New office director for European Cooperation in Science and Technology (COST)

Monica Dietl starts today (1 April) as the new Office Director of the European Cooperation in Science and Technology (COST). Dietl will support the decision-making body of the programme with the implementation of new research networks as well as strategic matters. She will also support the European Science Foundation (ESF) in its capacity of implementing agent of COST activities.

“COST plays an important role in the European Research Area and I am excited to be joining the organisation,” said Dietl. “As a researcher with experience in and with private and public institutions, I believe that its bottom-up approach gives COST a unique experience in linking research and innovation through scientific, often interdisciplinary, research performance which is of significant added value in shaping the European research landscape.”

Dietl joins COST from the French National Research Centre (CNRS), where she was representative and Director of its Brussels office. Previously she worked as policy officer at the European Commission, where she contributed to the preparation of the 7th Framework Programme (FP7) Ideas programme and to the setting up of the European Research Council. Dietl is a biologist specialising in neuroscience.

“Dr Dietl does indeed join us at a very important time for the programme,” said Dr Ángeles Rodríguez-Peña, COST CSO President. “For COST, 2011 is not only the halfway point of FP7 but also the year to highlight our 40 years of existence with an eye towards defining our contribution to the Europe 2020 strategy,” she said. COST is one of the longest running intergovernmental programmes supporting collaboration between scientists and researchers in Europe and beyond. COST enables European scientists to cooperate on a particular project and exchange expertise.

“Dr Dietl's experience in science and science policy at the European level will help ensure COST play its role in the European Research Area,” said Professor Marja Makarow, Chief Executive of the European Science Foundation. The COST Office is financed by the European Science Foundation (ESF) through a European Commission contract.