International Year of Basic Sciences for Sustainable Development

The International Year of Basic Sciences for Sustainable Development, celebrated in 2022, recognizes that basic sciences are vital to attain sustainable development and to improve the quality of life for people all over the world. The Year is being organized by UNESCO, in collaboration with its global partners, from July 2022 to July 2023.

It has been said that, without basic science, there would be no science to apply. How true. Yet, it is not always clear to people how the basic (or fundamental) sciences have paved the way to the discoveries and technological revolutions that are continuously reshaping the world in which we live. When you pick up your smartphone, spare a thought for all those scientists who toiled in public laboratories for almost 50 years to come up with the first miniaturized electronic circuits. This made it possible to develop the first transistor radio. This was followed by the invention of the computer chip, the first integrated circuit. Since then, the miniaturization of integrated circuits has made it possible to manufacture ever-smaller mechanical, electronic and optical devices: today’s smartphones use millions of miniscule transistors to perform complex processes.

_{''At a time when humanity must invent new ways of producing, travelling and heating, we know we need the basic sciences and the potential they possess. More than ever, we must allow the basic sciences to expand in all directions in order to explore, investigate and experiment. For this capacity to imagine, innovate and discover will determine whether we are able to rise to the major challenges of our time''.}

Audrey Azoulay Director-General of UNESCO

Webcast

The opening ceremony for the International Year of Basic Sciences for Sustainable Development in English, French, and Spanish.

Webcast

UNESCO

The basic sciences are, thus, sowing the seeds of the sustainable societies are tomorrow. In order to heighten awareness of the importance of basic sciences for sustainable development, UNESCO’s member states adopted a resolution (40 C/Resolution) at their General Conference in 2019 which recommended that 2022 be the International Year of Basic Sciences for Sustainable Development.

In December 2021, the United National General Assembly endorsed this decision (A/RES/76/14).

UN

UNESCO, the only UN specialized agency with an “S” for science in its name, has a specific mandate to advance and promote science in the interests of peace and sustainable development. To this end, it collaborates closely with its Member States and a wide variety of partners. As the lead United Nations agency for the Year, UNESCO will organize the ceremony launching the Year on 8 July 2022, as well as a series of events throughout the Year to emphasize the role of basic sciences in sustainable development.

Key issues

“On this page, you will find details of issues that are being prioritized by the International Year of Basic Sciences for Sustainable Development. The Year should encourage exchanges between scientists and other stakeholders, be they grassroots communities, political decision-makers and international leaders, associations, students or local authorities.”

Enhancing inclusive participation in science

More

Strengthening education and scientific training

More

Financing basic sciences

More

Generalize open science

More

How do basic sciences contribute to sustainable development?

Basic research is driven by curiosity. Also known as discovery research, owing to its emphasis on the quest for knowledge rather than commercial applications, basic research has led to breakthroughs that have spawned not only new technologies but even entirely new fields of science like genomics. Some of these discoveries were even accidental!

On this page, you will find examples of the many ways in which basic research is paving the way to sustainable development – even if the time lag between a discovery and concrete applications of this new knowledge can be more or less long. Take a look at the photo exhibition and videos on this page too.