U.S. State Department

BUREAU OF OCEANS AND INTERNATIONAL

ENVIRONMENTAL AND SCIENTIFIC AFFAIRS (OES)

List of Acronyms


ACRONYM           DEFINITION


-A-


AAAS              American Association for the Advancement of Science
ABACE             Argentina-Brazil Bilateral Nuclear Safeguards Agency
ABI               Association of Biodiversity Informatics
ABRC              Advisory Board for the Research Councils (UK)
ACA               Agency for Cultural Affairs (Japan, part of the           Ministry of Education)
ACBE              Advisory Committee on Business and the Environment        (UK)
ACC               Administrative Committee on Coordination (UN)
ACDA              Arms Control and Disarmament Agency
ACMRR             Advisory Committee on Marine Resources Research
ACOST             Advisory Council on Science and Technology (UK)
ACRV              Assured Crew Rescue System
ACTS              African Center for Technology Studies
ADB               African Development Bank
ADB               Asian Development Bank
ADEOS             Advanced Earth Observation Satellite (Japan)
ADEPT             Assisting in Deployment of Energy Practices and           Technologies Program (DOE)
AEA               Atomic Energy Authority
AEC               Atomic Energy Commission (India)
AEC               Atomic Energy Council (South Africa, Taiwan)
AECB              Atomic Energy Control Board (Canada)
AECL              Atomic Energy of Canada Ltd.
AEDD              Arctic Environmental Data Director
AEE               Atomic Energy Establishment
AEES              Arctic Environment Protection Strategy (cooperative       program between U.S., Canada, Denmark, Finland,            Iceland, Norway, Sweden, and Russia - 1991)
AEPS              Arctic Environmental Protection Strategy (8 nation        members, including Canada and the US)
AFRIMS            The Armed Forces Research Institute of Medical            Sciences (HHS & DOD)
AGARD             Advisory Group on Aerospace Research and Development     (DOD)
AGASP             Arctic Gas and Aerosol Sampling Program
AGBM              Ad-Hoc Group on the Berlin Mandate (climate change)
AID/OFDA          Office of Foreign Disaster Assistance (USAID)
AIDS              Acquired Immunodeficiency Syndrome
AIHA              American International Health Alliance
AIJ               Actions Implemented Jointly
AIST              Agency of Industrial Science and Technology of the        Ministry of International Trade and Industry (Japan)
AIT               American Institute in Taiwan
ALERT             Arctic Long-Term Environmental Research Transects                       Program (EPA)
ALS               Alternate Launch Site
AMAP              Arctic Monitoring and Assessment Program
AMMTAP            Alaska Marine Mammal Tissue Archive Project
ANCSA             Alaska Native Claims Settlement Act of 1971
ANL               Argonne National Laboratory
ANPA              Agenzia Nazionale per la Protezione dell'Ambiente                       (Italy)
ANRE              Agency of Natural Resources and Energy (Japan - part     of MITI)
ANWR              Arctic National Wildlife Refuge
APEC              Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation (Forum)
APELL             Awareness and Preparedness for Emergencies at Local       Level
APFIC             Asia-Pacific Fishery Commission
APGERN            Asian-Pacific Global Environmental Research Network
APHIS             Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service (USDA)
APIC              Assembly of Pacific Island Communities
AQC               Air Quality Commission (U.S. & Canada)
ARC               Arctic Research Commission
AR&D              Automated Rendezvous and Docking System
ARPA              Arctic Research and Policy Act of 1984
ARPA              Advanced Research Projects Agency
ARPPS             Advanced Research Perspectives Program (NATO)
ARS               Agricultural Research Service (USDA)
ARW               Advanced Research Workshop (NATO)
ASAP              As Soon As Possible
ASC               Association of Systematics Collections
ASEAN             Association of Southeast Asian Nations
ASFIS             Aquatic Sciences and Fisheries Information System
ASI               Advanced Studies Institute (NATO)
ASI               Agenzia Spaziale Italiana (Italian Space Agency)
ASIC              Application-specific Semiconductor Chip
ATC               Air Traffic Control
ATLAS             Atmospheric Laboratory for Applications and Science
ATOC              Acoustic Thermometry of Ocean Climate
ATV               Automated Transfer Vehicle
AVHRR             Advanced Very High Resolution Radiometer (NASA)
AZT               Anti-AIDS Drug

-B-


BARD              Binational Agricultural Research and Development                        Foundation (U.S.-Israel)
BATAN             National Atomic Energy Agency (Indonesia)
BCAE              Bulgarian Atomic Energy Commission (NRC)
BCIS              Biodiversity Conservation Information System
BDM               Biodiversity Data Management Project
BECC              Border Environment Cooperation Commission (NAFTA)
BENS              Board of Directors of Business Executives for             National Security
BEPC              Beijing Electron-Positron Collider
BERPAC            Program for Long-Term Ecological Research in                            Ecosystems of the Bering and Chukchi Seas and the                       Pacific Ocean
BID               Banco Internacional de Desarollo (Latin American                        International Bank for Development)
BIFADEC           Board for International Food and Agricultural             Development and Economic Cooperation (White House)
BIN21             Biodiversity Information Network (of the CBD)
BIN-BR            Biodiversity Information Network - Brazil
BIRD              Binational Industrial Research and Development            Foundation (U.S.-Israel)
B-ISDN            Broadband Integrated Services Digital Network
BMFT              Federal Ministry of Research and Technology - Bundesministerium fuer Forschung und Technologie (Germany)
BMU               Federal Ministry for Environment, Nature Conservation, and Nuclear Safety (Germany)
BMZ               Ministry for Economic Cooperation and Development (Germany)
BNC               Binational Commission (on Conservation and Environment)
BNL               Brookhaven National Library
BNSC              British National Space Centre
BO                Branch Office of Embassy
BOM               Bureau of Mines (DOI); ceased to exist as of January 8, 1996
BPPT              Agency for Assessment and Application of Technology (Indonesia)
BRDCD             Bangkok Diplomatic Courier Division
BRGM              Bureau de Recherches Geologiques et Minieres (France)
BRIM              Biosphere Reserve Integrated Monitoring Program
BSF               Binational Science Foundation (U.S.-Israel)
BSP               Biodiversity Support Program (USAID)
BTU               British Thermal Unit
BUREC             Bureau of Reclamation (DOI)






-C-

C                 Consulate
C-175             Circular 175 (interagency process for authorization to negotiate and conclude cooperation agreements; coordinated by DOS)
CAE               Common Agenda for the Environment (US-India)
CAFF              Conservation of Arctic Flora and Fauna
CAMP              Code Applications and Maintenance Program (NRC)
CANEX             Canadian Experiments (aboard Space Shuttle)
CARAD             Civil Aircraft Research and Technology Demonstration Program
CAREC             Caribbean Epidemiology Center
CARICOM           Caribbean Community
CARPE             Central African Regional Environmental Program
CAST              Cooperation in Applied Science and Technology
CBD               Biodiversity Convention
CBIC              Canadian Biodiversity Informatics Consortium, Inc.
CBIN              Canadian Biodiversity Information Network
CCAMLR            Convention on Conservation of Antarctic Marine Living Resources (28 signatories, including U.S.)
CCCO              Committee on Climate Changes and the Ocean
CCMS              Committee on the Challenges for Modern Society (NATO)
CCNAA             Coordination Council for North American Affairs (Taiwan)
CCOHS             Canadian Centre for Occupational Health and Safety
CDA               Conceptual Design Activity (for ITER)
CDC               Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (HHS/PHS)
CDM               Clean Development Mechanism (Kyoto Climate Change protocol element)
CDP               Cooperative Development Program (U.S.-Israel)
CDR               Cooperative Development Research Program (USAID-Israel)
CD&RI             Contraceptive Development and Research in Immunology Program (U.S.-India) (HHS)
CDTI              Center for Technological Industrial Development (Spain)
CEA               Council of Economic Advisors (White House)
CEA               Atomic Energy Commission (France)
CEAO              Communaute Economique de l'Afrique e l'Ouest (also known as West African Economic Community, 7 members and 2 observers, established 1972)
CEBAF             Continuous Electron Beam Accelerator Facility (Italy)
CEC               Commission on Environmental Cooperation (NAFTA)
CEC               Commission of the European Communities
CEE               Space Studies Committee (Chile)
C&EE              Central and Eastern Europe
CEES              (FCCSET) Committee on Earth and Environmental Sciences
CEFIC             European Chemical Industry Council
CENAM             Center for Metrology (Mexico)
CENAPRED          National Center for Disaster Prevention (Mexico)
CENR              Committee on Environment and Natural Resources
CEOS              (International) Committee on Earth Observations Satellites
CEP               Caribbean Environment Program
CEPH              Centre d'Etude du Polymorphisme Humain (France)
CERN              Centre Europien de Recherches Nucleaires (European Center for Nuclear Research - Geneva, Switzerland)
CERT              Committee on Energy Research and Technology (OECD/IEA)
CEQ               Council on Environmental Quality (White House)
CFC               Chlorofluorocarbon
CFDT              Committee on Forest Development in the Tropics
CFS               Committee on Food Security (FAO)
CG                Consulate General
CGIAR             Consultative Group on International Agricultural Research
CGMS              Coordination Group on Meteorological Satellites
CHINAPAC          Chinese public packet switching data network (opened in 1993)
CHM               Clearing House Mechanism (CBD)
CHP               Combined Heat and Power Technology
CIFOR             Center for International Forestry Research
CIS               Commonwealth of Independent States
CISET             Committee on International Science, Engineering and Technology (FCCSET)
CIT               (U.S.) Court of International Trade
CITES             Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species
CISET             Committee on International Science, Engineering and Technology
CMA               Chemical Manufacturers Association
CMAA              Customs Mutual Assistance Agreement
CNE               Chile's National Energy Commission
CNEA              National Atomic Energy Commission (Argentina)
CNEN              National Nuclear Energy Commission (Brazil)
CNES              Centre National d'Etudes Spatiales (French National Center for Space Studies)
CNG               Compressed Natural Gas
CNPQ              National Research Council (Brazil)
CNR               National Research Council (Italy)
CNRS              Centre National de la Recherche Scientifique (French National Center for Scientific Research)
CNS               Council for National Safety (South Africa) (NRC)
CNSNS             Comision Nacional de Seguridad Nuclear y Salvaguardias (National Nuclear Safety and Safeguards Commission) (Mexico)
COA               Council of Agriculture (Taiwan)
COARE             Coupled Ocean-Atmosphere Response Experiment
COB               Close of Business (End of Workday)
COBAE             Comissao Brasileira de Actividades Espaciais (Brazilian Commission for Space Activities) (NASA)
COCOM             Coordinating Committee on Multilateral Export Controls
COEECT            Committee on Energy Efficiency Commerce and Trade
COF               Columbus Orbital Facility
COFO              Committee on Forestry
CONABIO           National Commission on Biodiversity (Mexico)
CONACYT           National Council of Science and Technology (Mexico)
CONAE             Civilian National Commission on Space Activities (Argentina)
CONICIT           National Council for Scientific and Technological Investigations (Venezuela)
CONICYT           National Commission on Science and Technology (Chile)
COP               Conference of the Parties (signatories of convention, agreement; highest level of international meetings)
COPUOS            Committee on the Peaceful Uses of Outer Space (UN)
CORECT            Committee on Renewable Energy, Commerce and Trade (DOE)
COSMT             Czech Office for Standards, Metrology and Testing (DOC/NIST)
COSTA             Council on Science and Technology in the Americas
CPC               Climate Change Policy Work Group
CPPS              Permanent Commission of the South Pacific (Chile, Colombia, Ecuador, and Peru)
CRDF              Civilian Research and Development Foundation (1995, US-Russia)
CRESP             Coordinated Research and Environmental Surveillance Program
CRG               Collaborative Research Grant (NATO)
CRSP              Caribbean Regional Seas Program
CRSP              Cooperative Research Support Projects
CSA               Canadian Space Agency
CSCT              Superior Council for Science and Technology (Portugal)
CSD               Commission on Sustainable Development
CSIR              Council of Scientific and Industrial Research (Indonesia)
CSIST             Chung Shan Institute of Science and Technology (AIT Taiwan)
CSMT              U.S. Country Studies Management Team
CSN               Nuclear Safety Council (Spain)
CSP               Country Studies Program
CSTP              Committee on Science and Technology Policy (OECD)
CTIS              Center for Trade and Investment Services (USAID)
CVG               Guayana Development Corporation (Venezuela)
CVI               Children's Vaccine Initiative (U.S.-Japan)
CZMU              Control Zone Management Unit

-D-

DAD-IS            Domestic Animal Diversity Information System (FAO)
DARA              German Space Agency
DARPA             Defense Advanced Research Projects Agency (DOD)
DEA               Defense Exchange Agreement (DOD)
DESY              German Electron Synchotron Facility (Hamburg, Germany)
DFA               Development Fund for Africa (USAID)
DG                Director-General, Directorate-General
DHHS (or HHS)     U.S. Department of Health and Human Services
DLR               German Space Research Facility
DNA               Defense Nuclear Agency (DOD)
DOC               U.S. Department of Commerce
DOD               U.S. Department of Defense
DOE               U.S. Department of Energy
DOI               U.S. Department of the Interior
DOS               U.S. Department of State
DOSE              Dynamics of the Solid Earth Program (Architecture-Engineering Academy, Kazakstan)
DOT               U.S. Department of Transportation
DRAM              Dynamic Random Access Memory
DRG               Defense Research Group (DOD)
DRDO              Defense Department (India)
DRN               National Research Council (Indonesia)
DTI               Department of Trade and Industry (U.K.)
DTICC             Defense Technological and Industrial Cooperation Committee (Korea and DOD)
DWFN              Distant Water Fishing Nation

-E-

E                 Embassy
EA                Enterprise for the Americas
EA                Environment Agency (Japan)
EB                Bureau of Economic and Business Affairs (DOS)
EBRD              European Bank for Reconstruction and Development
EC                European Community (see EU; title changed in 1994)
ECE               Economic Commission for Europe (UN)
ECN               Energy Research Foundation (the Netherlands)
ECOFIN            EU Ministers for the Economy and Finance
ECOSOC            United Nations Economic and Social Council
ECSD              Enquete Commission on Sustainable Development (Germany)
ECU               European Currency Unit
E-Cubed           Energy, Environment, and Economics
EDA               Engineering Design Activity (for ITER)
EEC               European Economic Community
EEO               Equal Employment Opportunity
EEZ               Exclusive Economic Zone
EF                Environmental Fund
EFM(s)            Eligible Family Member(s)
EIA               Environmental Impact Assessment
EID               Emerging Infectious Diseases
ELCI              Environmental Liaison Centre International
ELI               Environmental Law Institute (Mexico)
EMAP              Environmental Monitoring and Assessment Program

EMEP              Co-Operative Programme for Monitoring and Evaluation of Long-Range Transmission of Air Pollutants in Europe (ECE)
EMINWA            Environmentally Sound Management of Inland Water
EMR               Department of Energy, Mines and Resources (Canada)
ENB               Earth Negotiations Bulletin
ENEA              National Agency for New Technology, Energy, and the Environment (Italy)
ENREN             Ente Nacional Regulador Nuclear (Argentina) (NRC)
ENRESA            Nuclear Waste Management Authority (Spain)
ENRM              Environment & Natural Resources Management Project (G-7)
ENVICAN           Ministry of Environment (Canada)
ENVISAT           Environment Satellite Mission (ESA)
EOS               Earth Observing System
EOSDIS            Earth Observing System Comprehensive Data and Information System
EPA               U.S. Environmental Protection Agency
EPACT             Energy Policy Act of 1992 (U.S.)
EPD               Environment Policy Dialogue (US-Japan)
EPOC              Environment Policy Committee (OECD)
EPPR              Emergency Prevention, Preparedness, and Response (Coast Guard)
EPT               Environment Policy and Technology Project (USAID)
EPZ               Environmental Pollution Prevention Project (USAID)
ERC               Engineering Research Center Program (Korea)
EREFEN            Protocol for the Regional Study of the El Nino Phenomenon
ERIN              Environmental Resources Information Network (Australia)
ESA               European Space Agency
ESCAP             Economic and Social Commission for Asia and the Pacific
ESD               Conference on Environmentally Sustainable Development (World Bank)
ESPOO             ECE Convention on Transboundary Impact Assessment
ESPRIT            European Strategic Program for Research and Development in Information Technology
ESRC              Economic and Social Research Council (U.K.)
EST (or ES&T)     Environment, Science and Technology
ESTR              Environment, Science and Technology Resources Statistical Package (DOS/OES)
ESV               Experimental Safety Vehicle (DOT)
ETI               Experts Center for Taxonomic Identification
EU                European Union (originally EC, but changed in 1994)
EUMETSAT          European Organization for the Exploitation of Meteorological Satellites
EURATOM           European Atomic Energy Commission
EURECA            European Retrievable Carrier (ESA)
EUREKA            European Research Coordinating Agency
EV                Electric Vehicle (DOT & DOE)


EWG               Environmental Working Group
EXACT             Executive Action Team (management body of the
Middle East Peace Process' Regional Water Data Banks Project)


-F-


FAA               South Pacific Forum Fisheries Agency
FAA               U.S. Federal Aviation Administration (DOT)
FACA              Federal Advisory Committee Act
FAG               Forestry Advisers Group
FAO               Food and Agriculture Organization (UN)
FAST              Fast Auroral Snapshot Explorer
FCCC              Framework Convention on Global Change (UN)
FCCSET            Federal Coordinating Committee for Science, Engineering, and Technology (U.S.)
FERRO             Far Eastern Regional Research Office (USDA & New Delhi, India)
FFA               South Pacific Forum Fishing Agency
FGDC              Federal Geographic Data Committee
FGF               Fisherman's Guaranty Fund
FHA (also FHWA)   Federal Highway Administration (DOT)
FIBIN             Finnish Biodiversity Information Network
FODAG             Food and Agriculture Organizations
FOE               Federal Energy Office (Switzerland)
FOFCC             Federal Oceanographic Laboratory System
FOIA              Freedom of Information Act
FOMENTO           Development Ministry (Venezuela)
FRA               Federal Railroad Administration (DOT)
FRD               Foundation for Research Development (South Africa)
FRDCD             Frankfurt Diplomatic Courier Division
FSI               Foreign Service Institute (DOS)
FSK               Federal Counterintelligence Service (formerly Russia's KGB)
FSL               Forecast Systems Laboratory (DOC/NOAA)
FSM               Full Scientific Material
FSN               Foreign Service National
FSO               Foreign Service Officer (DOS)
FSU               (Former) Soviet Union
FUNDEA            Foundation for Environmental Education (Mexico)
FWF               Fund for the Advancement of Scientific REsearch
FWIE              Fish and Wildlife Information Exchange
FWS               Fish and Wildlife Service (DOI)
FY                Fiscal Year





-G-


GAAC              German-American Academic Council (established in 1993)
GAN               Federal Nuclear and Radiation Safety Authority of the Russian Federation (NRC)
GATT              General Agreement on Tariffs and Trade
GAW               Global Atmosphere Watch
GC                Governing Council
GCC               Gore-Chernomyrdin Commission (U.S.-Russia)
GCC               Global Climate Change Program
GCC               Gulf Cooperation Council (also known as the Cooperation Council for the Arab States of the Gulf - Bahrain, Kuwait, Oman, Qatar, Saudi Arabia, & UAE)
GCDIS             Global Change Data and Information Management System
GCMD              Global Change Master Directory (NASA)
GCOS              Global Climate Observing System
GCRMN             Global Coral Reef Monitoring Network
GCRP              Global Change Research Program
GDB               Genome Data Base (John Hopkins University)
GDP               Gross Domestic Product
GEEP              Group of Experts on Effects of Pollutants
GEF               Global Environment Facility (World Bank/UNDP/UNEP)
GEMS              Global Environmental Monitoring System
GEMS/WATER        Global Water Quality Monitoring Programme
GERD              Gross Domestic Expenditure on Research and Development
GESAMP            Joint Group of Experts on the Scientific Aspects of Marine Pollution
GGS               Global Geospace Science Program
GHG               Greenhouse Gas(es)
GIEWS             Global Information and Early Warning System for Food and Agriculture (FAO)
GIFA              Governing International Fishery Agreement (DOS)
GIPME             Global Investigation of Pollution in the Marine Environment
GITSB             Government Information Technology Services Board
GIWG              GPS International Working Group
GLFC              Great Lakes Fishery Commission
GLOBE             Global Learning and Observation to Benefit the Environment (DOS & EPA)
GLOBE INTERNATIONAL Global Legislators for a Balanced Environment
GLOBEC            Global Ocean Ecosystems Dynamics Research Program
GLORIA            Geologic Long-Range Inclined Asdic System (DOI/USGS)
GLOSS             Global Sea-Level Observing System
GLRS              Geoscience Laser Ranging System
GMO (s)           genetically modified organism(s)
GNG               Greenhouse Gas(es)
GNP               Gross National Product
GOOS              Global Ocean Observing System
GOS               Global Observing System
GOSSTANDART       State Committee for Standardization, Metrology and Certification of the Russian Federation (DOC/NIST)
GPS               Global Positioning System
GRID              Global Resource Information Database (UN/UNEP)
GSO               General Services Operations


-H-


HAN               Highly Advanced National Projects
HCFC              Hydrochlorofluorocarbon
HDTV              High-Definition Television System
HERA              Hadron Electron Ring Accelerator
HFC               Hydrofluorocarbon
HFSP              Human Frontier Science Program
HHS (also DHHS)   U.S. Department of Health and Human Services
HIMAC             Heavy Ion Metal Acceleration in Chiba (Japan)
HIV               Human Immunodeficiency Virus (AIDS)
HMG               Her Majesty's Government (U.K.)
HMIP              Her Majesty's Government's Inspectorate of Pollution (U.K.)
H&SE              Health and Safety Executive (U.K.)
HST               Hubble Space Telescope
HUD               U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development
HUGO              (International) Human Genome Organization


-I-


IABIN             InterAmerican Biodiversity Network
IAC               Information Analysis Center
IADB              Inter-American Development Bank (also known as Banco Interamericano de Desarrollo - 44 members, established 1959)
IAEA              International Atomic Energy Agency (117 members)
IAF               Inter-American Foundation
IAI               Inter-American Institute for Global Climate Change Research
IAPG              Interagency Arctic Policy Group
IAP-WASAD         International Action Programme on Water and Sustainable Agricultural Development
IARPC             Interagency Arctic Research Policy Committee
IAQMB             International Air Quality Management Basin
IASAP             International Arctic Sea Assessment Project
IASC              International Arctic Science Council
IATTC             Inter-American Tropical Tuna Commission
IBAMA             National Environment and Renewable Natural Resources Institute (Brazil)
IBEC              International Bank for Economic Cooperation (established 1963)
IBEP              International Border Environmental Plan (U.S.-Mexico)
IBRAE             Institute of Nuclear Safety of the Russian Academy of Sciences (NRC)
IBRD              International Bank for Reconstruction and Development (part of World Bank lending to credit-worthy developing countries with high per capita incomes - 177 members)
IBSRAM            International Board of Soil Resources and Management
IBWC              International Boundary Water Commission (U.S.-Mexico)
ICAO              International Civil Aviation Organization (181 members, established 1944) (UN)
ICAR              International Centers for AIDS Research (HHS)
ICC               Inuit Circumpolar Conference
ICC               International Chamber of Commerce (members are 59 national councils, established 1919)
ICCA              International Council on Chemical Associations
ICCAT             International Commission for the Conservation of Atlantic Tunas
ICDA              Integrated Conservation and Development Areas
ICES              International Council for the Exploration of the Sea
ICFA              International Committee for Future (particle) Accelerators
ICFTU             International Confederation of Free Trade Unions (164 national organizations in 117 areas, established 1949)
ICIDR             International Centers for Infectious Diseases Research (HHS)
ICJ               International Court of Justice (15 judges, also known as the World Court, established 1945)
ICMES             International Cooperation on Marine Engineering Systems (DOT)
ICOT              Institute on Computer Training (Japan)
ICPIC             International Cleaner Production Information Clearing House
ICRAF             International Center for Research in Agroforestry (UN)
ICRC              International Committee of the Red Cross (25 Swiss nationals, established 1863)
ICRD              International Cooperative Research and Development Program (DOD)
ICRI              International Coral Reef Initiative
ICSU              International Council of Scientific Unions
ICTDR             International Centers for Tropical Disease Research (HHS/NIH)
IDA               International Development Association (156 members, established 1960)
IDB               Interamerican Development Bank (also see IADB)
IDB               Islamic Development Bank (47 members plus the PLO, established 1973)
IDNDR             International Decade on Natural Disaster Reduction (UN)
IDRU              Tropical Disease Research Units (HHS)
IEA               Information Exchange Agreement (DOD)
IEA               International Energy Agency (OECD) (23 members, established 1974)
IEEA              Integrated Environmental and Economic Accounting
IEP               Information Exchange Project (DOD)
IFAD              International Fund for Agricultural Development (150 members, established 1974) (UN)
IFC               International Finance Cooperation (World Bank) (159 members, established 1955)
IFCS              International Forum on Chemical Safety
IFDC              International Fertilizer Development Center (USAID)
IFF               Intergovernmental Forum on Forests (successor to IPF)
IGADD             Inter-Governmental Authority on Drought and Development (6 members - Djibouti, Ethiopia, Kenya, Somalia, Sudan, and Uganda) (established 1986)
IGBP              International Geosphere-Biosphere Programme (ICSU)
IGBP/START        International Geosphere-Biosphere Programme/Global Change System for Analysis, Research and Training
IGEB              Interagency GPS Executive Board
IGOSS             Integrated Global Ocean Services System
IIEC              International Institute for Energy Conservation
IHO               International Hydrographic Organization
IIB               International Investment Bank (established 1970; now a Russian bank with new charter)
ILO               International Labor Organization (169 members, established 1919) (UN)
IMF               International Monetary Fund (179 members, established 1944) (UN)
IMI               International Market Insight
IML               International Microgravity Laboratory
IMO               International Maritime Organization (146 members, established 1958 as Intergovernmental Maritime Consultative Organization, name changed in 1982) (UN)
IMS               Intelligent Manufacturing System(s)
INA               Immigration and Nationality Act
INBio             National Biodiversity Network (Costa Rica)
INC               Intergovernmental Negotiating Committee (for FCCC) (after COP, next highest level of international meeting)
INCD              Intergovernmental Negotiating Committee for the Elaboration of a Convention to Combat Desertification
INCLEN            International Clinical Epidemiology Network (HHS/PHS/CDC)
INEN              Institute of Standardization (Ecuador)
INFOTERRA         International Environment Information System
INMARSAT          International Maritime Satellite Organization (69 members, established 1976)
INPARQUES         Institute of National Parks of the Ministry of Environment and Renewable Natural Resources (Venezuela)
INPE              National Space Research Institute (Brazil)
INPEN             Institute of Nuclear Energy (Peru) (NRC)
INSALUD           National Institute of Health (Spain)
INSAT             Indian National Geostationary Satellite System
INSERM            National Institute of Health and Science Research (France)
INTA              National Institute for Aerospace Technology (Spain)
INTELSAT          International Telecommunications Satellite Organization (126 members and 56 nonsignatory users, established 1971)
INTERPOL          International Criminal Police Organization (170 members, established 1956)
INTLO             International Nuclear Technology Liaison Organization
IOC               Intergovernmental Oceanographic Commission
IOC               International Olympic Committee (184 members, established 1894)
IODE              International Oceanographic Data and Information Exchange
IOFC              Indian Ocean Fishery Commission
IOM               Institute of Medicine (National Academy of Sciences)
IOM               International Organization for Migration (48 members and 40 observers, established 1951 as Intergovernmental Committee for European Migration)
IOMAC             Indian Ocean Marine Affairs Commission
IOTC              Indian Ocean Tuna Commission
IP                Intellectual Property
IPC               Integrated Pollution Control
IPCC              Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (UN)
IPCS              Interational Programme on Chemical Safety
IPF               Intergovernmental Panel on Forests
IPHC              International Pacific Halibut Commission
IPM               Integrated Pest Management (World Bank)
IPP               Industrial Partnering Program (U.S.-Russia)
IPR               Intellectual Property Rights
IPS               Institute for Policy Studies
IPSN              Institute for Protection and Nuclear Safety (France) (NRC)
IREP              International Recruitment Programme
IRIS              Research Interim Stage (Italy)
IRPTC             International Register of Potentially Toxic Chemicals (UN/UNEP)
ISAS              Institute of Space and Aeronautical Sciences (Japan)
ISF               International Science Foundation (U.S.-Russia)
ISO               International Standards Organization (73 members and 20 correspondent members, established 1947)
ISRO              Indian Space Research Organization (Department of Space - India)
ISS               International Space Station
ISTC              International Science and Technology Center (Moscow, Russia) (established by US/Japan/EU/Russia to provide work for former Soviet weapons scientists)
ISTP              International Solar-Terrestrial Physics Program
ISY               International Space Year (1992)
ITCPPGP           International Technical Conference and Program on Plant Genetic Resources (FAO)
ITER              International Thermonuclear Experimental Reactor
ITER              International Technological Engineering and Research
ITIS              Integrated Taxonomic Information System
ITTA              International Tropical Timber Agreement
ITTC              International Tropical Tuna Commission
ITTO              International Tropical Timber Organization
ITU               International Telecommunication Union (182 members, established 1932) (UN)
IUCH              International Union for Circumpolar Health
IUCN              International Union for the Conservation of Nature
IVHS              Intelligent Vehicle-Highway System (DOT)
IWC               International Whaling Commission
IWG               Interagency Working Group
IWGDMGC           Interagency Working Group on Data Management for Global Change (U.S.)


-J-


JAERI             Japan Atomic Energy Research Institute
JAMSTEC           Japan Marine Science and Technology Center
JC                Joint Committee
JCG               Joint Consultative Group
JCIC              Joint Compliance and Inspection Commission
JCS               Joint Chiefs of Staff (DOD)
JDL               Joint Directors of Laboratories (DOD)
JEM               Japanese Experiment Module
JESSI             Joint European Submicron Silicon Initiative
JET               Joint European Torus
JGOFS             Joint Global Ocean Flux Study
JI                Joint Implementation
JICST             Japan Information Center for Science and Technology
JIGE              Joint International Group of Experts (IMO)
JINS              Japan Institute of Nuclear Safety
JNICT             National Board of Scientific and Technical Research (Portugal)
JOMAR             Joint Office for Mapping and Research in the EEZ (DOI-USGS & NOAA)
JRC               Joint Research Center
JRRC              Japanese Reprographic Rights Center
JSCNOET           Joint Standing Committee on Nuclear and Other Energy Technologies (U.S.-Korea)
JSPS              Japan Society for the Promotion of Science
JT-60             Japanese Torus (Tokamak) Fusion Device






-K-


KAERI             Korean Atomic Energy Research Institute
KAON              Canadian High Energy Physics Project (located at Vancouver, British Columbia)
KARI              Kenya Agricultural Research Institute
KBN               State Committee for Scientific Research (Poland)
KEDO              Korean Peninsula Energy Development Organization
KEFRI             Kenya Forestry Research Institute
KEIL              Kansas Environmental Information Lab
KEMRI             Kenyan Medical Research Institute (HHS)
KETRI             Kenya Trypanosomiasis Research Institute
KEVEVAPI          Kenyan Veterinary Vaccines Production Institute
KIER              Korean Institute of Energy and Resources
KIET              Korean Institute for Industrial Economics and Trade
KIGAM             Korean Institute of Geology, Mining and Minerals
KINS              Korean Institute of Nuclear Safety
KIRDI             Kenya's Industrial Research and Development Institute
KIST              Korea's Institute of Science and Technology
KMA               Korea's Meteorological Administration
KMUFA             Central Technological Development Fund (Hungary)
KOMSAT            Korean Multi-Purpose Satellite System
KORDI             Korean Ocean Research and Development Institute
KOSEF             Korea's Science and Engineering Foundation
KRISS             Korean Research Institute of Standards and Science


-L-


LAC               Latin America and the Caribbean
LAES              Latin American Economic System (27 members, also known as Sistema Economico Latinoamericana (SELA), established 1975)
LAGEOS            Laser Geodynamics Satellite
LAIA              Latin American Integration Association (11 members and 16 observers, also known as Asociacion Latinoamericana de Integracion (ALADI), established 1980)
LANL              Los Alamos National Laboratory (DOE)
LAPAN             Institute of Aeronautics and Space (Indonesia)
LAS               League of Arab Nations (20 members, also known as The Arab League, established 1945)
LBS               Land-Based Sources of Marine Pollution
LDC               Convention on the Prevention of Marine Pollution by Dumping of Wastes and Other Matter (aka London Convention)
LDCs              Least Developed Countries
LHC               Large Hadron Collider
LIGO              National Laser Interferometer Gravitational Observatory
LLDCs             Least Developed Countries
LNG               Liquid Natural Gas
LO                Liaison Office
LOA               Letters of Authorization
LOCA              Loss-of-Coolant Accident
LOICZ             Land-Ocean Interaction in the Coastal Zone
LOS               Law of the Sea (60 parties, not yet in force)
LPG               Liquefied Petroleum Gas
LRTAP             Convention on Long-Range Transboundary Air Pollution
LWR               Light-Water Reactor


-M-


M                 Mission
MAB               Man and the Biosphere Program
MAC               Ministry of Agriculture and Livestock (Venezuela)
MAD               Magnetic Anomaly Detection Technology (DOT)
MAFF              Ministry of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food (U.K.)
MARAD             Maritime Administration (DOT)
MARI              Mexico City Air Quality Research Initiative
MARNR             Ministry of the Environment and Natural Resources (Venezuela)
MARPOL            International Convention for the Prevention of Pollution from Ships
MBR               Methyl Bromide
MBT               Migratory Bird Treaty (US-Canada, US-Mexico)
MEA               Multilateral Environmental Agreement
MEDLARS           Medical Literature Analysis and Retrieval System (HHS/NIH/NLM)
MEDLINE           On-Line Medical Library (NIH)
MEM               Ministry for Energy and Mines (Venezuela)
MENA              Middle East/North Africa Economic Summit
MEPA              Meteorological and Environmental Protection Administration (Saudi Arabia)
MEPC              Marine Environmental Pollution Committee
MEPNE             Middle East Peace Network
MEPP              Middle East Peace Process
MERC              Middle East Regional Cooperation Progarm (USAID)
MERCOSUR          Southern Cone Common Market (4 members - Argentina, Brazil, Paraguay, and Uruguay, established 1991)
MERP              Marine Ecosystem Response Project
MERTU             Medical Entomology Research and Training Unit (HHS/CDC)
METEOSAT          Meteorological Satellite(s)
MFA or MOFA       Ministry of Foreign Affairs
MFCMA             Magnuson Fisheries Conservation and Management Act
MIDS              Multi-Functional Information Distribution System (DOD)
MIGA              Multilateral Investment Guarantee Agency (World Bank)
MITI              Ministry of International Trade and Industry (Japan)
MLS               Microwave Landing System (DOT/FAA)
MMC               Marine Mammal Commission
MMHSRP            Marine Mammal Health and Stranding Response Program
MMPA              Marine Mammal Protection Act
MMS               Minerals Management Services (DOI)
MNR               Ministry of Natural Resources (Suriname)
MOA               Memorandum of Agreement
MOC               Memorandum of Cooperation
MOH               Ministry of Health (Vietnam)
MONBUSHO          Ministry of Education, Science and Culture (Japan)
MORT              Ministry of Research and Technology (Germany)
MOST              Ministry of Science and Technology (Israel, Korea)
MOSTE             Ministry of Science, Technology and Environment (Vietnam)
MOU               Memorandum of Understanding
MOY               Ministry of Transportation (Germany)
MPLM              Mini Pressurized Logistics Module (NASA)
MPRM              Marine Pollution Research and Monitoring
MRC               Medical Research Council (U.K.)
MRI               Magnetic Resonance Imaging
MRI               Meteorological Research Institute (Korea's Meteorological Administration)
MSAT              Mobile Telecommunications Satellite
MSC               Marie Sklodowska Curie Fund (U.S.-Poland Science and Technology Joint Fund)
MSMU              Moscow State Mining University (Russia)
MTA               Academy of Sciences (Hungary)
MTCR              Missile Technology Control Regime (25 members, established 1987)
MTFF              Man Tended Free Flyer
MTPE              Mission to Planet Earth Program
MUSIC             Multi-Spectral Infrared Camera (DOD)
MW                International Mussell Watch


-N-


NABE              North Atlantic Bloom Experiment (JGOFS)
NABIN             North American Biodiversity Network
NABST             National Advisory Board on Science and Technology (Canada)
NACC              North American Calibration Cooperation (DOC/NIST)
NACC              North Atlantic Cooperation Council (38 members, established 1991) (NATO)
NACE              North American Commission on the Environment
NACEC             North America Commission on Environmental Cooperation
NAEC              National Atomic Energy Commission (Hungary)
NAFO              Northwest Atlantic Fisheries Organization
NAFTA             North America Free Trade Agreement

NAGRA             National Cooperative for the Disposal of Radioactive Waste (Switzerland)
NAIP              Nuclear Accident Incident Program
NAM               Nonaligned Movement (107 members plus the PLO, 21 observers and 21 guests, established 1961
NAPAP             National Acid Precipitation Assessment Program
NARSTO            North American Research Strategy for Tropospheric Ozone Charter
NAS               National Academy of Sciences
NASA              National Aeronautics and Space Administration
NASCO             North Atlantic Salmon Conservation Organization
NASDA             National Space Development Agency (Japan)
NATO              North Atlantic Treaty Organization (16 members, established 1949)
NBII              National Biological Information Infrastructure
NBST              National Biological Status and Trends Program
NC                Nordic Council (5 members - Denmark including Faroe and Greenland, Finland including Aland, Iceland, Norway and Sweden, established 1952
NCAR              National Center for Atmospheric Research (Boulder, Colorado)
NCI               National Cancer Institute (HHS/NIH)
NCIH              National Council for International Health
NEA               Nuclear Energy Agency (23 members, established 1958) (OECD)
NEI               National Eye Institute (HHS/NIH)
NEPA              National Environmental Protection Agency (China)
NERC              Natural Environment Research Center (U.K.)
NESDIS            National Environment, Satellite, Data and Information Service (DOC/NOAA)
NEST              Network for Environment, Science and Technology
NGO               Non-Governmental Organization
NHLBI             National Heart, Lung and Blood Institute (HHS/NIH)
NIA               National Institute on Aging (HHS/NIH)
NIAAA             National Institute on Alcohol Abuse and Alcoholism (HHS/NIH)
NIAID             National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases (HHS/NIH)
NIAMS             National Institute of Arthritis and Musculoskeletal and Skin Diseases (HHS/NIH)
NIB               Nordic Investment Bank (5 members - Denmark including Faroe and Greenland, Finland including Aland, Iceland, Norway and Sweden, established 1975)
NICs              Newly Industrializing Countries
NICHD             National Institute of Child Health and Human Development (HHS/NIH)
NIDRR             National Institute on Disability and Rehabilitation (HHS/NIH)
NIEs              Newly Industrializing Economies
NIH               National Institutes of Health (HHS)
NII               National Information Infrastructure
NIMH              National Institute of Mental Health (HHS/NIH)
NIMHANS           National Institute of Mental Health and Neuro Sciences (India)
NINDS             National Institute of Neurological Disorders and Stroke (HHS/NIH)
NIOSH             National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health (HHS/NIH)
NIS               New Independent States (formerly part of the Soviet Union)
NIST              National Institute of Standards and Technology (formerly The Bureau of National Standards)(DOC)
NIT               Institute of Technology (Norway)
NLM               National Library of Medicine (HHS/NIH)
NMC               National Meteorological Center
NMFS              National Marine Fisheries Service (DOC/NOAA)
NMR               Nuclear Magnetic Resonance (DOD)
NMSAE             The Netherlands Ministry for Social Affairs and Employment
NNSA              National Nuclear Safety Administration (China)
NOAA              National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (DOC)
NOX               Nitrogen Oxides
NPAFC             North Pacific Anadromous Fish Commission
NPS               National Park Service (DOI)
NRA               National Rivers Authority (U.K.)
NRAJ              Natural Resource Authority of Jordan
NRC               U.S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission
NRL               Naval Research Laboratory
NRM               National Resources Management Project (USAID & Indonesia)
NSAU              National Space Agency of Ukraine
NSC               Naional Science Council (Taiwan)
NSC               National Security Council (White House)
NSCAT             NASA Scatterometer
NSDI              National Space Data Infrastructure
NSF               National Science Foundation
NSG               Nuclear Suppliers Group (28 members, also known as the London Suppliers Group, established 1974)
NSIDC             National Snow and Ice Data Center
NSPD              National Space Policy Directive (White House)
NS&T              National Status and Trends Program
NSTC              National Science and Technology Council (announced in 9/93 as the merging of FCCSET, the National Space Council, and the National Critical Materials Council; established by Executive Order on 11/23/93) (White House)
NTA               New Transatlantic Agenda
NTIS              National Technical Information Service (DOC)
NWS               U.S. National Weather Service





-O-


OAS               Organization of American States (35 members and 31 observers, established 1948)
OAPEC             Organization of Arab Petroleum Exporting Countries (10 members, established 1968)
OAU               Organization of African Unity (52 members, established 1963)
ODA               Official Development Assistance
ODA               Overseas Development Administration
ODP               Ocean Drilling Program
ODP               Ozone Depleting Potential
ODS               Ozone-Depleting Substances (which include CFC's)
OECD              Organization for Economic Cooperation and Development (25 members and 1 special member (EU), established 1960)
OECS              Organization of Eastern Caribbean States (7 members and 1 associate member, established 1981)
OES               Bureau of Oceans and International Environmental and Scientific Affairs (DOS)
OEWG              Open-Ended Working Group
OFWIM             Organization of Fish and Wildlife Information Managers
OIC               Organization of the Islamic Conference (47 members and 4 observers, established 1969)
OIG               Office of Inspector General
OMFB              National Technical Development Committee (Hungary)
ONR               Office of Naval Research (DOD)
OOB               Opening of Business (Beginning of Workday)
OPA 90            Oil Pollution Act of 1990
OPANAL            Organismo para la Proscripcion de las Armas Nucleares en la America Latina y el Caribe (Agency for the Prohibition of Nuclear Weapons in Latin America and the Caribbean)
OPEC              Organization of Petroleum Exporting Countries (12 members, established 1960)
OPIC              Overseas Private Investment Corporation
OPRC              International Convention on Oil Pollution Preparedness, Response and Cooperation of 1990
OSI               Open Society Institute of the Soros Foundation
OST               Office of Science and Technology (cabinet-level) (U.K.)
OSTP              Office of Science and Technology Policy (White House)
OSVS              Orbiter Space Vision System
OTKA              National Scientific Research Fund (Hungary)







-P-


PCA               Permanent Court of Arbitration (27 members) (UN)
PAHO              Pan American Health Organization (HHS)
PAME              Protection of the Arctic Marine Environment
PARCA             Pan American Railway Congress Association (DOT)
PAVE              Preparation for AIDS Vaccine Evaluation (HHS)
PCB               Polychlorinated biphenyls (possibly cancerous substance used in electrical equipment such as transformers)
PCAST             President's Council of Advisors on Science and Technology (White House)
PCC               Policy Coordinating Committee
PCC/OES           Policy Coordinating Committee for Oceans and International Environmental and Scientific Affairs (OES)
PEIS              Programmatic Environmental Impact Statement
PER               Program Evaluation Reports
PFP               Partnership for Peace
PGRFA             Plant Genetic Resources for Agriculture
PHARMA            Pharmaceutical Research and Manufacturers Association
PHLIS             Public Health Laboratory Information System (HHS/NIH/CDC)
PhRMA             Pharmaceutical Research and Manufacturers of America
PHS               Public Health Service (HHS)
PIC               Prior Informed Consent
PICES             North Pacific Marine Science Organization
PIERG             Paldiski International Experts Reference Group (nuclear wastes/Baltics)
PIN               Pacific Island Nation
PIPICO            Panel on International Programs and Intergovernmental Cooperation in Oceans Affairs
PIR               Program Implementation Report
P.L.              Public Law
PLO               Palestinian Liberation Organization
PNC               Power Reactor and Nuclear Fuel Development Corporation (Japan)
PNR               Polish National Railways
PNRI              The Philippines Nuclear Research Institute
POP               Persistent Organic Pollutant
PPARC             Particle Physics and Astronomy Research Council (U.K.)
PRC               People's Republic of China
PSC               Pacific Salmon Commission
PUAE              Agreement on Peaceful Uses of Atomic Energy
PWRI              Public Works Research Institute (Japan)






-R-


R&D               Research and Development
RAFI              Rural Advancement Foundation International
RAS               Russian Academy of Sciences
RCT               Radomized Control Trial (HHS/CDC)
RD&D              Research, Development and Demonstration
RDP               Reconstruction and Development Program (U.S.-Russia)
REC               Regional Environmental Center
RELAB             Latin American Biological Network
RERF              Radiation Effects Research Foundation (Japan)
RFBR              Russian Foundation for Basic Research
RFP               Request For Proposal
RG                Rio Group (11 members, also known as Grupo de los Ocho, established 1946)
RMENR             Russian Ministry of Environment
RNODC             Responsible National Oceanographic Data Centre
ROPME             Regional Organization for the Protection of the Marine Environment (Persian Gulf States, but not the Red Sea states of Egypt, Israel, or Jordan)
ROSKOMNEDRH       The Committee on Geology and the Use of Underground Resources (Russia)
RSED              Research and Scientific Exchanges Division (USDA)
RSPA              Research and Special Program Administration (UN/ESOC)
RVOC              Research Vessel Operators Council


-S-


S&T               Science and Technology
SAARC             South Asian Association for Regional Cooperation (7 members -Bangladesh, Bhutan, India, Maldives, Nepal, Pakistan and Sri Lanka, established 1985)
SABIT             Special American Business Internship Training
SACU              South African Customs Union (9 members, established 1969)
SADC              South African Development Community (10 members, established 1992, evolving from the Southern African Development Coordination Conference)
SADCC             see SADC
SAFISY            Space Agency Forum for the International Space Year
SAMHSA            Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (formerly ADAMHA, changed in 1992) (HHS)
SAMPEX            Solar, Anomalous and Magnetsospheric Particle Explorer
SAR               Second Assessment Report
SARD              Sustainable Agriculture and Rural Development
SARH              Secretariat of Agriculture and Water Resources of the United Mexican States (Mexico)
SASO              Saudi Arabian Standards Organization (DOC/NIST)
SBSTA             Subsidiary Body on Scientific and Technological Advice
SCAR              Scientific Committee on Antarctic Research
SCOR              Scientific Committee on Oceanic Research
SCS               Soil Conservation Service (USDA)
SCTU              Ukrainian Science and Technology Center
SDSC              San Diego Supercomputer Center
SEANWFZ           Southeast Asian Nuclear Weapons-Free Zone
SEB               State Electricity Board (India)
SECOFI            Ministry of Commerce and Industrial Development (Mexico)
SECYT             Secretariat for Science and Technology (Argentina)
SEDESOL           Mexican Environmental Agency (replaced with SEMARNAP in 1996)
SEED              U.S. Support for Eastern European Democracy Act
SEL               Space Environment Laboratory (DOC/NOAA)
SEMAM             Secretariat for the Environment of the Presidency of the Federative Republic of Brazil
SEMARNAP          Mexican Secretariat for Environmental Protection, Natural Resources and Fisheries
SEMIP             Secretariat of Energy, Mines and Parastatal Industry (Mexico)
SENIR             Irrigation Ministry (Brazil)
SERDP             Strategic Environmental Research and Development Program (DOD)
SERI              Systems Engineering Research Institute (part of Korea's Institute of Science and Technology)
SIDS              Small Islands Developing States
SIR               Spaceborne Imaging Radar (NASA)
SIRG              Summit Implementation Review Group
SITRI             Integral System for the Treatment of Industrial Residues (Venezuela)
SKI               Nuclear Power Inspectorate (Sweden)
SMI               Smithsonian Institution
SOHO              Solar and Heliospheric Observatory
SOI               Statement of Intent
SOPAC             South Pacific Applied Geoscience Commission
SOUNDING ROCKETS  Rockets Launched Up to the Upper Atmosphere for Soundings of the Earth (NASA)
S.P.A.W.          Specially Protected Areas and Wildlife (DOI/NPS)
SPARTECA          South Pacific Regional Trade and Economic Cooperation Agreement (15 members, established 1981)
SPC               South Pacific Commission (27 members, established 1947)
SPF               South Pacific Forum (15 members and 1 observer, established 1971)
SPM               Summary for Policymakers
SPREP             South Pacific Regional Environmental Protection Program (DOT)
SRC               Science Research Center Program (Korea)
SRMS              Shuttle Remote Manipulator System (commonly known
                     as "The Canada Arm")
SSC               Superconducting Super Collider
SSCL              Superconducting Super Collider Laboratory
SSF               Space Station Freedom
STA               Science and Technology Agency (Japan)
STACFAC           Standing Committee on Non-Contracting Party Fishing Activity in the Regulatory Area
STCU              Science and Technology Center in Ukraine
STOL              Short Takeoff and Landing Aircraft (DOD)
STRIDE            Science and Technology Reporting Information Distribution Enhancement program (DOS/NSF/NTIS)
STS               Space Transportation System (U.S. - Shuttle)
STSC              Scientific and Technical Subcommittee
STSP              Solar Terrestrial Science Program (NASA/ESA)
STUK              Centre for Radiation and Nuclear Safety (Finland)
SWAS              Short-Wave Astronomical Satellite
SYG               Secretary-General

-T-


TAHRP             Trinational Animal Health Research Project (Egypt, Israel & U.S.) (USDA)
TCI               Technology Characterization Inventory
TDR               Global Tropical Disease Research Program (HHS)
TEAP              Technical and Economic Assessment Panel
TECRO             Taiwan's Economic and Cultural Representative Office (formerly CCNAA) (NRC)
TED               Sea Turtle Excluder Device
TEIA              Transboundary Environmental Impact Assessment
TEMA              Training, Education and Mutual Assistance in the Marine Sciences
TEPA              Taiwan Environmental Protection Agency
TEPA              Tribal Environmental Policy Law
TEPAC             Trade and Environment Policy Advisory Committee
TFAP              Tropical Forestry Actions Plan
TFTR              Thermonuclear Fusion Tokamak Reactor
THORP             Thermal Oxide Reprocessing Plant (U.K.)
TIA               Transboundary Environmental Impact Assessment
TMRC              Tropical Medicine Research Cooperation (HHS)
TNC               Trade Negotiating Committee
TOGA              Tropical Oceans and Global Atmosphere Program
TOMS              Total Ozone Mapping Spectrometer (NASA)
TOPEX             Topography Ocean Experiment
TRAFFIC           Trade Records Analysis of Flora and Fauna In Commerce
TRIDE             U.S.-Israel-Jordan Trilateral Initiative
TRIPS             Trade-Related Aspects of Intellectual Property Rights
TRMM              Tropical Rainfall Measuring Mission
TRP               Technology Reinvestment Program (DOD)
TRR               Taiwan Research Reactor
TSS               Tethered Satellite System
TTCP              The Technical Cooperation Program (DOD)
-U-


UAE               United Arab Emirates
UARS              Upper Atmosphere Research Satellite
UJDSR             Nuclear Regulatory Authority of the Slovak Republic (NRC)
UJNR              United States-Japan Cooperative Program in National Resources
UN                United Nations (183 members excluding Yugoslavia, 2 observers plus the PLO, established 1945)
UNCED             United Nations Conference on Environment and Development (1992) (UN)
UNCITRAL          United Nations Commission on International Trade Law (UN)
UNCLOS            1982 United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea (UN)
UNCTAD            United Nations Conference on Trade and Development (187 members, established 1964) (UN)
UNDOF             United Nations Disengagement Observer Force (4 members, established 1974) (UN)
UNDP              United Nations Development Programme (48 members, established 1965)(UN)
UNECE             United Nations Economic Commission for Europe (UN)
UNEP              United Nations Environment Programme (58 members, established 1972) (UN)
UNESCO            United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (178 members and 3 observers, established 1945) (UN)
UNFCCC            U.N. Framework Convention on Climate Change (UN)
UNFPA             United Nations Population Fund (51 members, established 1967) (UN)
UNGA              United Nations General Assembly (184 members) (UN)
UNGASS            United Nations General Assembly Special Session (UN)
UNHCR             United Nations Office of the High Commissioner for Refugees (46 members, established 1949) (UN)
UNICEF            United Nations Children's Fund (41 members, established 1946) (UN)
UNIDO             United Nations Industrial Development Organization (165 members, established 1966) (UN)
UNOLS             University-National Oceanographic Laboratory Systems
UNSE              United Nations Security Council (5 permanent members, 10 nonpermanent members, established 1945) (UN)
UNVIE             U.S. Mission to International Organizations in Vienna
USACE             U.S. Army Corps of Engineers (DOD)
USAEP             U.S.-Asia Environmental Partnership
USAID             U.S. Agency for International Development
USCG              United States Coast Guard
USDA              U.S. Department of Agriculture
USEC              U.S. Mission to European Communities
USFS              U.S. Forest Service (USDA)
USFWS             U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service
USG               U.S. Government
USGCRP            U.S. Global Change Research Program
USGS              U.S. Geological Survey (DOI)
USIA              U.S. Information Agency (known abroad as USIS)
USIF              U.S.-India Fund for Cultural, Educational and Scientific Cooperation (DOS)
USIJI             U.S. Initiative on Joint Implementation
USINT             U.S. Interests Section
USIS              see USAID
USISTC            U.S.-Israel Science and Technology Commission
USJCMSP           U.S.-Japan Cooperative Medical Science Program
USLO              U.S. Liaison Office
USMARC            U.S. Machine Readable Cataloging
USNATO            U.S. Mission to the North Atlantic Treaty Organization
US-OBI            United States Organization for Biodiversity Information
USOECD            U.S. Mission to the Organization for Economic Cooperation and Development
USSR              (former) Union of Soviet Socialist Republics
USTR              United States Trade Representative


-V-


VAMAS             Versailles Project on Advanced Materials and Standards
VAP               Vaccine Action Program (U.S.-India)
VATESI            Lithuania's Nuclear Power Safety Inspectorate (and Nuclear Regulatory Agency) (NRC)
VIT               Technical Research Center (Finland)
VOTE              Vortex Ozone Transport Experiment
VMS               Vessel Monitoring System


-W-


WADB              West African Development Bank (7 members -Benin, Burkina, Cote D'Ivoire, Mali, Niger, Senegal and Togo, also known as Banque Ouest-Africaine de Developpement, established 1973)
WAICENT           World Agricultural Information Center
WB                World Bank
WCL               World Confederation of Labor (99 national organizations, established 1920 as the International Federation of Christian Trade Unions (renamed in 1968)
WCMC              World Conservation Monitoring Center
WCNDR             World Conference on Natural Disaster Reduction (UN)
WCP               World Climate Programme
WCRP              World Climate Research Programme (WMO)
WCSF              Western Cape Science Education Forum (South Africa)
WDC               World Data Centre
WEU               Western European Union (9 members, 4 associate members, and 2 observers, established 1954)
WFC               World Food Council (36 members, established 1974) (UN)
WFP               World Food Program (42 members, established 1961) (UN/FAO)
WFTU              World Federation of Trade Unions (86 members, established 1945)
WHC               World Heritage Convention
WHO               World Health Organization (186 members, established in 1946) (UN)
WIPO              World International Patents Organization (140 members, established 1967)
WMD               Weapons of Mass Destruction
WMO               World Meteorological Organization (173 members, established 1947) (UN)
WOCE              World Ocean Circulation Research Unit (CEES) or World Ocean Circulation Research Experiment
WP                Warsaw Pact (established May 14, 1955)
WPB               Working Party on Biotechnology
WS                Workshop
WTO               World Trade Organization
WTO               World Tourism Organization (109 members, 4 associate members, and 1 observer (Holy See), established 1975)
WWF               World Wide Fund for Nature (also called World Wildlife Fund)
WWW               World Weather Watch


-Y-

YARU              Yale Arbovirus Research Unit (HHS)


-Z-

ZC                Zangger Committee (29 members, established in the early 1970's)