Ukraine joins UNESCO platform to share scientific information on COVID-19 pandemic

Ukraine will join an open platform for sharing experience, including scientific information, on combating and overcoming the effects of the COVID-19 pandemic. Such a platform will be created under the auspices of UNESCO. First Deputy Minister of Education and Science Yuriy Polyukhovych announced this, who participated in a virtual ministerial dialogue on COVID-19 and open science on March 30, 2020.

In total, more than 170 countries were represented in the Internet conference.

“Today, under the auspices of UNESCO, the worldwide COVID-19 dialogue on science has begun. It is about uniting the efforts of scientists of all countries to overcome the pandemic of the coronavirus and its consequences on the principles of open science”, – Yuriy Polyukhovych said.

He explained that a single platform would be created where open exchange of scientific data, initiatives and innovations in the field of personal protection, treatment, monitoring and prediction of the spread of the virus would continue. It is also important that it will also have a unit to overcome social and economic consequences, including the continuation of the educational process.

“Political decision-making to overcome a coronavirus pandemic is impossible without the professional expertise of the scientific community. This was especially emphasized today at a high international level. Investment in science is needed even in times of economic crisis. It was a signal for the governments of all countries, and I will do my best to hear it in Ukraine”, – Yuriy Polyukhovych said.

We remind that the Ministry of Education and Science and the Verkhovna Rada Committee on Education, Science and Innovation oppose the changes to the budget, which provide for the complete curtailment of educational and scientific development programs.

Source: МESU