The Aims and Principles of the International Scientific Cooperation

1. It is hard to imagine peaceful coexistence of nations without all-round scientific and engineering cooperation among the states. Moreover, there are fields which can not be developed effectively on a national scale, such as environmental protection, space exploration, and development of nuclear and solar energy or the rational use of the ocean’s resources.

2. Scientific and technological cooperation between different countries has always rested on respect for sovereignty, equality and mutual advantage. International contacts in science and technology have been regarded as a means of speeding up socio-economic progress of all the countries. Universality, freedom and critical thinking constitute basic elements in the scientific process and form 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.

3. Recognizing the important and distinctive potential of science to contribute to a better future for mankind, the world scientific community emphasizes its 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.

4. A great number of scientists from different countries, as well as from Belarus, are involved into the realization of different international projects sponsored by numerous international organizations and funds: UNESCO, WHO, WMO, CERN, ISO, ICSTI, JINR, IAEA etc. The spheres of joint endeavour include nuclear energetics, space research, geology and geophysics of the world ocean, different branches of medical sciences, microelectronics, bioorganic chemistry, transport engineering, telecommunication equipment, information technologies etc.

5. The active exchange of information at the international meetings, scientific congresses, conferences and symposia, experts and students exchange programmes facilitate establishing close relations between scientists, open new opportunities for coordination of joint efforts in solving the most urgent problems, accelerate dissemination of new knowledge and advanced technologies improving the life of humankind.

Notes:

UNESCO	United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization
WHO	World Health Organization
WMO	World Meteorological Organization
CERN	Conseil Européen pour la Recherche Nucléaire (фр) - International scientific organization established for collaborative research into subnuclear physics
ISO	International Organization for Standardization
ISTP	International Centre for Scientific and Technical Information
JINR	Joint Institute of Nuclear Research
IAEA	International Atomic Energy Agency

Go back to passage 1. Look it through and say why it is important to develop all-round scientific and engineering cooperation among the states. Give your examples to prove that some problems can be solved only with joint efforts.

9. Scan passage 2 and say if you agree with the author’s idea that science can make a significant contribution to a constructive dialogue between different cultures.

10. Scan passage 3 and say what main principles of scientific cooperation are mentioned by the author. What do the words “responsibility” and “solidarity” mean when speaking about scientific and technological knowledge and its application?

11. Scan passage 4. Give your examples of Belarusian scientists’ participation in cooperative activities.

12. Finally skim passage 5 and speak about the forms of international cooperation. Do you know anything about the participation of our university in the international activities and its connections with foreign partners?

13. Read the text below to find out the answers to the following questions: