UNESCO Assistant Director-General and Executive Secretary of the Intergovernmental Oceanographic Commission (IOC), talks about key issues concerning the oceans during the annual meeting of UNESCO Goodwill ambassadors at UNESCO headquarters, 26 -27 June 2013.

Science and technology are key components of social integration, sustainable development and poverty eradication based on equity, freedom, justice, governance and solidarity. The UNESCO's Basic sciences programme deals with molecular biology, biotechnology, chemistry, pure and applied physics and mathematics, as well as interdisciplinary areas that underlie human health, the preservation of the environment and human well-being.