UNESCO’s Virtual Science Museum lets visitors explore global science through interactive exhibitions, inspiring stories, and educational resources that connect cultures, traditions, and innovation.

“I would not trust AI. You are not supposed to trust AI. You are supposed to use it, always doubt it, always verify what it tells you, cross validate, so that you can be able to use it responsibly.”

Growing up in rural South Africa, Tshilidzi Marwala first learned about engineering from his grandmother’s handmade clay pots. Now rector of the United Nations University, the Under-Secretary-General is a vocal advocate of using artificial intelligence (AI) for good.

Education has been a driving force throughout Tshilidzi Marwala’s life, alongside the seismic transitions he has witnessed in his native country and around the world. “We [returned to South Africa just after the end of apartheid] and then we realized that freedom is beautiful… Democracy is a beautiful concept, but it's a very difficult journey. It's not an overnight thing.”

With a doctorate in neural networks among his many academic achievements, the UNU rector is familiar with the architecture behind the current rapid developments in AI. In this episode, he reflects on the intersection of political freedom, education and technology, and shares why digital literacy is among the most important skills of our age.

Photo: ©UNU

Cherenkov radiation is a blue glow produced when charged particles move faster than light in a medium, helping inspectors verify nuclear material remains peaceful.

Geneva Digital Week concluded with concrete commitments to make AI more inclusive and trustworthy, including a new global AI governance process, over US$100 billion mobilized to expand digital connectivity and new standards for trusted AI.

Artificial intelligence is spreading at breathtaking speed, but access alone won’t determine who benefits. The real divide lies in who has the power to shape how AI is built, governed and used. As many countries race to adopt the technology, gaps in infrastructure, data, skills and local languages threaten to leave billions on the sidelines. Yet the future is far from fixed. Around the world, governments are laying the foundations for AI that serves people—not just markets. The choices made today will decide whether AI deepens inequality or becomes a force for more inclusive, human-centered development.

The world’s scientists are mobilizing against climate disruption, inequality and emerging technologies—but the benefits are far from evenly shared. UNESCO data spanning 397 initiatives in 79 countries reveals that Africa hosts fewer than 10% of projects despite representing 17.5% of the global population. Funding has surged, yet weak coordination, limited infrastructure and gaps between researchers and policymakers still block progress. With open-science commitments often lacking action plans or oversight, the next breakthrough may depend less on discovering new knowledge than on ensuring every nation can access, shape and use it.

Artificial Intelligence (AI) is reshaping economies, societies, and daily life. Its opportunities are real. So are its challenges. No country can address either alone. The Independent International Scientific Panel on Artificial Intelligence was established by UN General Assembly in August 2025 to provide independent, policy-relevant scientific assessments of AI's trajectory. Today it issues its first preliminary report, which will also be presented during the upcoming Global Dialogue on AI Governance in Geneva next week. 

Welcome to Science Forward, the podcast of the UN Secretary-General’s Scientific Advisory Board. Featuring world-leading scientists, we explore today’s challenges, from AI and biotechnology to climate and health. Hosted by Adam Day & Julia Bhattacharjee, the podcast breaks down big questions in plain language.

In the very first episode of Science Forward, we sit down with Board member Yoshua Bengio and AI policy expert Charlotte Stix to unpack the growing risks of deceptive AI.

Follow and subscribe to the podcast on any of your favorite platforms.

The Sterile Insect Technique uses radiation to sterilize mosquitoes, helping reduce malaria transmission and protect public health worldwide.

The World Bank Group is promoting affordable small AI solutions to improve agriculture, health and education in developing countries.

NASA aerospace engineer Alinda Mashiku was born in New York then moved to Tanzania as a young girl, where she dreamed of becoming an astronaut – but reaching for the stars seemed almost an impossibility. 

Today, as a Program Manager with the US space agency, she helps ensure that satellites avoid collisions in orbit, contributing to the safety and sustainability of pioneering space missions such as the record-breaking Artemis II mission around the moon earlier this month.

According to UN data, women make up only 35 per cent of science, tech, engineering and maths graduates (STEM) – figure that has not changed in the past decade.

In an interview with UN News’s Anold Kayanda from our Swahili team, Ms. Mashiku explains why girls should place no limits on their ambitions to break the STEM glass ceiling, into the stratosphere. 

Global leaders, scientists, innovators and civil society representatives gather at United Nations Headquarters on 6–7 May for the 11th annual Multi‑stakeholder Forum on Science, Technology and Innovation for the Sustainable Development Goals (STI Forum). Aligned with the Economic and Social Council’s High‑Level Political Forum, the discussions spotlight water, energy, infrastructure, cities and global partnerships, underscoring science and innovation as powerful drivers of inclusive and sustainable development. Follow the discussion live on UN Webtv.

The guidance offers advice for parents on how to talk with their teens about potential social media bans. It emphasizes choosing a calm moment, listening without judgment, and recognizing that teens may have mixed feelings ranging from frustration to relief.

It also encourages parents to validate their child’s perspective and involve them in the conversation by asking open-ended questions. Finally, it highlights the importance of maintaining strong offline connections and building healthy, balanced digital habits together as a family.

What happens when population policy meets artificial intelligence (AI), big data, and digital platforms? This question lies at the heart of the 59th session of the Commission on Population and Development (13-17 April 2026). Under the theme "Population, technology and research in the context of sustainable development", the five-day session brings together Member States, UN agencies, and civil society to chart a path forward on population policies that leave no one behind. Follow the session live on UN WebTV.

Sixteen-year-old Arleidis, a Wayúu girl from the Pushaina clan, walked hours to study software programming, determined to overcome barriers and inspire her family and community. She now uses digital tools to promote and sell their work, strengthening her community livelihood.