21 January 2015: A meeting was held with Members of the Executive Board on the general theme of "Science for Development and International Cooperation" on Wednesday, 21 January 2015, in Room X. This was the fifth information meeting, organized as part of the series of meetings foreseen by the Executive Board in its decision entitled " UNESCO at 70 and future prospects" (194 EX/Decision 31).

Organized into two parts, the first session was devoted to the topic of “Basic Sciences and Science Education for Development”, with the participation of the following distinguished panelists:

Opening remarks by the Director-General of UNESCO, Ms Irina Bokova:

During her opening remarks, the Director-General warmly welcomed the initiative of the Chairperson of the Executive Board to organize a meeting on the subject of Science for Sustainable Development and International Cooperation. She mentioned that the meeting was taking place at the start of UNESCO’s 70th anniversary year, but also on the heels of the launch of the International Year of Light. Ms Bokova noted that the letter "S" in UNESCO’s acronym was introduced during the Organization’s constituent conference, held in London in November 1945. Since then, she said, “the sciences have stood at the heart of all of UNESCO’s work.” Ms Bokova recalled that “science has the power to bring people together, regardless of origins, in the pursuit of objective truth.” The Director-General also recalled that UNESCO recently convened the United Nations Secretary-General’s Scientific Advisory Board, whose purpose is to strengthen dialogue between science and policy. In this regard, she said that UNESCO plays a vital role “in promoting science education, especially for girls and women, and the development of science, technology and innovation policy, based especially on south-south cooperation.”

Introduction by the Chairperson of the Executive Board, H.E. Ambassador Mohamed Sameh Amr:

With a view to focusing the discussion, the Chairperson proposed that each of the three speakers reflect on each or any one of the following questions:

  1. Does the celebration of International Years – whose objective is to help contribute towards a greater understanding and awareness of important political, social, cultural, humanitarian or human rights issues – achieve these objectives?
  2. There is a worrying decline in interest in science education amongst young people, why such disinterest, and, what could be done?
  3. How can Nobel Laureates be leveraged to improve quality science, making it relevant to the sustainable development agenda?

Presentation by Professor John Dudley, President of the International Year of Light Steering Committee:

Professor Dudley responded to the first question, and noted that the creation of a succession of international years celebrating the sciences allowed for the promotion of scientific subjects. He noted that it was still necessary to establish better coordination between policy-makers and science. The professor stressed the importance of light technology, noting that while it may by an expensive innovation, it was also very useful. He recalled that in New York, at the General Assembly of the United Nations, the International Year of Light was renamed "International Year of Light and Light-based Technologies." He concluded by saying that “Scientists must defend the vital role of science and the need for a scientific revolution.”

Presentation by Professor William (Bill) Phillips, 1997 Nobel Laureate in Physics (studies on lasers):

Professor Phillips raised warning amongst the participants to the potential risks associated with a decrease in the interest by young people for the science in general and science education specifically. He mentioned that global development depends in the most part, on scientific research and innovation. In fact, he noted that major innovations originate in the universities and are then exploited by private companies. Professor Williams lamented the lack of interest in science from girls, noting that it is an unfortunate loss to the scientific community. He also expressed regret at the deterioration of the image of science, perceived as "a source of problems rather than a source of solutions." Young people today, he noted, are turning to other priority sectors such as Law or Economics, while Science loses many young and talented people, which are its "core resources".

Presentation by Professor Sune Svanberg, former Chair of the Nobel Committee on Physics:

Professor Svanberg began by stating that: "Science brings people together in a unique way," and "helps us advance toward a better world". Promoting such a cause is a responsibility that rests on each of us. That said, the professor stressed the need to protect fundamental research, which must go hand in hand with applied research. At present, many risks can be avoided through the development of basic research, such as increased resistance to antibiotics, or the disappearance of certain species. This is why Science and Education Policy should be strengthened. He noted also that the Nobel Prize is a distinction that allows for an appraisal of the role of science, which nonetheless must be accompanied by a reassessment of science education.

Question and Answer Session with Members of the Executive Board of UNESCO:

The Representative of Mexico asked the panelists how UNESCO could promote the Science/Policy nexus.

Professor Dudley encouraged UNESCO to better utilize its ability to bring together NGOs and multinationals. Professor Phillips noted that the main difference between these two spheres was due to a different perception of time scale: the fruits of basic research are only visible decades or centuries later, whereas politicians have short-term time-frames within which to work. A response to this dichotomy could be education.

Other representatives (Gambia, Togo) asked the panelists how Science could be developed in Africa, in countries where infrastructure is inadequate, where teachers are lacking, and where some villages are without electricity.

Faced with these difficulties, the panelists proposed several solutions: the use of online courses and "MOOCs" (Massive Open Online Courses) as well as light emitting diodes, the "LED", able to efficiently emit light using limited electricity. The utilization of glasses created with recycled materials was also discussed by Professor Dudley.

The link between Science and Ethics was also raised by some delegates (Mexico, Italy), while the representative of the Islamic Republic of Iran went beyond, claiming the need for ethical access of Science for All. Professor Svanberg noted that adverse consequences of some scientific research were not always predictable, and that he himself had to end his research, focused on "cheap fuel", because of the potential risk of military use of the fruits of his research.

The representative of Tunisia regretted the absence of Nobel Prize winners in the South, Professor Svanberg recognized this lack, noting factors of development and the progress of science in the South as encouraging. Moreover, Professor Phillips underlined that the question to be asked is NOT: what must be done to obtain the prize, but rather he claimed that scientist should persevere with their curiosity and enthusiasm, stating the by doing so a prize would come if something new resulted.

The second session focused on “Science Policy for North-South and South-South Cooperation” with the participation of the following eminent panelists:

The Chairperson of the Executive Board invited the panelists to reflect on the following question: “With regard to the science/policy nexus, what in your opinion is UNESCO’s role and added value for the promotion of the sciences for sustainable development?”

Presentation by Ms Naledi Pandor, Minister of Science and Technology (South Africa):

During her presentation, Ms Naledi Pandor emphasized the need for support and growth of scientific research. UNESCO’s roleshould be to ensure multilateral cooperation between institutions and to promote partnerships. The Minister of Science and Technology also informed the participants of advances in the Sciences that have been made on the African Continent, including: a recent report by the World Bank, which shows that sub-Saharan research knows a qualitative and quantitative growth. She stressed the need for international cooperation, which strengthens the construction of knowledge in the field of Science and Technology.   

Presentation by Professor Ana Maria Cetto, former Deputy Director-General of the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) and former Secretary-General of International Council for Science (ICSU) (Mexico):

Professor Cetto recalled advances made, as a result of the World Conference on Science, organized by UNESCO and the International Council for Science in June 1999. Fifteen years later, the challenges are different, but the link between the Science and Economy remains fundamental. The Professor encouraged the establishment of a dialogue within the scientific community, which would bring global benefits to an international scale. Professor Cetto reaffirmed UNESCO’s crucial role in Science Diplomacy, stating that i Independent of political trends, countries must share scientific knowledge, for which UNESCO ought to be considered as the ultimate mediator of such diplomacy.

Presentation by Professor Jose Mariano Gago, former Minister of Science and Technology (Portugal):

Professor Gago reiterated that UNESCO was indeed the meeting place between science and policy, but also between Science and Education, and between Science and Culture. UNESCO, a United Nations agency and an agency of peace, has a mission to encourage international cooperation and to promote the absence of conflict. According to Professor Gago, UNESCO’s specificity is to be an exchange interface to allow North-South cooperation. Professor Gago also noted that in the field of education, "UNESCO is a value-added provider.”

Question and Answer Session with Members of the Executive Board of UNESCO:

The following subjects were raised by Representatives during this Q and A session: -

In response to the problem of the brain drain, the Minister of Science and Technology of South Africa, Ms.Naledi Pandor, suggested that institutional foundations needed to be developed in Africa in order to reverse this trend of leakage. She said that in the case of leakage to South Africa, students were systematically encouraged to return to their country of origin.

Professor Cetto said that adopting science policy was necessary but not sufficient: policies must always be accompanied by a clear strategy. She also warned the participants against prejudices that exist about the supposed poor quality of research coming from the South. She recalled UNESCO’s combined role between Education and Science and between Culture and Science.

Professor Gago, meanwhile, explained and rationalized the brain drain. According to him, when a person has skills in the field of science, and is faced with the inability to develop knowledge, it is his "moral duty to go." The professor also stressed the need to focus on the fundamental values of science: the search for truth.

Finally, the importance of education and how it was indissociable from science for development was reiterated throughout the entire debate. Nelson Mandela’s famous quote was acclaimed by the whole Room: 'Education is the most powerful weapon which you can use to change the world.'

All panelists concurred, that UNESCO, being the United Nation’s Scientific, Educational and Cultural Organization, has a mandate to bridge the gap between Science and Policy. UNESCO is the hub for international cooperation to support science, technology and innovation capacity-building through, amongst others, its UNESCO Chair programmes, the ICTP and online tools, and clearinghouse mechanisms etc … In the international effort to advance human health, welfare, and development while managing and conserving better the environment and natural resources, there is a clear and growing recognition of the role of scientific and technical knowledge in global governance. This has created an urgent need for UNESCO to equip itself with the capability to ensure that scientific knowledge informs international decision-making.