The phrase 'education, education, education' was used nearly 20 years ago by UK politician Tony Blair to gain political power--and the theme of education as the panacea for all ills is with us still. It emerged as a central theme at two recent science conferences I attended: the World Science Forum in Budapest, Hungary, (4-7 November) and the TWAS (The World Academy of Sciences) 26th general meeting in Vienna, Austria (18-21 November).
At the TWAS meeting, there were constant references to the significance of education. At the World Science Forum, while many discussions focused on the interface between policy and science, the central notion that came to the fore was grounded in a belief in education: human minds around the world have to change to address the Sustainable Development Goals (and in particular the challenges of climate change).
...