UN Armenia and STARMUS cooperate to inspire Armenian youth to discover the world of science

STARMUS is an international festival associated with the names of Steven Hawking, Brian May, Alexei Leonov, and other world-renowned artists, scientists, and musicians. It was launched in 2011 in Tenerife (Canary Islands, Spain) and later was also organized in Norway and Switzerland.

STARMUS was founded by astrophysicist Garik Israelyan and the legendary guitarist of Queen, astrophysicist Brian May, becoming a platform that unites world-renowned scientists, Nobel prize laureates, astronauts, and the brightest minds of science, art, and technology. In the scope of this festival, they are sharing their experience, knowledge and the latest inventions with attendees to simplify the process and to inspire more youth and participants to explore the world of science.  

“STARMUS is here to inspire the new generation of Armenian technological giants and startups. This is the crucial moment in Armenia’s history, to bring a festival like STARMUS to this small country and inspire the new generation of scientists and artists of this country”, noted STARMUS Founding Director Garik Israelian in his remarks during the opening ceremony of STARMUS VI in Yerevan. 

• How to popularize science in Armenian society through art?
• What should be done to increase the interest of young people in science?
• How to make them a part of STARMUS, one of the most prestigious science and art festivals in the world?

Our partners from the STARMUS international festival helped us find answers to the above-mentioned, as well as many other questions. As a result, in August 2022, the UN Office in Armenia and the STARMUS International Festival signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU), according to which the UN was announced as a Partner organization of the STARMUS festival. The MoU served as a base for the parties to unite their efforts towards the popularization and communication of science in Armenia thus ensuring the main goal of the STARMUS festival is to inspire and educate the next generation of explorers and regenerate the spirit of discovery.

Science and Art Days were held in Armenia from 5-10 September 2022, entitled “STARMUS VI. 50 Years on Mars” and were dedicated to the 50th anniversary of the first soft landing on Mars by the mission “Mars 3".  In the scope of the festival series of events such as lectures, forums, scientific round-table discussions, art and music events, and a scientific camp were held in Armenia to showcase the importance of science in our lives and to bring it closer to the young generation.

Moreover, Armine Petrosyan, National Information Officer, Department of Global Communications, was an ambassador of the 6th STARMUS, a world-scale Science and Art Festival.

Within the framework of cooperation between the UN Armenia and STARMUS international festival, more than 100 young people from Yerevan, marzes, displaced and border communities took part in the events hosting world-renowned scientists, musicians, and artists.

We are glad that the dream of Tatev Hakobyan, one of the beneficiaries of one of the programs of the Representation of the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees in Armenia (UNHCR Armenia), came true, which she shared during our team's visit to Syunik in the summer. Tatev, who sees her future in the field of astronomy, shared her impressions of participation in STARMUS.

“My interest in astronomy began at a young age, and STARMUS was just a great opportunity to get my questions answered and listen to inspiring lectures by skillful professors. This festival was a source of great motivation for me.”

Our colleagues from different agencies continue to share their positive feedback with us about the opinions of the beneficiary youth attending the festival. 

“On behalf of the adolescents and young people, I'd like to thank you for giving them the opportunity to be part of the amazing STARMUS experience. I've been getting calls and texts from young people thanking us for this enjoyable and life-changing experience.”

Young people had the opportunity to enjoy the science and art days, learn, and be inspired to further contribute to the development of science, education, art, and technology.

On the sidelines of the UN Armenia and STARMUS partnership, astrobiologist, award-winning science communicator, and prize-winning author David Grinspoon delivered a lecture titled "Terra Sapiens: The Human Chapter in the History of Earth" at the UN House.

The astrobiologist spoke about the importance of identifying the causes of the changes taking place in the universe, the climatic disasters that occurred on different planets and their consequences, and international cooperation to combat climate change and its impacts. The lecture was followed by a discussion about the definition of evolution, and possible changes on the planet Earth.

We are sure that in the long term, the unsurpassed results of the opportunities provided by the STARMUS VI festival will be more visible. 

The UN Armenia, in its turn, will always support the initiatives that will promote youth empowerment, gender equality, and STEM education (Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics), as they are all vital to achieving the internationally agreed Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) and a better world, leaving no one behind.