Binh Dinh (VNA) - Every scientist should think of howtheir findings could impact the world and contribute to making it better.

That was the message from Michel Spiro, President of theInternational Year of Basic Science for Sustainable Development (IYBSSD) speaking at“Science, Ethics and Human Development” conference on September 13 at theInternational Centre for Interdisciplinary Science and Education (ICISE) in QuyNhon City, Binh Dinh province.  

The event is the third in a series of international conferences onscience and society, which has been organised regularly since 2016 by theassociation Rencontres du Vietnam, under the leadership of Vietnamese-bornphysicist Jean Tran Thanh Van.

In a panel discussion following the opening, Phan Thanh Binh,former president of the Commission of Education at the National Assembly of Vietnam,said: “Scientists are curious and want to explore, discover new things, whilepolicymakers want things do things in order.

“There is a distance betweenscience and policymaking, both need to be aware of that and bridge that gap,because science is the foundation for development.”

Sharing the same perspective,Dennis Naughten, member of the Inter-Parliamentary Union (IPU) Working Group onScience and Technology added: “Scientists or policymakers, we all strive forthe same thing, which is to solve problems.”

Emphasising the need to conveyideas in simple terms to increase people’s understanding and trust, KarenHallberg, research director from Argentina’s Atomic Centre of Bariloche addedthat scientists need to clearly communicate the limitations and uncertainty intheir knowledge as well, citing mask mandates in the world as an example. 

She added: “Scientists are nothere to defend our own topics, but to inform and contribute todecision-making.”

“Science, Ethics and HumanDevelopment” is the flagship continental event for Asia in the context of theInternational Year of Basic Science for Sustainable Development 2022 (IYBSSD),which focuses on the links between basic sciences and the SustainableDevelopment Goals, for the common good. 

Topics of discussion includeenvironment and biodiversity; sustainability and resources; health andmanipulating living organisms, challenges, opportunities and ethics in scienceeducation, artificial intelligence and augmented mankind; emergenttechnologies, nanotech, biotech; science, peace and disarmament.

Omar Mokhtar, Senior Advisorto the General Secretary for the Interparliamentary Union (IPU) said the worldis now divided by wars and hurt by the pandemic, emphasising that scientistsshould come together despite conflicts to form a united front. 

Praising Vietnam as a goodexample of rebuilding a country after the wars, Mokhtar went on to explain whyICISE was chosen as the host of this flagship event for Asia. 

Omar added: “This centre isprobably the most important centre in Vietnam. Its role is growing because nowit is not only about science and politics, but also the future.”/.