Established by UNESCO in 2001, the World Science Day for Peace and Development is celebrated worldwide on 10 November each year. It offers an opportunity to demonstrate to the wider public why science is relevant to their daily lives and to engage them in debate on related issues. Every year, intergovernmental and non-governmental organizations, scientific research institutions, professional associations, universities, municipalities, the media, science teachers, schools and others are encouraged to organize their own celebration of World Science Day.

By throwing bridges between science, politics and society, the World Science Day is the occasion to remind the role that scientists play in building a more sustainable and inclusive society with the active involvement of citizens.

Science as a universal language for dialogue and the building of peace is at the centre of the 2013 event in Naples. In this moment where terrible winds of war are blowing from Syria in the Middle East and the Mediterranean, threatening to disrupt the balance of international relations on a global scale and scoring dramatically the fate of entire countries, communities of women and men.

The event helps to promote and foster cooperation projects for science and education in regions marred by conflict, as examples of concrete actions for dialogue and peace building in the word.

Institutional representatives and international experts will take part in the seminar while a poster session will be set up with the participation of NGOs and associations, any kind of organization to illustrate best practices and projects. Art performances will be organized with local migrants communities.

This year, the celebration of the World Science Day has been organized in partnership with the Regional Office of Unesco in Paris as a part of our science festival Futuro Remoto, with a special relevance after the criminal fire that destroyed our science centre last 4th of March.

GUESTS

Mahmoud Nasreddine, Scientific Advisor of the General Secretary of the Arab League.
Maurizio Martellini, General Secretary of the Landau Network-Centro Volta, Como.
Père Laurent Mazas, Responsible for the “Cortile dei Gentili”.
Bisan Battrawi, Qattan Centre for Educational Research and Development, Palestine (tbc).
Mario Scalet, UNESCO Regional Bureau for Science and Culture, Venice.

STREAMING

CEREMONY OF GRADUATION OF THE SCHOOL FOR FOREIGNERS OF THE COMMUNITY OF SAINT EGIDIO
On Sunday, November 10, Città della Scienza has welcomed foreign students of the Community of St. Egidio. Several hundred people of all ages and from all over the world have spent the whole day in the scientific citadel of Bagnoli, on the occasion of the inauguration of the new school year of Italian courses taught by community’s volunteers. In the morning, classrooms and outside spaces hosted the classes and in the afternoon – after a visit to the exhibitions with which Città della Scienza resumes its activities to the public – the ceremony of graduation has been held in the Newton Hall. Almost 500 certificates has been issued in an atmosphere of celebration and solidarity.