International Year of Basic Sciences for Development (IYBSD) – 2022

International Year of Basic Sciences for Development (IYBSD) – 2022

IYBSD 2022 Brochure
IYBSD 2022 Flyer
UNESCO Resolution
IYBSD Supporting Organisations 

For information in French visit https://www.iybsd.org/

International Year of Basic Sciences for Development (IYBSD)

What?

Basic Sciences.

Basic Sciences are curiosity-driven sciences. However, even if curiosity is by itself a highly valuable self-sufficient motivation, basic sciences are not just studied for the sake of curiosity: they have a fundamental role in our lives. They enable the necessary means and tools to address global socio-economic and environmental challenges, such as the water crisis, infectious diseases, ocean deoxygenation and climate change.

Despite this, the crucial role of basic sciences is often poorly appreciated, if at all. Further awareness of the critical function of basic sciences needs to be built amongst relevant stakeholders including policy-makers, business and industry, international organizations, philanthropic foundations, university teachers and students, media, and the broader public.

 Why?

Basic Sciences for Sustainable Development.

Increased awareness of basic sciences is expected to lead to increased opportunities for new discoveries which can improve human well-being within the framework of sustainable development.

The 2030 Agenda, with its Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), is the roadmap to global well-being for current and future generations. The SDGs indicate the directions towards better education opportunities, gender equality, clean water, affordable and clean energy, and a healthy environment, among other things. Basic sciences can help identify mechanisms to correctly use knowledge and carry out technology transfer. They can also enable international research cooperation and dialogue across disciplines and across countries, including developing countries.

When?

In 2022.

The year 2022 marks the centenary of the Nobel Prize award in 1922 to Niels Bohr (Denmark) “for his services in the investigation of the structure of atoms and of the radiation emanating from them”, as well as the centenary of International Union of Pure and Applied Physics (IUPAP) established in Belgium in 1922.

Many preparatory activities will take place prior to 2022, and also towards approval of the Year by UNESCO and the UN. The tentative schedule for such approval is as follows:

– 2019 Formal approval by the General Conference of UNESCO

– 2020 Approval by the UN General Assembly

– 2021 Detailed Preparation of Regional and International events.

How?

Through many themes.

The year will be structured around different events addressing, inter alia, the following cross-cutting themes:

  • Basic Science for Sustainable Development
  • Basic Sciences including Social Sciences
  • Youth and Basic Sciences
  • Women and Basic Sciences
  • Basic Sciences in Africa

The activities will build on the achievements of the 2005 International Year of Physics, the 2009 International Year of Astronomy, the 2011 International Year of Chemistry, the 2014 International Year of Crystallography, and the 2019 International Year of the Periodic Table of Chemical Elements. Events and activities will engage scientists, students, policy-makers, citizen scientists, journalists and communication experts, and people curious about curiosity-driven sciences.

The IYBSD is a global event which will take place in different countries and online, including via social media. The year will be structured around different events starting with an opening event to be held in Geneva.

Outcome?

– The IYBSD will promote Open Science, specially in the domain of Curiosity Driven Sciences. This will allow free access to Universities to all published material and data in Basic Sciences.

– IYBSD will promote inclusive collaboration in Fundamental Research (teams from developed countries together with teams from developing countries, gender balance…)

– IYBSD will promote training and education to Basic Sciences and the organization of major conferences in developing countries

Who?

Many organizations.

The idea for IYBS4D was put forward by the representative of the International Union for Pure and Applied Physics (IUPAP) at the 10th Scientific Board of the International Basic Sciences Programme (IBSP) of UNESCO in January 2017. The proposal was well received by the Board, and has since received endorsement by many organizations, such as:

Members of the Steering Committee (LINK to be added)

Members of the International Steering Committee (LINK to be added)

And…

If you would like to join us in the preparations (for example via sponsorships, partnerships, ideas, and event-hosting) for an amazing International Year of Basic Sciences for Development, please contact
Prof. M. Spiro: mspiro@admin.in2p3.fr.