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http://www.ictp.it — home > mission and legacy > science, cultural heritage and cooperation
Science, Cultural Heritage and Cooperation
Science reflects a basic drive to examine nature and search for the logical structure of the universe. It is a collective endeavour spanning generations and, as such, its practice and ability to flourish depends, among other things, on the social and cultural contexts in which it is pursued.
To different degrees, all societies have practiced science, perhaps because the scientific method, despite its imposing name, is the simplest, most natural and universal way of acquiring knowledge. It is the extension of our innate instinct to discover regularities in the world surrounding us.
From the prehistoric hunter trying to uncover the traces of possible prey, to the ancient Egyptian seeking to understand the cycles of the Nile floods, to the modern-day geophysicist trying to predict the impact of El Nino, reasoning has always been the same.
In both situations, the attitude is the same. In both situations, different hypotheses will be proposed and discarded on the basis of empirical evidence. The only difference lies in the amount of past experience brought to bear on the situations.
The scientific method, simply put, is timeless and universal. It is neither Northern nor Southern. In this sense, it is the "common heritage of all mankind."
ICTP believes that at least basic science results should be made free for everyone and sees science as a means for buidling bridges across cultural rifts. While ICTP's main mission is science, its programmes tacitly improve scientific cooperation among countries with diverse cultural and economic backgrounds. ICTP stands committed to such goals and encourages other organisations to join it in these efforts.