10th Multi-stakeholder Forum on Science, Technology and Innovation for the Sustainable Development Goals

The tenth annual Multi-Stakeholder Forum on Science, Technology and Innovation for the SDGs (STI Forum) will be held from Wednesday, 7 May, to Thursday, 8 May 2025.

The Forum will be convened by the President of ECOSOC His Excellency Mr. Bob Rae, who had appointed two co-chairs – H.E. Mr. Omar Hilale, Ambassador and Permanent Representative of the Kingdom of Morocco to the United Nations and H.E. Ms. Elina Kalkku, Ambassador and Permanent Representative of Finland to the United Nations. As per its mandate, the Forum will be organized by the UN interagency task team on STI for the SDGs (IATT), convened by UN-DESA and UNCTAD, and the 10-Member Group of high-level representatives appointed by the Secretary General. As in previous years, the theme of the STI Forum will be closely aligned with that of the High-Level Political Forum on Sustainable Development (HLPF), to be held from Monday, 14 July, to Wednesday, 23 July 2025, under the auspices of the Economic and Social Council. The STI Forum will have an exclusive focus on the role and contributions of science, technology and innovation to the achievement of the Sustainable Development Goals. The 2025 HLPF will hold in-depth reviews of five SDGs:

Goal 3. Ensure health and well-being for all; Goal 5. Achieve gender equality and empower all women and girls;

Goal 8. Promote sustained, inclusive and sustainable economic growth, full and productive employment and decent work for all;

Goal 14. Conserve and sustainably use the oceans, seas and marine resources for sustainable development; and

Goal 17. Strengthen the means of implementation and revitalize the Global Partnership for Sustainable Development.

Accordingly, the theme for the STI Forum 2025 is: “Advancing sustainable, inclusive, and evidence-based, science and technology solutions and innovations for the 2030 Agenda and its SDGs for leaving no one behind”.

Links:
10th Multi-stakeholder Forum on Science, Technology and Innovation for the Sustainable Development Goals

STI Action Day 2025 (TV UN)

Artificial Intelligence (AI) – ECOSOC Special Meeting (TV UN)

Artificial Intelligence (AI) – ECOSOC Special Meeting (TV UN)

The Special Meeting of the Economic and Social Council on Artificial Intelligence (AI) will bring together Member States, UN system experts, private sector leaders, innovators, and civil society stakeholders to follow up on the outcomes of the Summit of the Future, including the Global Digital Compact.

It will showcase the potential for AI to accelerate sustainable development in the Global South, paying special attention to the role of strategic investments, partnerships, and international cooperation in addressing foundational needs and capacity development. The meeting will include an opening, two interactive sessions – one in the format of a fireside chat and the other as a panel discussion, and a closing.

– Fireside Chat: Emerging Trends of AI Innovations and the SDGs
– Panel Discussion: Building Foundations for AI in the Global South

Links:
ECOSOC Special Meeting on Artificial Intelligence

10th Multi-stakeholder Forum on Science, Technology and Innovation for the Sustainable Development Goals

#NextcloudSummit25 Nextcloud Summit 2025

While reliance on Big Tech grows, concerns over data control, compliance, and security increase, the Nextcloud Summit provides a space for organizations, governments, and experts to connect, exchange ideas, and find practical solutions.

The Nextcloud Summit is a platform for hands-on learning and strategic discussions about digital sovereignty, secure collaboration, open-source infrastructure, and self-hosted solutions. It’s not just about ideas – it’s about real-world solutions that help organizations and governments take control of their digital future.

Links:
Nextcloud Summit

World #HandHygiene Day 2025

World Hand Hygiene Day campaign objectives: To recognize that people of all levels should work together to influence the culture/climate through clean hands knowledge and behaviour, to meet the common goal of safety and quality in the health care organization.

Hand hygiene, hand washing or handwashing is the act of cleaning one’s hands witsoap or handwash and water to remove viruses/bacteria/microorganisms, dirt, grease, or other harmful and unwanted substances stuck to the hands. Drying of the washed hands is part of the process as wet and moist hands are more easily recontaminated. If soap and water are unavailable, hand sanitizer that is at least 60% (v/valcohol in water can be used instead, unless hands are visibly excessively dirty or greasy. Hand hygiene is central to preventing the spread of infectious diseases in home and everyday life settings. The World Health Organization (WHO) recommends washing hands for at least 20 seconds before and after certain activities. These include the five critical times during the day where washing hands with soap is important to reduce fecal-oral transmission of disease: after using the toilet (for urinationdefecationmenstrual hygiene), after cleaning a child’s bottom (changing nappies), before feeding a child, before eating and before/after preparing food or handling raw meat, fish, or poultry. When both hand washing and using hand sanitizer are not available, hands can be cleaned with uncontaminated ash and clean water, although the benefits and harms are uncertain for reducing the spread of viral or bacterial infections. However, frequent hand washing can lead to skin damage due to drying of the skin. Moisturizing lotion is often recommended to keep the hands from drying out; dry skin can lead to skin damage which can increase the risk for the transmission of infection.

Links:
World Hand Hygiene Day

World Hand Hygiene Day 2025

Permaculture Festival of WILD Ideas 2025

The International Permaculture Festival of Wild Ideas is an initiative of the Permaculture Education Institute – all about myceliating ideas, sparking imaginings, deepening understandings, opening new conversations, meeting amazing people, finding new friends & collaborators, and exploring permaculture thinking, design, education and practice to rewild our lives and the planet.

Over 35 contributors gathering with ideas, books, music, art, poetry, film… In 2024 over 2500 participated across six continents. We invite you to join us for this wonderful experience and get your free complimentary festival pass.

Links:
Permaculture Festival of WILD Ideas

Permaculture Day / Permacultuur Dag 2025

Bevrijdingsdag NL 2025

Op 5 mei wordt Bevrijdingsdag in Nederland gevierd, de dag waarop het Duitse leger in Nederland capituleerde.

Op 5 mei 1945 bespraken de Canadese generaal Charles Foulkes en de Duitse opperbevelhebber Johannes Blaskowitz in het bijzijn van Prins Bernhard (commandant van de Binnenlandse Strijdkrachten) in Hotel De Wereld in Wageningen de capitulatie van de Duitse troepen in Nederland. Blaskowitz vroeg 24 uur bedenktijd. Een dag later (op 6 mei 1945 dus) werden de uitgewerkte voorwaarden van de capitulatie getekend in de naast het hotel gelegen aula van de Landbouwhogeschool. Na de bevrijding in 1945 werd bepaald dat Bevrijdingsdag om de vijf jaren gevierd zou worden.

Links:
4en5mei

2020-05-05, Lief dagboek