Mexican specialist wins UNESCO award for popularizing science

A Mexican physiologist and neurobiologist renowned for his work on sleep has won a United Nations award honouring those who have helped to promote science, the UN Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO) announced today.

René Raúl Drucker Colín will officially receive the 2011 UNESCO Kalinga Prize for the Popularization of Science at a ceremony today in Bhubaneswar, India, the agency said in a press release.

Professor Drucker Colín was chosen for the biennial award – which was created in 1951 – by Irina Bokova, the Director-General of UNESCO, on the recommendation of an international jury.

The professor, who holds a degree in psychology and a doctorate in medicine, is best known for his work in identifying the role played by neurotransmitters during sleep, and has been described by UNESCO as “an ardent promoter of science.”

He writes regularly for La Jornada, a daily Mexican newspaper, and has also participated regularly on the science programmes of Televisa, a national television broadcaster.

Professor Drucker Colín is slated to receive a cheque for $20,000, the silver UNESCO-Albert Einstein medal and a certificate at tomorrow’s ceremony, which will take place during the Indian Science Congress.

The prize is jointly funded by the Kalinga Foundation and the Government of the Indian state of Orissa, of which Bhubaneswar is the capital.

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About UN Educational Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO)

UNESCO works to create the conditions for dialogue among civilizations, cultures and peoples, based upon respect for commonly shared values. It is through this dialogue that the world can achieve global visions of sustainable development encompassing observance of human rights, mutual respect and the alleviation of poverty, all of which are at the heart of UNESCO’S mission and activities.

The broad goals and concrete objectives of the international community – as set out in the internationally agreed development goals, including the Millennium Development Goals (MDGs) – underpin all UNESCO’s strategies and activities. Thus UNESCO’s unique competencies in education, the sciences, culture and communication and information contribute towards the realization of those goals.

UNESCO’s mission is to contribute to the building of peace, the eradication of poverty, sustainable development and intercultural dialogue through education, the sciences, culture, communication and information. The Organization focuses, in particular, on two global priorities:

• Africa
• Gender equality

And on a number of overarching objectives:

• Attaining quality education for all and lifelong learning
• Mobilizing science knowledge and policy for sustainable development
• Addressing emerging social and ethical challenges
• Fostering cultural diversity, intercultural dialogue and a culture of peace
• Building inclusive knowledge societies through information and communication

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> United Nations (UN).

The United Nations was established on 24 October 1945 by 51 countries committed to preserving peace through international cooperation and collective security. Today, nearly every nation in the world belongs to the UN: membership totals 192 countries.

When States become Members of the United Nations, they agree to accept the obligations of the UN Charter, an international treaty that sets out basic principles of international relations. According to the Charter, the UN has four purposes:

• to maintain international peace and security;
• to develop friendly relations among nations;
• to cooperate in solving international problems and in promoting respect for human rights;
• and to be a centre for harmonizing the actions of nations.

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* The above story is adapted from materials provided by United Nations (UN)
** More information at United Nations (UN)