World Science Day for Peace and Development 2016 observed across the world

10 November: World Science Day for Peace and Development

The World Science Day for Peace and Development 2016 was observed on 10 November 2016 across the world. The theme for 2016 is Celebrating Science Centres and Science Museums.

To mark the day, the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO) conducted several discussions, special campaigns, visits to science museums for school children, etc to raise awareness of benefits of science worldwide.

For 2016, the theme Celebrating Science Centres and Science Museums is chosen to highlight the importance of science centres and museums for capacity building, for advocacy and to send strong messages about the importance of science for sustainable development.

Science centres and museums plays key roles in nurturing the curiosity of women and men, as living laboratories of creativity, catalysing research and solutions to help societies meet challenges. They provide excellent ways to encourage children to pursue careers in science.

Objectives of World Science Day for Peace and Development

• Strengthen public awareness on the role of science for peaceful and sustainable societies
• Promote national and international solidarity for shared science between countries
• Renew national and international commitment for the use of science for the benefit of societies
• Draw attention to the challenges faced by science and raising support for the scientific endeavour

Background

• The World Science Day for Peace and Development was created as follow-up to the World Conference on Science, organized jointly by UNESCO and the International Council for Science in Budapest (Hungary) in 1999.

• The theme for 2015 World Science Day for Peace and Development was Science for a Sustainable Future.