IYBSSD 2022

The United Nations General Assembly declared 2022 the International Year of Basic Sciences for Sustainable Development (IYBSSD). It also encouraged organisations across the world to celebrate the IYBSSD. NITheCS therefore committed to hosting events that align with topics of the IYBSSD.

In all, NITheCS hosted nine events that aligned with IYBSSD topics. View a summary of the events and speakers’ biographies.

Call for essays

With the IYBSSD ending in June, we are inviting our Associates, interns and bursary holders to contribute a short essay to explain your interpretation of the importance of the basic sciences to society towards sustainability.

The IYBSSD has been ‘a unique opportunity to convince all stakeholders that a basic understanding of nature will lead to more effective actions for the benefit of all,’ and ‘a key moment of mobilisation to convince economic and political leaders, as well as every citizen, of the importance of taking into account and mastering basic sciences to ensure a balanced, sustainable and inclusive development of the planet.’

We would like to showcase your interpretation of that approach.

A selection of the essays contributed will be featured on the website. In due course, all the essays will be available on our website as an illustration of what the basic sciences mean to society and to scientists who work in the basic sciences in South Africa.

Who can participate?
NITheCS Associates, bursary holders and interns.

How long should the essay be?
Any length up to 330 words (more or less a typed page)

Important pointers: