Saul Hahn, Ph.D Coordinator, Basic Sciences and Networking Department of Scientific and Technological Affairs Organization of American States 1889 F-Street, N.W. Washington, D.C. 20006 Tel: (202) 458-3359 Fax: (202) 458-3167 e-mail: shahn@umd5.umd.edu Born in Mexico City, Saul Hahn holds an Electronics and Communications Engineering degree from the National Polytechnic Institute (Mexico). He also has an M.Sc. and Ph.D. in Mathematics from New York University. After a period of research in the U.S., Dr. Hahn returned to Mexico and became a Professor of Mathematics and Co-coordinator of the Computer Lab at the Centro de Investigacion y Estudios Avanzados (CINVESTAV) in Mexico City. He worked as a consultant in digital image processing at the IBM Scientific Center where he also coordinated special projects. The author of several monographs and numerous articles, Dr. Hahn was appointed to several Commissions at the Mexican National Science and Technology Council and the National University of Mexico. In 1985, he was distinguished as member of the Mexican National System of Researchers. He has lectured in mathematics and computer science topics and has done research at several universities across the U.S. On sabbatical leave from CINVESTAV, he was a Visiting Professor at the University of New Mexico in 1985. Dr. Hahn is currently Coordinator of Basic Sciences and Networking at the Organization of American States (OAS), with headquarters in Washington, D.C., where he has been since 1987. Under his leadership, the Hemisphere Wide Inter-University Scientific and Technological Information Network project (RedHUCyT) was established in 1991 to help integrate academic electronic networks in the 34 Member states of the OAS. A subproject of RedHUCYT, the Caribbean University Network (CUNet) was also started in 1991. Both projects play an important role in enhancing the development of national networks in the Western Hemisphere. In particular, with regards to connectivity with the Internet. Dr. Hahn has co-organized several major meetings, including the First Interamerican Networking Workshop and networking workshops for Latin American and the Caribbean countries. As a Mexican Scientist, I am aware of the importance networking has in the advancement of education, science, and technology in developing countries. Networking offers a unique opportunity to access facilities otherwise locally unavailable and to reduce the isolation with which many researchers have to work. For the past few years, I have had the opportunity to address these issues in many forums, and have generated support and obtained external funding to assist Latin America and the Caribbean, through RedHUCyT and CUNet, to integrate their networks. ISOC, as a true world-wide networking society, is uniquely suited to assist, as one of its goals, developing nations in the consolidation of their networks. As a Trustee, I would be very interested in sharing my experience to work within ISOC to help expand these types of activities. Although much is being done through ISOC's annual Workshop for Developing Countries, ISOC could expand these activities by offering expert advise through participation in local seminars and providing technical assistance when solicited. I would also like to work in expanding ISOC's membership. ISOC could branch out and gain valuable new members through publications and short electronic newsletters disseminating the use and importance of the Internet to a wider range of audiences. Another of my goals as a Trustee would be to promote ISOC and its pilot projects to private foundations and governmental organizations that could contribute to ISOC's objectives.