The theme for November 10, 2026, has not yet been announced. Last year, the day was held under the slogan " Trust, Transformation, and the Future: The Science We Need for 2050. " This motto is particularly relevant in our era, when scientific achievements simultaneously provoke admiration and anxiety, and trust in science has become as important a resource as the research itself.
The modern world stands on the threshold of fundamental transformation. Climate change, artificial intelligence, and genetic technologies all pose complex ethical and practical questions for humanity. Science has ceased to be the preserve of narrow specialists and has become everyone's business, as our shared future depends on scientific advances. As the pandemic has demonstrated, without trust in science, society cannot effectively respond to global challenges.
This topic is particularly significant because 2024 marks the beginning of the International Decade of Sciences for Sustainable Development. This recognition recognizes that science must be more than just a source of knowledge, but also a tool for achieving the Sustainable Development Goals. This represents a new paradigm in which scientists work hand in hand with society, policymakers, and business.
A crisis of trust in science is one of the key challenges of our time. The spread of misinformation, rising anti-scientific sentiment, and distrust of experts are undermining humanity's ability to solve global problems. At the same time, scientists themselves are increasingly considering the social responsibility of their research. A kind of contract is emerging: society trusts science, and science guarantees that its findings will benefit humanity.
Belarusian science is making a significant contribution to this global process. Scientists from the National Academy of Sciences of Belarus are actively working in the field of sustainable agriculture, developing resource-saving technologies and adaptive plant varieties. Innovative developments in artificial intelligence and microelectronics demonstrate how fundamental research can be transformed into practical solutions. It is especially important that this is happening in close collaboration with the international scientific community, as problems such as climate change and pandemics transcend national borders.
The image of future science is not one of a lone genius in a laboratory, but rather a collective portrait of interdisciplinary teams working together with local communities to solve specific problems. This is a science that speaks a clear language, listens to societal needs, and is open to dialogue.
It's time to consider: what kind of science do we want in 2050? Perhaps it should be a science that not only creates new technologies but also helps us become wiser in their use. A science that unites people, not divides them. A science that preserves the planet for future generations.
World Science Day for Peace and Development is celebrated annually on November 10. First declared by UNESCO in 2001, the day is dedicated to deepening the dialogue between scientists and the general public and highlights the importance of science for us all.
Until the early modern period, scientists were reluctant to share their research results. Firstly, before the development of printing, this was technically difficult. Scientists primarily corresponded privately with colleagues and worked independently. A second significant reason was the impossibility of avoiding plagiarism and securing credit for a discovery. Scientists even encrypted their notes to prevent unconfirmed hypotheses from becoming public knowledge before they were proven. Many concealed their inventions until they could profit from them.
The scientific revolution also made science more open. Just as scientists themselves began to feel the need to share their discoveries and discuss them internationally, society also became increasingly interested in innovations in a field that had previously only attracted a small circle of intellectuals. Science forever changed the face of the world. Revolutionary discoveries in medicine made it possible to overcome diseases that had plagued humanity for centuries. Advances in agriculture fed the hungry and fueled explosive population growth. The discovery of electricity and steam power improved the overall standard of living.
But progress also had its downside: environmental pollution, increasing wealth inequality, and the gap in living standards between European countries and the rest of the world. Finally, science created unprecedented weapons, from dynamite to the nuclear bomb.
The public has always viewed science with both admiration and apprehension. Faith in the bright future promised by progress has given way to fear of the destructive power of incompletely understood forces of nature. In times of crisis, scientists are always the source of great hope, yet they are often blamed for civilization's woes. This trend continues today. Since the onset of the COVID-19 pandemic, this has become especially relevant. Despite the unprecedented level of mobilization of the scientific community and the support received by doctors and scientists, the flip side has also become evident.
The WHO has called this phenomenon an " infodemic " or information pandemic . A vast amount of unverified and often false information has flooded the internet. Panicky and hateful rhetoric has filled the information space, drowning out rational arguments. UNESCO expert Fouad Laroui laments, "Over the past 20 years, the idea has become entrenched in society that science is a religion or a belief system, no different from any other. This is very dangerous."
There are alarming similarities between the criticism leveled at the introduction of smallpox vaccination in the 18th century and the refusal of educated people today to vaccinate against COVID-19. Relatively innocuous conspiracy theories, such as the flat Earth society, may seem unworthy of attention. But the anti-vaccination movement poses a very real danger to humanity. Therefore, UNESCO has declared increasing scientific literacy among its top priorities for scientific development .
One of the most significant reasons for the spread of fake news is the lack of an alternative. Experts are often unable to quickly and clearly answer the public's questions. To combat the infodemic, experts must communicate with the public more often and explain their work simply and clearly in audience-friendly venues: blogs and online publications. This is the only way to teach people to calmly and carefully analyze information and avoid spreading unverified, scandalous claims.
Despite the complexities of the interaction between science and society, scientific advancement is key to sustainable development. UNESCO cites the transition to a green and digital society—the "double transition" —as key priorities . This cannot be achieved without significant investment in science.
Most countries, even the poorest, recognize the need to develop environmentally friendly and digital technologies. Investment in this area has increased globally over the past five years. However, eight out of ten countries still invest less than 1% of GDP in science and remain primarily importers of advanced goods and technologies.
For developed countries, developing green technologies is the only way to meet the Paris Agreement's commitments. Eighty percent of the world's energy supply still relies on fossil fuels, and a transition to renewable energy will not only require significant investment but also disrupt the labor market. Unemployment and a decline in living standards can be prevented by implementing new technologies and creating knowledge-based jobs. For developing countries, a "dual transition" is a way to significantly accelerate industrialization.
Start Date: 10.11.2026
End Date: 10.11.2026