Hungary aims to tighten its scientific ties with the emerging technological and scientific super powers such as Brazil, HAS President József Pálinkás said in a meeting where he gave a presentation about the role WSF plays in science diplomacy. The President was invited to the meeting by Ambassador of Brazil in Budapest, Sergio Moreira Lima.  

"Nations with rapidly developing science deserve special attention in the future of the World Science Forum", József Pálinkás pointed out at a meeting organised by the Diplomacy and Trade Club on February 28 in Budapest. The President of HAS reminded the audience: the South-American state had greatly contributed to the success of WSF 2011 as a co-organiser, and breaking with traditions, WSF 2013 is to be hosted by the capital city of Brazil. As initiated by the President, the bi-annual World Science Forum series, while preserving its ties to Hungary and Budapest, will be co-organised and hosted by different capitals and partners every second time, i.e. every fourth year. "By having Budapest as the main organiser only every fourth year, and having other countries organise the Forum every second time, WSF is to become a truly global platform", József Pálinkás said summing up the significance of renewing the Forum.

The Brazil Academy of Sciences took an emphatic role in the Steering Committee responsible for the preparation of the prestigious science diplomacy event. The South-American country is to be the first international host of WSF, a forum providing a global stage for the dialogue between researchers and policy-makers. "This co-operation between Hungary and Brazil is founded on the universal values of science", the President of the Academy said at the meeting.

"The multilateral co-operation based on science is an important strategic element of Brazil's foreign policy", the Ambassador of Brazil said in his talk. The extraordinary and dynamic economic growth of the last decade has created an opportunity for Brazil to not only decrease social differences, but to also rapidly approach the world's super powers in various areas of education and science. "Responsible for two-thirds of the continent's GDP, the South-American country intends to strengthen the already booming relationship between the Brazil and the Hungarian governments and to enhance trading connections beyond its strong co-operation with the Hungarian Academy of Sciences", the Ambassador said.

Held in Budapest for the fifth time, World Science Forum 2011 was focused on changes in the global landscape of science. Acknowledged researchers and high-rank decision-makers from over one hundred countries had gathered  to seek authentic answers for global challenges concerning mankind as a whole and manifesting themselves in the birth of new scientific trends, new disciplines and the emergence of new scientific superpowers. During WSF 2011, president of the Brazil Academy of Sciences, Jacob Palis chaired a thematic session on the balance between an overpopulated humanity's ever increasing demand for food and the sustainment of biodiversity.

(From Hungarian Academy of Sciences)