Going back to the international basic sciences programme, could you outline some possible orientations?
Capacity-building is the leitmotive of any UNESCO science programme. That will not change. What is important is that an international basic sciences programme identify new tools to stimulate co-operation and use existing tools effectively. We must resign ourselves to the fact that we have neither the human nor the financial resources to be everywhere at once. We must prioritize. It is not an easy task but we have no option. Moreover, the programme must be implemented rapidly. That means using existing structures. In my view, the new programme should identify centres of excellence in different developing regions and focus on upgrading these and making them accessible to large numbers of students from the region. I would advise focusing on post-doctoral students and researchers. For example, within NorthSouth and SouthSouth co-operation, short-term visiting professorships would be an effective way of improving the skills of teaching staff. By sending mature staff to universities in the N
