UN chief seeks more efforts for Millenium Development Goals

, Oct 21: UN Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon has called on the scientific community to invest more talent and resources to research that would contribute to UN' s Millennium Development Goals (MDGs).

Ban made the remarks at the United Nations Economic and Social Council Special Event that marks the 60th anniversary of the European Organisation for Nuclear Research (CERN), Xinhua reported.

Calling CERN's work "groundbreaking", Ban noted "whether we are trying to address climate change, stop the Ebola virus, deal with cyber security threats, or curb nuclear proliferation, we need scientists with a clear vision and a commitment to work together to find solutions."

CERN, founded in 1954 in Geneva, owns the Large Hadron Collider, the world's largest particle accelerator which is used to study the fundamental constituents of matter and forces between them. CERN is also the birthplace of the World Wide Web.

MDGs are eight development goals set up by the UN in 2000 to form a blueprint for the international community to meet by 2015.

Ban said he has created a scientific advisory board, which would provide him with scientific assessments for sustainable development so as to strengthen the link between science and policy. One of CERN's experts is serving on the board.

"I also invite CERN, as an institution, to work more closely with the Board," he said, adding "We need your expertise to address global development challenges."

Rolf-Dieter Heuer, director-general of CERN, also expressed the wish to strengthen cooperation with the UN.

"With this event we wish to promote a more effective dialogue between science and international affairs, and to openly exchange views on how science can be more integrated into global and national decision-making processes for the benefit of all," he said.

IANS