Three UNU-MERIT researchers contributed to the UNESCO Science Report 2021: Luc Soete and Hugo Hollanders among others co-authored the chapter on the European Union, while Shuan Sadreghazi wrote the chapter on Iran. In a preface to the 750-page document, UN Secretary-General António Guterres said: “The Covid-19 pandemic has underscored three important lessons. The first is that we are all deeply interconnected. No-one will be safe from the virus until everyone is safe. The second lesson is ...
“We must build bridges, meet the different actors working in the country by developing different forms of science communication – journalism, dissemination, education – and enrich each other from these differences.” Prof. Daniela Hirschfeld ...
For this sixth edition of our Science Reporting Workshop, Reach and Turn, we partnered with UNESCO, the City of Knowledge Foundation, and the National Secretariat for Science, Technology and Innovation — returning to Panama as a side event of the second Latin America and Caribbean Open Science Forum (CILAC). In this edition we focused on the role of academic activism, the use of social media for communicating science, and the road ahead for science communication in Latin America and global...
A guest post by Dr. Lidia Brito, UNESCO Regional Director of Science for Latin America and the Caribbean The declaration signed by the Heads of State and Government and High Representatives, meeting at the United Nations Headquarters in New York, established the adoption of “a historic decision on a comprehensive, far-reaching and people-centred set of universal and transformative Goals and targets.” There, the governments that signed committed themselves to working tirelessly for the full imple...
The Dead Sea, Jordan – the lowest point on Earth, where three thousand delegates at the World Science Forum are sharing the highest of aspirations: to make sure science brings ‘real change’, and perhaps even peace. A gathering of researchers and policymakers under the patronage of Irina Bokova, Director-General of UNESCO and King Abdullah II of Jordan, this year’s forum coincides with the COP23 Climate Change Conference in Bonn as well as World Science Day for Peace and Development – a day for h...
As Ban Ki-Moon approaches the end of his mandate, consultations are under way to find a successor. A leading candidate for the post is Irina Bokova, Director-General of UNESCO. During an event at Chatham House, a think tank in London, on 6 September 2016, she outlined what would be her main priorities if appointed Secretary-General of the United Nations. Education was mentioned time again, particularly in the context of security, sustainability and global partnerships. Attending on behalf of UNU...
The North–South divide in research and innovation is narrowing, says the latest UNESCO Science Report. UNU-MERIT founder Luc Soete presented the executive summary at the launch event at UNESCO headquarters in Paris. The full report is embedded below. The report includes several contributions by UNU-MERIT fellows, including chapter 1: ‘A World in Search of an Effective Growth Strategy’ by Luc Soete et al; Chapter 2: ‘Tracking Trends in Innovation and Mobility’, by Director...
Teachers are essential in preparing future generations: their work in educating future generations contribute directly to the development of their nations and forms children into citizens of the world. Thanks to several high-profile events, this year’s focus for the World Teacher Day is very much on the supporting role education plays in furthering development. The most important event is clearly the adoption of the Sustainable Development Goals a little over a week ago. Goal #4 expresses the ne...