultural diversity.