The government has adopted a proposal to establish a National Science Day.
STA, Ljubljana, 30 January – The government has adopted a draft amendment to the Public Holidays Act, introducing a new public holiday: Science Day on 10 November. According to the Ministry of Labour, Family, Social Affairs and Equal Opportunities, the holiday is intended to bring science closer to the general public and will not be a public holiday.
The ministry stated that the purpose of Science Day is to reinforce knowledge as a core value of Slovenian society. 'It is important to raise awareness of the importance of science among the general public, to develop an understanding of the significance of research in various fields for global and domestic development, and to foster national pride in the remarkable and internationally significant accomplishments of Slovenian researchers,' the government stated in a message following the meeting.
The government believes that celebrating Science Day will encourage interest in diverse scientific achievements at a national and global level, as well as in current scientific issues and the active involvement of the general public in discussions on key open issues in contemporary society. Science Day will also aim to popularise all areas of science through a variety of events.
On this day, the highest national prizes for outstanding achievements in scientific research and development will also be awarded, including the Zois and Pooh Prizes. 23 November was proposed as the date for this event, as 23 November is already a public holiday, Rudolf Maister Day, commemorating the death of Žiga Zois. Similar to the cultural holiday, it would commemorate the contributions of the patron of Slovenian science to the development of science, the ministry added.
10 November is also the UNESCO World Day of Science for Peace and Development. The initiators believe that a national holiday on this date would emphasise the international dimension of research and the important role of science in developing the planet even further.
At the end of 2022, the distinguished scientific community — namely the Slovenian Academy of Sciences and Arts, the Rectors' Conference of the Republic of Slovenia, the Coordination of Independent Research Institutes of Slovenia, the Engineering Academy of Slovenia, and the Slovenian Academy of Medicine — submitted the initiative to declare a new national holiday to the President of the National Assembly, the Prime Minister, and the President of the Republic. This was on the basis of a proposal by the Committee of the Republic of Slovenia for the Awarding of Prizes and Awards for Outstanding Achievements in Scientific Research and Development Activities.
The initiators stressed that knowledge is key to the country's development and that the achievements of research and innovation activities are not sufficiently recognised as drivers of progress in wider society. Therefore, science needs to be given a higher profile at a national level.
Translated by Deepl.