SDGs and the future of the YEBN

The UN has launched a project, the Sustainable Development Goals (or SDGs), in order to “achieve a better and more sustainable future for all”. They are a blueprint, a map for the future for governments, companies, individuals and associations like the YEBN for a better future for all. They focus on many working lines that altogether promise to achieve a better living for all, even the less advantaged, by 2030.

Some of the goals are old wars, things that humanity has always fought for, and some are new issues and challenges that, given the circumstances, we have to palliate or even revert. For instance, No Poverty and Zero Hunger are the 2 first goals, sharing place with some contemporary problems related with climate change and sustainability.

This new decade offers a new light for the future. While this project started in 2015 as a 15 years plan, it did not advance at the speed or scale required. This is why the 20s will be a very intense decade, a decade for action. With a wish to end poverty and empower women and girls and address the climate emergency, many society leaders have to fight for the overall wellbeing of Earth’s inhabitants. Inequalities and climate change are threatening to undo all the advances that have been made this past years. This is why all of us should share these goals, this agenda for us, the people, and also for the planet.

There are many working fronts currently developing at many scales. While the most influential governments are working to tackle these concerns, everyone as individuals can make the future a better place. Something as easy as informing about more sustainable practices like recycling or being a volunteer, at home and at work, can do the change. This idea is greatly explained in its page “Be the Change” or in its guide “The lazy person’s guide to saving the world), both included in the link: https://www.un.org/sustainabledevelopment/be-the-change/.

This is why an association like the YEBN, a young association with lots of social concerns, that focuses on sustainable development of science and the world overall had to take action too. During the last annual meeting (Barcelona, 1st, 2nd and 3rd November 2019) the YEBN members attendees had the opportunity to be inspired from different senior meetings and get the fundamentals to start working in the new strategy creation with a very common idea shared between all members: “create impact in our society through the professional and personal development of the young professionals and young from degrees and PhDs”.

Now the challenge is clear, the YEBN is going to be oriented to create impact in the axis its propose.

YEBN acts as a catalyst and provides a platform for access and exchange of information and communication about the 5 axes: access to advanced Education, Access to Information & Communications, Health & Wellness, Inclusiveness, Environmental Quality. YEBN, IMs and Regional Boards are going to develop events and partnerships that create impact in these 2020 Strategic Axes, keeping in mind that in the center of all actions is to strengthen YEBN, their and partners and institutions with these aims and foster innovation and better infrastructure aiming to achieve these goals.

Of course, the YEBN continues being commited with its foundational aim that the Statutes have:

The YEBN is in charge of (Statutes, Article 1.3)

  • The organisation of international meetings for students and young scientists in the Biotechnology and Life Sciences as well as for their national and regional associations.
  • The provision of information about career development and job opportunities inside and outside of academia for students and young scientists.
  • The provision of information about international support and scholarship programmes for students and young scientists as well as for their national and regional associations.
  • The provision of a platform for Life Sciences and Biotechnology students and young professionals in Europe for them to connect and work together on an international level, as well as to voice their mutual opinion on an international level.
  • The provision of information and training about intercultural communication and tolerance
  • The exchange of best practice and training of leadership skills, professional as well as ethical conduct and social responsibility in order to strengthen of existing and to promote the founding of new voluntary organisations.
  • The training of innovative thinking to fully leverage the potential of Biotechnology and the Life Sciences for the benefit of society.