November 10
World Science Day for Peace and Development
World Science Day for Peace and Development is an international day that highlights the important role of science in society and is celebrated every year on 10 November. It also emphasizes the need to engage the wider public in debates on new scientific issues. World Science Day was declared by the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO) and was celebrated for the first time in 2002.
The influence of science on people's everyday lives and its profound social consequences, including ethical and ecological ones, make scientific literacy an essential prerequisite for effective democratic processes. At the World Conference on Science in Budapest, Hungary in July 1999, co-organized by UNESCO and the International Council for Science, many delegates expressed support for greater public awareness of science. Delegations from Ethiopia and Malawi, along with the British Association for the Advancement of Science, proposed the creation of World Science Day or World Science Week.
By fostering closer connections between science and society, World Science Day aims to ensure that citizens are informed about developments in science. It also emphasizes the role of scientists in expanding our understanding of the planet we call home and in creating more sustainable societies.
The goals of World Science Day for Peace and Development (STEM) are:
- Strengthen public awareness of the role of science in peaceful and sustainable societies.
- Promote national and international solidarity for shared science among countries.
- Renew national and international commitment to using science for the benefit of society.
- Highlight the challenges that science faces and increase support for scientific efforts.
For thousands of years, science and technology have played a huge role in shaping the future of humanity. In the future, they will help humanity fight its greatest battle: climate change. While renewable technologies such as solar and wind energy will be crucial in helping us reduce carbon emissions, there are several major obstacles to their integration into electrical grids. One of the main problems is that these technologies are not yet advanced enough to handle power outages caused by natural disasters and potential terrorist attacks. Progress in renewable and artificial technologies is expected to help address this. However, for these technologies to become a reality, the public needs to be more aware of their importance.
Individuals and institutions around the world are encouraged to organize events or activities on World Science Day, including government officials, students, media, and schoolchildren. World Science Day for Peace and Development has created many specific projects, programs, and funding for science worldwide.
If you are looking for your own inspiration for STEM, there are many success stories about how volunteers, partners, educators, and students have a positive impact on the world, whether by solving problems through creative innovations or inspiring the next generation through engaging programs. Explore their stories and share their successes on the IEEE PreUniversity STEM Portal website.
