UNESCO’s General Conference, which meets every two years, is holding its 36th session from 25 October to 10 November at the Organization’s Headquarters in Paris. The General Conference will decide on the proposed programme and budget for the 2012-2013 biennium, which gives priority to sustainable development, culture of peace and non-violence, with a special emphasis on gender equality, Africa, Small Islands Developing States (SIDS) and the most vulnerable segments of society. It will also pave the way for early work on the Organization’s next Medium-Term Strategy for 2014-2019. The Commission for Science will meet on 1-3 and 7 November 2011.

The Natural Science Sector is organizing a number of side events during the General Conference. An exhibition enhancing awareness of UNESCO’s role, its activities throughout the world, the work conducted by its staff on a daily basis and its specificities within the United Nations system, Open UNESCO, will be the setting of mini-conference throughout the session. The session also coincides with the World Science Day for Peace and Development (10 November 2011) and celebrations of the 40th anniversary of the Man and the Biosphere Programme (3 November 2011).

Natural Science Sector side events

• Presentation of the IOC Sub-Commission for African and Adjacent Island States
  28 October 2011
• Oceans at the UN Conference on Sustainable Development (Rio+20): Building ocean and coastal sustainability and greening the Blue Economy
  Round table, 1 November 2011
• UNESCO-GEF Groundwater  Governance Initiative: Launch of the Regional Consultations
  Presentation, 2 November 2011
• Launch of the UNESCO Biodiversity Initiative
  Presentation, 9 November 2011
• Knowledge Systems, Knowledge Diversity, Knowledge Societies: Towards a UNESCO Policy on Engaging with Indigenous Peoples
  Presentation and round table, in the context of the World Science Day for Peace and Development, 10 November 2011

Mini-conferences in the ‘Open UNESCO’ exhibition spaces

• Presentation of the International Sustainable Energy Development Centre, Moscow
  27 October 2011
• Demonstration of SPIN
  Demonstration of revolutionary interactive tool for policy-makers on science policy developed by the UNESCO Bureau for Science in Latin America and going global.
  28 October 2011
• H2Oooo Initiative   
  Presentation of a series of animated cartoons created and elaborated by schoolchildren around the world devoted to water issues and solutions.
  1 November 2011
• The Earth: our Home
  Film screening – UN partners come together to show the many facets of the planet.
  1 November 2011
• Celebration 40th anniversary of MAB, World  Biosphere Reserve Day
  Demonstration of the new African BR - web mapping Tool/package CD and database
  Artist David Rycroft speaks about his work: Variété infinie, une nature 
  3 November 2011
• Key findings of the UNESCO Science Report 2010
  Presentation followed by a quiz
  8 November 2011
• L’Eau et des Hommes et L’Histoire de l’Eau en notre temps
  Presentation and book Launch
  8 November 2011
• Videos for water 
  Water Centres from Latin America and the Caribbean discuss communication and outreach  
  9 November 2011
• Celebration of World Science Day for Peace and Development
  Presentation in the context of the World Science Day for Peace and Development: theme Towards Green Societies: equity, inclusiveness, participation.
  10 November 2011

Other events

• Hadron Collider
  Book Launch with CERN
  31 October 2011
• From Space to Place: Satellites and World Heritage partners to understand Climate Change
  Exhibition on the fences around UNESCO, until 11 November 2011
  Inauguration: 27 October 2011