Recognizing that the future of humanity depends critically on the continued vitality of science and its applications, representatives of world's major Academies of Science and of the international scientific community have gathered in the City of Genoa, on the threshold of a new millennium, to foster global awareness of science and of its importance for the welfare of mankind.

The last three centuries have witnessed the birth of modern science and its explosive growth. The impact of science now extends to nearly all fields of knowledge and applications thereof, from physics to biology, from agriculture to ecology, from neurosciences to psychology, from material science to information technology, from medical to social sciences, etc.

In this century alone, the conceptual framework of human knowledge and understanding underwent radical transformation. Determinism has gradually given way to a more open vision, one that offers humanity a growing consciousness of its freedom and of its responsibilities.

Moreover, the progressive transformation of the base of technology from empirical to scientific has generated for science a critical role in all activities, ranging from socio-economic and industrial to philosophical, ethical, cultural and political.

Science has contributed immensely to society, even though its applications can be and have been misused at times. However, it is important to ensure that this positive relationship between science and society continues and is strengthened. Among the potential threats to this relationship, which may differ from society to society, are irrationality, various constraints on freedom in the conduct of science and dissemination of the results of science, and undervaluation of the role of science.

Universality, freedom and critical thinking constitute basic elements in the scientific process and from a common bond between all cultures. Accordingly, science can make a significant contribution to constructive dialogue between different cultures and thereby act as a powerful antidote to intolerance and to ideological and racial barriers.

Moreover, the progress and application of scientific knowledge can offer effective means for solving many of the problems which face humanity, including those generated by the misuse of science.

Recognizing the important and distinctive potential of science to contribute to a better future for mankind, in which the culture of peace prevails, we reassert our adherence to the following principles:

• respect for the diversity of cultures within societies and promotion of science as a distinctive and important contributor to bridging such diverse cultures and promoting peaceful coexistence in accord with the principles of freedom, autonomy and rationality;
• mutual cooperation, reflecting the recognition that the production and utilization of scientific and technological knowledge are decisive for the future welfare of humanity and that science, with its universality, is uniquely positioned to serve as a laboratory in which mankind can work together to achieve a better future in accord with the principles of responsibility, solidarity and respect for the rights of individuals and nations.

Therefore, the Academies and other scientific institutions represented at this meeting reaffirm their commitment to the promotion of:

• the awareness that science, as a product of the history and creativity of mankind, is an integral part of all cultures;
• an increased effort in science education at all levels and in raising the young generations to be guided by a new vision of culture that embraces the scientific "ethos" and the spirit of free inquiry that characterizes science;
• wider dissemination and better public understanding of science and technology;
• balanced development of science and of technology, recognizing that both basic and applied sciences are vital for meeting human needs and for tackling problems such as hunger and disease, environmental degradation, rural and urban decline, and in the long run reducing disparities between rich and poor nations.

International cooperation is a striking feature of the present century. Witnessing the dramatic trend of transition to new socio-economic structures, with the world in search of new goals and approaches, we strongly recommend that particular effort be focused on increasing the scientific and technological capabilities of developing countries.

We are meeting on the eve of the 50th Anniversary of the United Nations and of UNESCO, whose Constitution assigns to it the mandate for promoting intellectual and scientific cooperation within the UN Family. We call upon UNESCO to take a lead in implementing the principles and recommendations of this document.

RUBERTI, Antonio           President, Steering Committee of the
                           Genoa Forum on Science and Society

BRIAN, Luigi               President, Academy of Sciences and
                           Humanities of Liguria (Italy)

COLLINS, Peter             Head of Science Advice Section of the
                           Royal Society (United Kingdom)

EBERHARD, Franz            Secretary General, International
                           Association of Universities

FORTI, Augusto             Secretary General, European Institute
                           for East-West Cooperation; Fellow of 
                           the World Academy of Art and Science

GRUNBERG-MANAGO, Marianne  President, French Academy of
                           Sciences (France)

GOTTSTEIN, Klaus           Emeritus Member of Directorate, Max
                           Planck Institute for Physics (Germany)

HAIG, Frank                Immediate Past President, Washington
                           Academy of Sciences (USA)

HALPERN, Jack              Vice President, National Academy of
                           Sciences (USA)

HU, Qiheng                 Vice President, Chinese Academy of
                           Sciences (China)

JOSHI, Shri Krishna        President, Indian National Science
                           Academy (India); Fellow of the Third
                           World Academy of Sciences

KOSTIOUK, Valeri           President, Association of International
                           Cooperation, Russian Federation

KOUZMINOV, Vladimir        Fellow of the World Academy of Art and
                           Science

PATON, Boris               President, International Association of
                           Academies; President, National Academy
                           of Sciences of Ukraine (Ukraine)

PETROV, Rem                Vice President, Russian Academy of
                           Sciences, Russian Federation; Fellow of
                           the World Academy of Art and Science 

PUPPI, Giampietro          Member of the Council Pontifical Academy
                           of Sciences (Vatican)

SHPAK, Anatoliy            Secretary General, National Academy of
                           Sciences of Ukraine

TANBERG, Olof              Foreign Secretary, Royal Swedish Academy
                           of Sciences (Sweden)

VILLEGAS, Raimundo         Chancellor, Latin American Academy of
                           Sciences (Venezuela)

Approved at the Meeting of the Steering Committee of the Genoa Forum of UNESCO on Science and Society "50th Anniversary of the United Nations and UNESCO: Science for the Dialogue Between Cultures and for Development", Genoa, Italy, 8--9 October 1995.

Source: Genoa Forum of UNESCO on Science and Society. UNESCO Venice Office, 1996.