Scientists meet in Rome to address key challenges

The 30th general assembly of the International Council for Science (ICSU) kicked off here on Tuesday to address key global challenges, featuring over 275 scientists and experts from all over the world. The goal of the four-day event, hosted for the first time in Rome by the National Research Center (CNR) as Italy's scientific member at ICSU, is to discuss how science can contribute to boosting sustainable development, fighting climate change, increasing well-being and health in the changing urban environment and tackling the side-effects of progress. At the official opening ceremony, CNR president Francesco Profumo stressed that scientific research was the key to solving all current crises. "It's during times of crises that inventions, great strategies and discoveries are made," he said quoting Albert Einstein. "Global cooperation is crucial in addressing society's needs. In the wake of the negative economic outlook we are witnessing research and technological transfer can turn into efficient instruments to guide countries towards a solid development giving us the tools to tackle with lucidity the great obstacles we face," observed Profumo. Appealing to both private and public institutions, Profumo thus urged to boost strategic partnerships between universities, governments and research centres. "We must create a network of knowledge-sharing together with enterprises in order to multiply and better implement growth and well-being opportunities. But in order to do so concrete political decisions must be undertaken and financial resources are needed," he added.