The launch of the RCUK Office in the US took place on 27 November 2007, hosted by the British Ambassador Sir Nigel Sheinwald at his residence in Washinton DC. Speeches welcoming the creation of the office and the value of UK-US research collaboration were given by the British Ambassador, Director of the National Science Foundation Dr Arden Bement, and Professor Keith Mason (on behalf of Research Councils UK).
Attendance at the event totalled over 200, with representatives from numerous organisations from both the US and UK. These included US research funding agencies such as: The National Science Foundation, National Institutes of Health, United States Department of Agriculture, NASA, Department of Energy National Labs, Library of Congress, Department of Homeland Security, NEA and the National Endowment for the Humanities. As well as US learned societies, research organisations and universities such as the US National Academies, the American Association for the Advancement of Science, John Hopkins University, University of California San Diego, George Washington University, the Association of American Universities, and the American Institute of Physics.
Representatives from the UK included delegates from the UK Research Councils, the Foreign and Commonwealth Office Science & Innovation Network, UK Trade and Investment, British Council, British Academy, Royal Society of Edinburgh, Confederation of British Industry, the SETSquared Partnership (Universities of Bath, Bristol, Southampton, Surrey), Newcastle University and QMWC.
After the reception an informal dinner was held for Research Council Chief Executives with senior figures from the National Science Foundation, Department of Energy, Department of Homeland Security, NASA, and with the RCUK US Office and the Foreign and Commonwealth Office Science & Innovation Network.
Professor Keith Mason addresses the attendees
Speeches
Transcripts of the speeches are available:
Dr Arden Bement 
Professor Keith Mason
Sir Nigel Sheinwald
