In Focus 2009

World Science Day

World Science Day for Peace and Development falls every year on 10 November. It is an occasion for UNESCO to reaffirm the virtues of scientific research for promoting the economic, social and cultural development of nations and peoples, in tandem with fostering peace and a sustainable future. Around the world, people are encouraged to join in the celebration.
Click here to download or print the poster for your own use and to read about some of this year's events.

Knowledge and the Future

Every two years, UNESCO, the Hungarian Academy of Sciences and ICSU provide a global forum in Budapest for dialogue between politicians and scientists. In a word, the World Science Forum aspires to become to science what the Davos Forum is to economics. (More)

Empowering Arab Women for the Development of the Arab World

The Arab Science & Technology Foundation is organizing a conference on 28-30 September on the theme of empowering women in science and technology in the Arab world, in cooperation with the Dubai Business Women’s Council. The conference is being organized in collaboration with UNESCO and the Islamic Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (ISESCO), as well as a number of scientific entities from the region and beyond. It is being held in Dubai (United Arab Emirates), under the Patronage of HRH Princess Haya Bint Al Hussein.

Write to the organizers
Go to the website
Contact the focal point at UNESCO.
Go to UNESCO’s page on Gender issues
Read about the L’Oréal-UNESCO Prize for Women in Science

The President of Slovenia visits UNESCO

Mr Danilo Türk, President of Slovenia, was at UNESCO headquarters in Paris on 5 July to participate in the opening ceremony of the World Conference on Higher Education. In talks with the Director-General, the President explained to Mr Matsuura that, as a member of the European Union, Slovenia was paying increasing attention to promoting regional cooperation in Southeast Europe. For the past decade, UNESCO has been helping to rebuild scientific co-operation among Southeast European countries via the ‘Venice Process’, named after the host city of UNESCO’s Regional Bureau for Science and Culture in Europe. (More)

UNESCO Science Report 2010

Preparation is under way of the fifth report in the series of UNESCO Science Reports on the state of the support system for science around the world. Every five years, a new report identifies and discusses emerging trends in research and higher education in the different regions. Who is performing R&D today? Where and with what means? What are the new priorities? Written by an international team of independent experts, the report provides a unique collection of facts, figures and analysis for anyone with an interest in understanding how contemporary issues are shaping science.

Read the UNESCO Science Report 2005, available in English and French.

Enquiries may be addressed to the Editor.

An Arab Plan of Action for Science and Technology

The Economic Summit of the Kings, Heads of State and Governments of the Arab League has adopted an Arab Plan of Action for Science and Technology. The plan was adopted at the summit held in Kuwait from 19 to 20 January 2009. UNESCO and the Arab League Educational, Cultural and Scientific Organization (ALECSO) are spearheading efforts to implement the plan.

More.

UNESCO and African Union Commission to discuss cooperation

The UNESCO-African Union Commission (AUC) Joint Commission met from 9 to 11 March at UNESCO’s Paris headquarters, in the presence of Jean Ping, Chair of the AUC, and Koïchiro Matsuura, Director-General of UNESCO. The key mechanism for cooperation between the two institutions, the joint commission meets every two years; it guides and directs activities, serves as a relay between African leaders and governments, and makes recommendations on joint action. On the outcome of the meeting, see the News below.

More.

Deadline 2 March for participating in policy workshop

Member States of UNESCO which belong to the G-77, as well as China, have until 2 March 2009 to propose participants for a workshop taking place from 22 to 26 June at the International Science, Technology and Innovation Centre for South-South Cooperation, established in Kuala Lumpur (Malaysia) under the auspices of UNESCO in 2008. Participants will be encouraged to share their experiences and explore possibilities for cooperation at the workshop. Malaysia is inviting 20 participants and a further 20 places are reserved for participants from the G-77 countries and China. Each participant should fulfill the following criteria: a minimum Bachelor’s degree in a field of science or engineering; some policy-making experience in science and technology; employment at an intermediary level in public administration; an excellent command of English; and be aged less than 45 years. The organizers of the workshop will cover all expenses.

To nominate a participant, write to the organizers.
For background on the host centre in Malaysia, click here.

Reform of Tanzanian science system gets under way

The reform of Tanzania’s science, technology and innovation (STI) system gets under way on 15-16 December with the first consultation of stakeholders at a workshop in Bagamoyo (Tanzania). UNESCO is heading a team of United Nations agencies and development partners which are accompanying Tanzania in this endeavour, within the One UN initiative. Under this umbrella, UNESCO and government departments and agencies have formulated a series of proposals for a total budget of US$10 million, to be financed from the One UN fund and other sources. (More)

For details: f.osotimehin@unesco.org - a.maduekwe@unesco.org