Geri Richmond is making stops in Thailand and Vietnam this month in her first official trip as a U.S. science envoy.

Richmond, a UO chemistry professor and Presidential Chair, was among four science envoys named Dec. 4 by the U.S. State Department. She left Monday on a three-week excursion aimed at strengthening U.S. science and education in her assigned region.

Her focus area covers countries along the Mekong River in Southeast Asia: Thailand, Myanmar, Laos, Vietnam and Cambodia. Science envoys travel as private citizens and share the knowledge and insights they gain abroad with the U.S. scientific community upon their return.