Breaking Barriers: UNESCO Dialogue on Science, Daily Lives, and Global Challenges

The UNESCO Dialogue on the Importance of Science in Our Daily Lives and Its Role in Addressing Global Challenges is set to bring together a diverse group of individuals from various backgrounds. This engaging conversation will include Member States, accomplished and emerging scientists, stakeholders from the public and private sectors, UNESCO scientific networks and Chairs, as well as students.

The purpose of this Dialogue is to explore two key questions related to the importance of science in our daily lives and its role in addressing global challenges such as climate change, biodiversity loss, diseases, and extreme poverty. Science is a silent force that influences every aspect of our daily lives, from the artificial intelligence in our phones to the agricultural innovations that shape our breakfast choices. It plays a crucial role in addressing global challenges and goes beyond our routines.

The first part of the Dialogue will focus on the groundbreaking research of the 2024 Laureates in the biological sciences, clinical, health, and environmental fields. They will also discuss how their work contributes to tackling critical issues we are facing. The second part of the Dialogue will involve the 2024 Laureates providing their insights and discussing how to advance the UNESCO Call to Action: Closing the Gender Gap in Science.

Launched on the occasion of the 2024 International Day of Women and Girls in Science, this Call to Action emphasizes urgent multistakeholder collaborative actions at various levels. It highlights that gender disparities in science not only hinder the advancement of women but also impede scientific progress and societal development as a whole. By bringing together experts from different fields and backgrounds, this Dialogue aims to shed light on these critical issues and explore ways forward for promoting gender equality in science.