Introduction

UNESCO promotes international cooperation in natural, social and human sciences in the interests of peace, human rights, and development.  To achieve this, UNESCO acts as an advocate for science, a think tank, a standard setter, and a catalyst for cooperation, dialogue, and innovation through networks and capacity building activities.

“Science has long been recognized as a driver of change. However, the magnitude and complexity of the problems we confront today – from extreme poverty and deepening inequality to environmental degradation and increasing vulnerability to resource scarcity and natural disasters – make the effective mobilization of scientific knowledge more fundamental than ever.”

(Message from Mr Koïchiro Matsuura, Director-General of UNESCO, on the occasion of World Science Day for Peace and Development, November 10, 2008)

Priorities and Strategic Objectives

The UNESCO Medium-Term Strategy for 2008-13 provides the overarching priorities and strategic programme objectives for the natural, social and human sciences:

Major Activity Areas

Key themes for UNESCO’s work in science include collaboration, strengthening national capacities, and interdisciplinary approaches – whether working with climate change, science education, urban issues, developing countries especially Africa, gender equality, the eradication of poverty, or sustainable development  Within this framework, the activities of the science sector address such concrete issues as:

Some of the major programs, initiatives, and legal instruments include:

Activities in Canada

 

The Canadian Commission for UNESCO and Canadians have been actively involved with the exact, natural, social and human science sectors of UNESCO, through working with UNESCO on select international and intergovernmental commissions and committees and through projects within Canada. Some examples include: