The World Science Day for Peace and Development, which aims to highlight the important role of science in society and the need for the general public to participate in emerging scientific issues, is celebrated around the world annually on November 10.
The proposal to establish such a holiday was made at the 1999 World Scientific Conference in Budapest under the auspices of the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO).
According to the conference delegates, this could help to strengthen relationship between the public and science in addressing problems on a planetary scale.The World Science Day for Peace and Development was officially proclaimed in 2001, and was first celebrated in 2002.
The objectives of Science Day are as follows:
Raise public awareness of the role of science for peaceful and sustainable development of societies;
Encourage national and international solidarity for the sharing of scientific advances by different countries;
Renew the national and international commitment to using science for the benefit of society;
Draw attention to the challenges facing science and enhance support for scientific activities.
The World Science Day provides an opportunity to mobilize all stakeholders, from government officials to media representatives and schoolchildren, around the theme of science for peace and development. UNESCO strongly encourages everyone to join the celebration of the World Science Day for Peace and Development by organizing their own event on this day.
In 2020, the Science Day theme is “Science in the service of society in the fight against the pandemic”.Throughout this unprecedented crisis, UNESCO, as a United Nations agency with a mandate in science, has sought to strengthen international scientific cooperation.
UNESCO’s response to COVID-19 focuses on three main areas: promoting international scientific cooperation, ensuring access to water and supporting environmental protection measures.
Considering science as the progressive driving force of the state and society, Turkmenistan seeks to create all conditions for carrying out scientific activities, expanding the range of research, and putting the results thereof into practice.
Much attention is paid to development of international cooperation in this area and the promotion of scientific diplomacy.On June 12, the country celebrates the National Science Day, established in 2008 with the aim to popularize science in society, identify talented scientists.
The annual International Exhibition and Scientific Conference “Science, Engineering and Innovative Technologies”, as well as summing up the results of the competition among young scientists and awarding them for the most original and promising developments, are timed to this day.
Every year hundreds of young scientists present their projects and theoretical research at this competition in such areas as nano-, bio-, computer technologies, the development of new materials, power engineering, molecular biology, agriculture, ecology and genetics, information and communication systems, modern medical and pharmaceutical products manufacturing technologies, innovative economics, humanities.
The decisions taken by the head of Turkmen state “On increasing the efficiency of scientific research in Turkmenistan”, “On the establishment of the Science Development Foundation of the Academy of Sciences of Turkmenistan” and “On financial support for development of the science system of Turkmenistan” are aimed at providing legal support for the ongoing reforms in the country’s scientific sector.
To monitor the implementation and increase the effectiveness of ongoing scientific research, an inter-sectoral commission was established to ensure the efficiency of scientific research in Turkmenistan.In accordance with the requirements of the digital age, the National Program was adopted for introducing a digital system into science to in 2020-2025.
The National Acute Infectious Diseases Preparedness and Response of the Country that has been adopted this year provides for strengthening research activities jointly with international and regional partners, broad practical implementation of innovative approaches and digital technologies.
Turkmenistan believes that the pandemic requires more than ever the close professional coordination and joining of efforts by the scientific and medical communities around the world, systematic and targeted multilateral cooperation on the problem of dangerous viral diseases, and the full launch of scientific diplomacy mechanisms.
Ogulgozel REJEPOVA