On 2 December 2021, the United Nations General Assembly proclaimed the year 2022 as the International Year of Basic Sciences for Sustainable Development (IYBSSD2022). The IYBSSD 2022 will focus on the links between basic sciences and the UN Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). It was proposed by a consortium of international scientific unions and scientific organisations including IUGG, led by the International Union of Pure and Applied Physics (IUPAP).
The IUGG Bureau has decided to issue a call for proposals to be dedicated to IYBSSD2022. All proposals should address international cooperation in Earth and space sciences and highlight the importance of basic science for sustainable development. Key scientific priority areas for this call are (i) creation of new knowledge in Earth and space sciences; (ii) dissemination of knowledge, data and information on geoscience topics; (iii) geoscience for sustainable development; (iv) geoscience and policy interface; (v) geoscience education and outreach in developing countries; and (vi) networking of early-career scientists in geoscience.
Typical proposals1 related to at least one of the priority areas and dedicated to IYBSSD2022 may be for an interdisciplinary conference / workshop / symposium addressing the importance of international cooperation in the geosciences, an enhancement of geoscientific research and Earth science education in Member countries as well as less developed countries. Although the range of activities supported is broad, the project proposals should be clearly focussed on fundamental science, its societal importance, and how it can be used to address the SDGs, and their results are expected to provide clear recommendations to politicians and other decision makers at national and regional levels, and to the general public in terms of the urgent and long-term actions to be undertaken. The deliverables of the projects should bring increased visibility of IUGG, its Associations, and any Commissions involved. The proposed activity should be organised before 30 June 2023.