By Eliane Portillo

Experts from Cuba and the United States are making preparations on Sunday for a five-day meeting aimed at seeking opportunities for research cooperation in biological and environmental sciences, enabling technologies, and science policy.

The forum, coordinated by The Academy of Sciences of Cuba (ACC) and the American Association for the Advancement of Science (AAAS), will be attended by about 40 directors of research centers and researchers from the two countries, said ACC sources.

The aim is to reach sustainable collaboration between the two countries, whose governments lack diplomatic relations since the White House broke its links with Havana in 1961.

According to organizers, this is a conference between representatives from the two scientific communities and will include specialized sessions to discuss specific projects, aimed to draw up a report on possible joint work.

The results could focus on detailed work plans for future cooperation, said an ACC communiqué.