The Office of the Science and Technology Adviser to the Secretary of State is the principal office within the United States Department of State for independent science and technology advising. STAS was created in 2000 by Secretary of State Madeleine Albright in response to a 1999 study by the National Academy of Sciences which called for the establishment of an independent science adviser. STAS focuses on anticipating the impact of emerging science, technology, and innovation issues on foreign policy, building the State Department's capacity to engage with emerging science, technology, and innovation issues, and engaging with the science, technology, and innovation community to achieve Department goals.