World Science Day :

Global search for peace and development

By Husna Inayathullah

The World Science Day for Peace and Development (WSDPD) is held annually on November 10 to raise awareness of the benefits of science worldwide. The WSDPD, also known as World Science Day was proclaimed by the UNESCO General Conference in 2001.

This day is celebrated all over the world to recall the commitment made at the UNESCO-ICSU World Conference on Science (Budapest 1991). The theme for this year is "Quality Science Education: ensuring a sustainable future for all."

The purpose of the World Science Day for Peace and Development is to renew the national as well as the international commitment to science for peace and development and to stress the responsible use of science for the benefit of society.

The World Science Day for Peace and Development also aims at raising public awareness of the importance of science and to bridge the gap between science and societies.

Commitment

The organisation of a focused event related to the commitment to science and society was one of the positive outcomes of the 1999 World Conference on Science in Budapest.

It was considered an opportunity to reaffirm each year the commitment to attaining the goals proclaimed in the Declaration on Science and the Use of Scientific Knowledge and to follow up the recommendations of the Science Agenda: Framework for Action.

Award-winning science writer Nalaka Gunawardene who counts over 25 years of national and international experience and serves as co-chair of the recently established National Coordinating Council on Science for all in Sri Lanka expressed his views regarding World Science Day. He explained the Day's relevance and values.

Role

"World Science Day aims to ensure that everyone is kept informed of new developments in science, and the role scientists in society is understood and valued. The notion of 'Science for All' is not confined to scientific subjects studied in school or university. Science is much more than textbooks, laboratories and experts.

"Some among us are drawn to studying science and technology in depth and pursue careers in medicine, engineering or other specialised fields. Sri Lanka certainly needs such highly skilled persons to transform the economy and society.

Beyond this, however, every citizen needs a certain minimum knowledge and understanding of science and technology to lead productive and safe lives today. Without it, we can get easily confused, sidelined or exploited by various scams.

Consider a few recent headline-making developments" he said.

One would wonder how far we have proposed in science based control measures.According to Gunawardene, an international health conference held in Colombo heard that no malaria cases had been reported in Sri Lanka since October 2012. It suggests that we have probably eliminated the ancient disease from our island. Science based disease surveillance and control measures were responsible for this feat in public health.

"Yet there is no time to rest, as other mosquito borne diseases pose new threats, he says. "Since 1988, dengue fever (DF) and dengue haemorrhagic fever (DHF) epidemics have been regular occurrences in Sri Lanka, which is among the 30 most dengue endemic countries.

Dengue is preventable and evidence shows it can be contained. Once again we need scientific research to inform health policies and control measures.

Koslanda

"The Koslanda landslide on October 29 destroyed an entire settlement, instantly burying many innocent people and making hundreds more homeless. That was a national tragedy, especially as the hazard was identified by scientists at the National Building Research Organisation (NBRO) who had repeatedly warned the people at risk to relocate.

"Alas, that did not happen for socio-economic reasons. A key lesson of Koslanda is that hazard information and warnings need timely and effective communication. To be effective, they need to be accompanied by viable alternatives to those at risk.

We often read media reports that can be scary. We hear about pesticide residues in our food, the rising number of road traffic accidents, and the danger of digital identity theft. Some basic scientific knowledge and technical skills become essential survival tools in the 21st century. Science cannot be left to scientists alone.

We can understand this with a sporting analogy. Our national passion of cricket is played professionally by a handful of men and women who make up the national teams and pools. But practically all 20 million Lankans know enough about cricket to follow and appreciate the game.

Method

Similarly, we have a few thousand professionals practising or teaching science and technology for a living. The rest of society also needs to know at least the basic concepts - and limits - of science.

For example, the scientific method involves questioning and investigating before accepting anything. A healthy dose of scepticism is very useful to safeguard ourselves from superstitions and increasingly sophisticated - but not always honest - product advertising.

Speaking about the Coordinating Secretariat for Science, Technology and Innovation (COSTI, website: http://costi.gov.lk) which was set up in 2013 under the Senior Minister of Science and Technology, Gunawardene says it has recently set up a National Coordinating Council on Science for All in Sri Lanka. Its mandate is to empower Lankans of all ages and walks of life with science knowledge to enable them to make informed decisions in everyday life.

The Council wants to play a catalytic role, inspiring media, education and professional institutions to promote science communication as an essential survival skill for modern times. It will collaborate with such message 'multipliers' who can help reach large numbers of people quickly. A national policy on science communication is to be drawn up to guide future activities.

American astronomer Carl Sagan (1934 - 1996) was at the forefront in promoting science for its sense of wonder and also for countering pseudoscience. As he used to say, "Our species needs, and deserves, a citizenry with minds wide awake and a basic understanding of how the world works."

The rationale of celebrating a World Science Day for Peace and Development has its roots in the importance of the role of science and scientists for sustainable societies and in the need to inform and involve citizens in science. In this sense, a World Science Day for Peace and Development would offer an opportunity to show the general public the relevance of science in their lives and to engage them in discussions.

Such a venture would also bring a unique perspective to the global search for peace and development.

Partners

The first World Science Day for Peace and Development was celebrated worldwide on November 10, 2002 under UNESCO auspices. The celebration involved many partners, such as governmental, intergovernmental and Non-Governmental Organisations, UNESCO National Commissions, scientific and research institutions, professional associations, the media, science teachers and schools.

The United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organisation (UNESCO) works with people, government agencies and organisations to promote the WSDPD each year. The WSDPD celebrations include: Open days to highlight science's important role in peace and development.

Classroom discussions to emphasize how science and technology affect daily life.

Distributing the WSDPD posters throughout tertiary institutions, school campuses, and public venues.

Arranged science museum visits to commemorate the day. Visits to local schools on careers in science or scientific presentations.

In the past several governments used World Science Day to publicly affirm their commitment to increased support for scientific initiatives that help society, as well as launch new science policy programs together with scientific institutions, civil society, universities and schools. The WSDPD is a global observance and not a public holiday. Various images promoting science and technology are seen in World Science Day posters. The UNESCO logo is also seen on promotional material associated with the day. The logo features the words "UNESCO" pictured as part of a temple building or structure. The words "United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization" are presented underneath this image.