Young people from Sids urged to pursue careers in sciences |08 September 2014

 
“Greater efforts are needed in small island developing states to encourage young people to pursue careers in the sciences particularly to address priority island issues such as water, waste management, youth unemployment, climate change, degradation of biodiversity and sustainable use of energy,” Professor Rolph Payet has said.

Mr Payet, who is the Minister for Environment and Energy, was speaking at a United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organisation (Unesco) side event held parallel to the third Small island developing states (Sids) conference in Apia, Samoa, last week.

Professor Payet chaired the Unesco side event held under the theme ‘Promoting career prospects of young people in the sciences including the water sector as a means of ensuring the sustainable development in Sids’.

 During the event the delegates discussed on progress made in implementation of sustainable development in small islands developing states. After the session they related the following messages:

 •         Science education and the popularisation of science in Sids are important mechanisms to encourage young people and society to invest in science,
•         Improved teacher training in the sciences plays an important role in ensuring quality education in Sids,

•         Strengthened STI policies in Sids can ease improved connections between market demands and knowledge production, skills training and labour mobility, and thus ensure job and entrepreneurial opportunities at home for young Sids scientists and reduce brain drain,

•         Greater efforts should be made to include indigenous knowledge and local resources in finding solutions that address the challenges faced by Sids.
The session was organised with the aim of sharing information on ways in which Unesco partners with and support young scientists, researchers and innovators as well as encourage young people to become more interested in science-related careers by appealing to their curiosity and creativity.

It is also encourages young people to pursue career opportunities in sciences as a way of contributing to the sustainable development of their region and educating Sids member states about the benefits of investing in STI systems including science education.

This side event also provided an opportunity for Unesco to connect some of its youth-led and scientific networks to advocate for and be involved in issues that they are passionate about and connect them to global processes.