This Year's theme is “Knowledge and Future”

Ten years after the first World Conference on Science (Budapest, 1999), the fourth World Science Forum will take place in Budapest (Hungary) from 5 to 7 November. The meeting, whose theme this year is “Knowledge and Future”, coincides with World Science Day for Peace and Development, celebrated annually on 10 November.

Organized by the Hungarian Academy of Sciences in partnership with UNESCO and the International Council for Science (ICSU), the Forum will provide the opportunity to focus on developments in science and science policies in the last ten years and to examine priorities, strategies and future action. For the first time, one session will be devoted to scientific communication, with the participation of Bruce Alberts and Philip Campbell, editors-in-chief of the scientific journals Science and Nature respectively.

It will also be the occasion for the Director-General of UNESCO to present three scientific prizes. The Kalinga Prize for the Popularization of Science will be awarded jointly to Professor Yash Pal (India), for his contribution to the field of cosmic rays, astrophysics, education sciences and space technology and to Professor Trinh Xuan Thuan (Vietnam), an astrophysicist recognized for his research in the field of extragalactic astronomy.

The Great Man-Made River International Water Prize for "Water Resources in Arid and Semi-Arid Areas" will be awarded to Dr. Bellachheb Chahbani for his research at the Arid Regions Institute in Medenine (Tunisia), while the Sultan Qaboos Prize for Environmental Preservation will be awarded to the National Parks Organization of the Spanish Ministry for the Environment, Rural and Marine Affairs (OAPN).

The Hungarian Academy of Sciences, in partnership with UNESCO and the International Council for Science, launched the World Science Forum to encourage dialogue about the new roles of science and the challenges which it faces. In 2003, the Forum focused on “Knowledge and Society”, in 2005 on “Knowledge, Ethics and Responsibility” and in 2007 on “Investing in Knowledge: Investing in the Future”.  

The first World Science Forum, focusing on "Knowledge and Society", took place from 8 through 10 November 2003, the second World Science Forum on "Knowledge, Ethics and Responsibility" was held from 10 through 12 November 2005, whereas the third one lasted from 8 through 10 November 2007 and focused on "Investing in Knowledge: Investing in the Future".

Well over 1200 scientists, politicians, decision makers from all over the world have participated in the work of the past World Science Fora, making them unique and highly diverse events. The Summaries, brochures as well as the video-archives of the previous Fora can be accessed on the official  web site - click here.