Happy World Science Day for Peace & Development!

In 2001, UNESCO proclaimed November 10th as World Science Day for Peace and Development. The first World Science Day for Peace and Development was celebrated worldwide on 10 November 2002, under UNESCO auspices. Twenty years later, I’m not sure how many of those in the trenches know about this special day.

The purpose of the Day is to:

• Strengthen public awareness of the role of science for peaceful and sustainable societies;
• Promote national and international solidarity for shared science between countries;
• Renew national and international commitment for the use of science for the benefit of societies;
• Draw attention to the challenges faced by science in raising support for the scientific endeavour.

The UN General Assembly has designated the year 2022 as The International Year of Basic Sciences for Sustainable Development, recognizing that basic sciences are vital to attain sustainable development and to improve the quality of life for people all over the world. UNESCO is organizing the Year, in collaboration with global partners, from July 2022 to July 2023.

In line with this special Year, today’s Science Day for Peace and Development theme is “Basic Sciences for Sustainable Development.”

As we celebrate this day, and this special Year, we should be mindful of how many different players are involved in applying the knowledge that emerges from the minds and experiences of the world’s scientists. As well, we should acknowledge that in many fields, basic science is stimulated by societal needs, just as societal solutions can often be traced back to basic science.

#ScienceDay