MiBACT forges agreement with Novartis to spread scientific culture

The Ministry of Cultural Heritage and Activities and Tourism has entered into an agreement with the pharmaceutical company Novartis in order to promote a program for the enhancement of scientific culture: the goal is to identify initiatives capable of strengthening in citizens, and in particular in young people, the awareness of how knowledge and the scientific method are fundamental requirements for a full and responsible participation in the life of the country.

The need to spread scientific culture has emerged especially in this period of the Covid-19 coronavirus emergency: absurd and anti-scientific theories have been spreading on the web that would surely have found less ground in the face of a higher rate of scientific literacy among the population. Scientific literacy is also an indispensable tool for fostering a broader ability to address challenges, health and otherwise, that involve the community.

The program announced by MiBACT is part of Novartis Italia’s People in Science-Scienza da vivere initiative, which will be developed into multiple projects and actions to support science literacy (i.e., scientific literacy). Support for widespread science literacy will be able to play a significant role in reducing the traditional lag in familiarity with the so-called “exact sciences” that, statistics in hand, penalizes young Italians compared to their peers in other advanced countries.

“The understanding reached with MiBACT for a joint program to promote scientific culture in our country,” says Pasquale Foggia, Country President and Managing Director of Novartis in Italy, “is a decisive step in the path Novartis is committed to supporting the value of knowledge and innovation. It is a commitment that has been further strengthened with the Covid-19 emergency, in the belief that only on this basis can we truly build a future-proof Italy, capable of sustaining economic and social recovery.”

The first step in the collaboration between Novartis and MiBACT will be the identification of the most suitable projects to foster the dissemination of scientific culture, which can also be developed through a substantial use of digital resources. Novartis, which with 2,360 employees in Italy is one of the largest companies in the pharmaceutical sector, has invested more than 200 million euros in R&D in the last three years, and thus promises to be an important partner for the ministry.

Pictured: the Collegio Romano, headquarters of the Ministry of Cultural Heritage. Ph. Credit Finestre Sull’Arte

MiBACT forges agreement with Novartis to spread scientific culture

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