DR ‹ › Tangier hosted the «Crossing the Strait» research seminar from April 27 to 29, bringing together 26 American Fulbright scholars based in Morocco and Spain for an interdisciplinary exchange focused on cooperation across the Strait of Gibraltar. Organized by the Moroccan-American Commission for Educational and Cultural Exchange (MACECE) in partnership with the Fulbright Commission in Spain and the Tangier American Legation Institute for Moroccan Studies (TALIM), the three-day event was held at the Tangier American Legation. The program opened with a concert hosted by the Foundation Majorelle featuring works by Spanish composer Manuel de Falla, followed by academic sessions structured around four themes: trans-Mediterranean history and cultural exchange; education, language, and knowledge transfer; energy, resources, and regional development; and society, policy, and public health. Workshops on research practices and academic collaboration also complemented the discussions. Speaking at the event, U.S. Deputy Chief of Mission Benjamin Ziff highlighted the seminar as a reflection of «sustained diplomacy in practice», while MACECE Executive Director Rebecca Geffner described it as a platform where «research, ideas, and perspectives converge across disciplines». Fulbright Spain Executive Director Alberto López San Miguel emphasized the role of the initiative in transforming the Strait into «a dynamic bridge of intellectual exchange». Held in the context of the United States' Freedom 250 commemoration, marking 250 years of independence, the seminar also underscored longstanding Morocco-U.S. ties and the role of academic exchange in strengthening people-to-people diplomacy.
