International Science Center Day (ID16)

Basic partnership:

• UNESCO and science center networks
• UNESCO theme: Science for Peace and Development
• Science Center theme: Public engagement with Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) through science centers

What is the International Day of Science Centers (ID16)?

Established by UNESCO in 2001, 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 debates on related issues. The 2016 World Science Day for Peace and Development was dedicated to International Day of Science Centers. It was a global initiative, supported by UNESCO, to raise awareness of the role that Science Centers and Science Museums play in increasing scientific awareness, engagement, and participation among people in promoting sustainable development and in providing solutions to global challenges such as climate change, biodiversity innovation, renewable energies, water shortages, and human health (HIV/AIDS).

What is its goal?

The goal is to highlight to the citizens of the world the importance of not just science education for all, but of the important role that the almost 3,000 science centers around the world play in promoting life-long learning of science and technology, supporting mainstream education, and developing innovative learning techniques.

Aims

The principles of science are universal; the issues of science are global. Science education is a priority around the world; the future of our planet requires much more cooperative internationalism and the world network of science centers is uniquely placed to build relationships across geographical, cultural, and religious boundaries.

The world community of science centers connects with many people, particularly children and families, and there are also strong links to policy officials in many countries. Moreover, science centers typically facilitate linkages with many scientific, educational, and cultural institutions within communities.
Science center leaders, staff, and volunteers believe that science is an important tool for a better life on our planet. We advocate that all citizens should have access to a science center or its services in their own regions, and we commit to using collective expertise and experience in helping to expand the activities of our sector to locations where science centers are needed and wanted but not yet established.
Principal Outcomes

ID16:

1. Illustrated the role that science centers can play to educate the public about SDGs through the organization of ad-hoc events involving new partners on local, regional, and international level;
2. Developed new concepts on communicating SDGs to diverse audiences (mini-conference in Paris);
3. Prepared a document for use by the science center field and UNESCO in order to inform and train science communicators and professionals of science popularization about the best practices and recommended programs and strategies to communicate to and engage the public with SDGs. (Mini-conference in Paris).

Relation with 2^nd SCWS

The recommendations from ID16 will be presented (by a UNESCO representative) at the 2SCWS (Tokyo, November 2017) that has the reflection on the role of science centers in building a sustainable future as the main theme.