Appeal
to strengthen the voice of science as a global public good 

We, the signatories of this Appeal*, address the scientific community, political and business leaders, and the public at large with a call for responsibility and for connected, joint action in support of science and its contribution to global wellbeing. We are living through a period marked by profound geopolitical transformations, multiple and interdependent crises, accelerating pace of technological change, pressures on the environment, health and social cohesion, and a growing spread of disinformation and mistrust. In the face of these challenges, science must be better integrated into public life. It must sustain the highest ethical standards and become more present, more effective, more united and more clearly heard. Science is one of the highest expressions of humanity's responsibility toward achieving understanding. It provides knowledge and discernment. It offers solutions and the capacity to guide society in times of uncertainty. In an increasingly fragmented world, the voice of science must be strengthened as a voice of reason, balance, cooperation and the public good. We call for greater cooperation within the scientific community, beyond disciplinary, institutional and national boundaries, and across the public and private sectors. The major challenges of the 21st century, including climate change, global health, food and energy security, digital transformation, artificial intelligence, social imbalances and new geopolitical vulnerabilities, can be addressed only through cooperation, dialogue and the convergence of knowledge. At the same time, we note that science, used more consistently, can help decision-makers make more effective and better policies. Science alone cannot make societal decisions, but a society that does not use science well diminishes its chances of responding lucidly and effectively to the challenges of its time. Investment in research, education and innovation is not a luxury; it is a necessary condition for resilience, prosperity and social peace. We also consider it essential to bring science closer to society, to young people and to the public sphere. What is needed is a culture of respect for knowledge, open institutions and responsible, ethical scientific communication capable of strengthening public trust and countering the distortion of truth. In these troubled times, we call upon scientists to remain united, active and supportive of one another, and upon academic and research institutions to assume, with even greater determination, their role as moral and intellectual reference points. Science must serve as an instrument of progress, a force for cohesion, a living conscience of society and a global public good. We firmly believe that the future cannot be built sustainably without science, without education and without strong academic and research institutions in all countries. We therefore launch this Appeal as a common call for unity, responsibility and action.

* initiated in Chișinău1 within the framework of an ongoing international scientific dialogue dedicated to the critical role of science in contemporary society