The World Conference on Basic Sciences and Sustainable Development was held from September 19 to 22, 2022, at the headquarters of the Serbian Academy of Sciences and Arts. More than 60 scientists from all over the world convened in Belgrade to discuss the importance of basic sciences for sustainable development, to present advanced basic research in mathematics, physics, chemistry and biology, and to draw attention to the connections of basic sciences with other sciences, innovations, engineering, energy technologies, climate action and environmental protection as well as the contribution that basic sciences provide to medicine, healthcare, water and food security, and education.

The Conference participants discussed the outcomes of advanced theoretical and experimental basic research, both in “Little Science”, which involves the work with small and commercially available devices, and in “Big Science”, including the construction and use of large machines and plants. Besides, one of the topics was the contribution of basic sciences to the achievement of the sustainable development goals (SDGs).

It was concluded that the social responsibility for pursuing, upgrading and strengthening basic research lies primarily with the scientific community, both individually and collectively, as well as that global science should integrate national sciences, i.e. national science should be an integral part of global science – proportionally to the capacity of a country.

At the same time, it is of utmost importance to connect national, regional and global scientific institutions with the objective of intensifying their mutual communication and collaboration, as well as to direct national scientific institutions toward a joint preparation of proposals of the strategies of basic research and the corresponding investment plans for governments of their countries.

The main goal of the International Year of Basic Sciences for Sustainable Development (IYBSSD 2022), which was celebrated all over the world throughout 2022, and the conference in Belgrade is to mobilize national, regional and global scientific institutions to clearly demonstrate to the public and especially to political and business leaders worldwide how basic sciences are contributing to an inclusive, balanced, and sustainable development of the planet. The initial event within IYBSSD 2022 was held on July 8, 2022 at the UNESCO headquarters, in Paris, France, while the final event will take place at the European Organization for Nuclear Research (CERN), in Geneva, Switzerland, in the beginning of October 2023.

Two exhibitions were held during the Conference, prepared by Matica Srpska – on its past and present activities, and by the company “L’Oréal” – on the sustainability of its current and future development and production.

The organizers of the Conference were UNESCO, the World Academy of Art and Science, the Serbian Academy of Sciences and Arts, the Club of Rome, the Ministry of Education, Science and Technological Development of Serbia, the World University Consortium, the Vinča Institute of Nuclear Sciences, and the Serbian Association of Economists.

The representatives of the SAE took an active part in the Conference.

For more details, please follow the link https://worldacademy.org/conference-page/world-conference-on-basic-sciences-and-sustainable-development/