European consumers are protesting the sale of U.S. food products because of concerns about genetically altered crops. In Russia, weapons-grade uranium is being stored in inadequately protected facilities, increasing the risk that a terrorist organization or rogue nation might steal the material to build nuclear weapons. A new disease has made its way from Africa to New York and is threatening to spread along the East Coast.

Most of us would agree that dealing effectively with these thorny international problems requires an understanding of the scientific, technological, and health issues surrounding them. But ironically, as the world becomes more dependent on technology, the U.S. Department of State - the agency responsible for implementing America's foreign policy around the globe - has been downplaying the necessity for scientific and technical expertise in its ranks.

This trend must be reversed now to ensure that U.S. foreign policy continues to contribute to a more secure, prosperous, and democratic world. That was the obvious conclusion of a National Research Council committee I chaired recently. Our report strongly urges the State Department to integrate science, technology, and health considerations into the nation's foreign policy agenda.

The success of some of the most important global negotiations depends upon having technical expertise readily available. For example, the United States is the world leader in growing soybean, corn, and other food crops that have been genetically altered to protect them from pests, make them taste better, or provide some other advantage. International agreements on how to trade and regulate these crops - which will have a huge impact on U.S. food producers - should be informed by the latest research on possible health and environmental effects. Similarly, negotiating trade agreements for U.S. high-technology exports such as aircraft or communications equipment requires a sophisticated understanding of both economics and technology. And reaching international consensus on how to curb global warming and control "greenhouse" gas emissions from automobiles, factories, and other sources could be meaningless unless plans are based on sound science.

Problems often occur when a major policy decision is not informed by needed scientific and health expertise. Beginning in the 1960s, millions of wells were drilled in Bangladesh to ease a drinking water shortage, but it wasn't until the early 1980s that nearly half the wells were found to be contaminated with arsenic, a naturally occurring element that causes serious health problems when consumed. Now the World Bank and several European countries are attempting to reverse what has been characterized as the largest mass poisoning case in the world - mainly because the Bangladeshi government and the many international development organizations involved lacked the technical competence to identify the arsenic problem in the planning stages. The U.S. government, which employs some of the most sophisticated water screening and treatment technologies available, must share the blame for not insisting that the water be thoroughly tested earlier.

The United States has a wealth of resources to ensure that such mistakes can be avoided elsewhere. The nation's storehouse of scientific, technical, and health expertise is unparalleled. U.S. universities and research facilities are magnets for attracting the best and the brightest from all over the world. In fact, scientists, technologists, and health professionals share knowledge and a culture that cuts across national borders, which in itself is a force in international relations.

The State Department should make every effort to capitalize on these resources. We counted at least 25 U.S. embassies and missions around the globe that should have technically trained science counselors on staff to address diverse issues such as negotiating trade agreements or preventing the spread of infectious diseases. The secretary of state needs to outline a policy that will incorporate science, technology, and health expertise into American foreign policy. Foreign service officers and diplomatic officials should be expected to have basic competence in these matters. In addition, a highly qualified senior science adviser should be appointed to provide leadership in strengthening the State Department's technical capabilities.

The United States has always been a leader in world diplomacy. By integrating science, technology, and health considerations into our international agenda, Americans - and the rest of the world - can be confident that our foreign policy decisions are based on sound judgment.