UNESCO Representative provides opening remarks at World Science Day for Peace and Development[/caption]In support of UNESCOs 70th anniversary celebrations, the UNESCO Tehran Cluster Office in cooperation with the Iranian Association for the Popularization of Sciences and the Iranian National Commission for UNESCO organized an event on the occasion of World Science Day for Peace and Development to highlight the organizations scientific achievements over the past 70 years.
The event was attended by many diplomats, scientists, academics and UNESCO partners.
Among the speakers were Dr. Salar-Amoli, Vice-Minister of Science for International Affairs; Madam Mazaheri, Deputy Head of the Department of Environment for Research and Educational Affairs; Mr. Daemi, Deputy Minister of Energy for Planning and Economic Affairs; and a message was delivered by Ms. Rahmati on behalf of Mr. Meydani, Deputy Minister of Energy for Water and Wastewater Affairs.
UNESCO established World Science Day for Peace and Development in 2001 in order to create bridges between science and society. This year, the theme was Quality Science Education: ensuring a sustainable future for all. Ms. Kuisch Laroche, Director and Representative of the UNESCO Tehran Cluster Office, stated that it was an important opportunity to highlight the importance of quality science education to develop skills that are required in this 21st century, such as critical thinking, problem solving, active learning, scientific citizenship and science-based decision-making.
During her opening remarks, Ms. Esther Kuisch Laroche talked about UNESCOs main programmes in the field of natural sciences and mentioned that since 1945 UNESCO has promoted the advancement of science and its applications to develop knowledge and capacity as a key to economic and social progress, and as the basis of peace and sustainable development.
She said that UNESCO had led the movement to protect the environment and had sounded the alert over the planets shrinking biodiversity at an early stage. In 1968, UNESCO organized the first intergovernmental conference aimed at reconciling the environment and development, which resulted in the creation of UNESCOs Man and the Biosphere programme. Through this programme UNESCO sought to reconcile the use and conservation of natural resources, which was the first step towards sustainable development.
Sustainable development was an important theme throughout the event. Ms. Mazaheri, Deputy Head of the Department of Environment for Research and Educational Affairs, stressed the importance of science for the conservation of the environment and sustainable development. She said that much irreversible damage had been done to the environment due to a lack of science-based decision making.
The message from Mr. Meydani, Deputy Minister of Energy for Water and Wastewater Affairs, focused on the importance of water and the many challenges that Iran and the world are facing today when it comes to managing water resources. He also stressed the importance of science in that regard.
The celebration of World Science Day also marked the opening of a science exhibition that will be open to the public all week in Tehrans Milad Tower, as well as the beginning of the International Science Week.
Throughout the week, a number of conferences and seminars will take place in Tehran (organized jointly by UNESCO, the Iranian Association for the Popularization of Sciences, and the Iranian National Commission for UNESCO) and there will be open days at selected universities and scientific institutes for students from several parts of Tehran.
The UNESCO Tehran Cluster Office cordially invites the public to attend the Science Week events and to visit the science exhibition which is accessible free of charge.
By United Nations In Iran
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