Date:
Tuesday, 10 November 2020; 19th Anniversary.
Sponsor:
United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO)
Purposes:
As stated by the UN, the World Science Day for Peace and Development is established for four objectives:
- To strengthen public awareness of the role of science in promoting sustainable development and paving the way for peaceful societies,
- To promote national and international solidarity for shared science between nations,
- To renew local and international commitment for the use of scientific knowledge and technology to benefit societies,
- To draw attention to the challenges faced by science in raising support for the scientific endeavor.
Inception:
The first World Science Day for Peace and Development was officially held on November 10, 2002.
The Day was initially proposed in 1999, by the delegations of Ethiopia and Malawi, at the World Conference on Science in Budapest, Hungary.
In November 2001, the 31st Session of the UNESCO General Conference officially proclaimed 10 November of each year World Science Day for Peace and Development.
How to observe the Day
Since 2002, the World Science Day for Peace and Development has generated many projects, programs and funding for science around the world. It has also helped foster cooperation between scientists living in different regions.
Individuals, institutions, and organizations around the world are highly encouraged to organize a range of events or activities, such as conferences, lectures, seminars, group discussions and social media campaigns, on the Day to promote public awareness of the role and importance of science.
Each year a specific theme is selected by the UN as the focus of celebration.
The theme in 2020:
This year, with the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic, the focus of the World Science Day is on the theme of “Science for and with Society in dealing with COVID-19.”
Annual theme in previous years:
2019: “Open science, leave no one behind”
2018: “Science, a human right”
2017: “Science for global understanding”
2016: “Celebrating science centers and science museums”
Official websites:
https://www.un.org/en/observances/world-science-day
