International Basic Science Pogramme

The International Basic Sciences Programme (IBSP) is an international multidisciplinary programme established by UNESCO Member States in order to reinforce intergovernmental cooperation and co-operation between partner organizations in science to strengthen national capacities in the basic sciences and science education. The Programme focuses on fostering major region-specific actions that involve a network of national, regional and international centres of excellence or benchmark centres in the basic sciences. Promoting North-South and South-South co-operation is at the root of the strategy of the Programme that is being carried in partnership with the World Academy of Sciences (TWAS), scientific unions of the International Council for Science (ICSU), the European Organization for Nuclear Research (CERN) and other science centres, IGOs and NGOs.

The International Scientific Board of IBSP set up by the Director-General of UNESCO, recommends projects to be carried out and supported by the IBSP world-wide. Since the beginning of IBSP’s activities in 2005, some 40 projects have been launched and carried out within the Programme. These projects focused on capacity building in selected key areas of the physical and biological sciences and on promoting experimentation in science education by using Microscience kits for teaching of different basic science disciplines in schools and higher education institutions. Currently, opportunities for a limited number of new major IBSP initiatives are being explored through continuing dialogue and consultation with Member States and partner organizations within the basic sciences programme.