KARACHI:
The year 2022 was celebrated as the International Year of Basic Sciences for Sustainable Development (IYBSSD) per the United Nations resolution. The main aim of IYBSSD 2022 is to mobilise national, regional, and global scientific institutions to demonstrate the role of basic sciences in helping us establish an inclusive, balanced and sustainable development of the planet. IYBSSD was officially inaugurated with an opening conference held in 2022 at UNESCO headquarters in Paris. Many activities and events were organised worldwide that will continue until 30th June 2023 and are currently in progress.
The main message of the series of events is to recognise that basic sciences are vital to attain sustainable development and improve the quality of life for people. Basic research is the essential link in the chain of research and action that can make nature and society sustainable. Around 100 organisations, including national and international science academies, scholarly societies, scientific networks, and research and education institutions, are backing up this cause. The primary objective is to organise events and activities around the world to enhance interconnectedness concerning basic sciences and the 17 United Nations (UN) Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) that member states set in 2015 for global peace and prosperity.
In Pakistan, several events have been and will be organised by scholarly societies and educational and research institutions even with the prevailing economic crisis. One such event was held in the University of Karachi’s department of chemistry. The media must support academia by showcasing these events and drawing attention towards events focusing on the sustainable development agenda and the environmental crisis faced by the country. We must prioritise science and technology to make global strides.
Published in The Express Tribune, January 9th, 2023.
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