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Speaker Renugan Raidoo talks about the importance of cultural diplomacy and how anthropological exchanges of ideas, information, and other aspects of culture are not only key in shaping international perception, but also how their lack or misinterpretations can hinder the progress of foreign relations. Renugan is a Goldwater Scholar and University of Iowa Presidential Scholar in the fields of chemistry and anthropology. Born and raised in Durban, South Africa, he moved to South Dakota in 2001 and has been a citizen of the US since March 2010. Renugan's diverse upbringing and his family's involvement in the struggle against apartheid serve as the impetus for his study of anthropology. He has presented his research at conferences in the United States and Germany. Renugan is heavily involved with his university's chapter of Amnesty International. The Iowa City Foreign Relations Council (ICFRC) is a non-profit community organization that seeks to promote understanding of international issues by hosting community forums with informed speakers from around the world. ICFRC is housed within and supported in part by International Programs at the University of Iowa. International Programs, your global intersection, connects students, faculty, staff, and the Iowa community to the world. Visit the Iowa City Foreign Relations Council online for more information. More information on the Iowa City Foreign Relations Council can be found here.