The young scientists, aged between 16 and 35, are taking part in three parallel discussion groups chaired by major science and social science researchers of the century. In his opening statement, Leon Lederman argued that scientists need to clearly communicate the importance of science funding as well as the need for science literacy in schools.
Science depends on curiosity and the freedom to pursue that curiosity.
Therefore science depends on democracy. The world is increasingly democratic. In a democratic world it is the people who decide. This is why scientific literacy is important, not just in every school but in the universities and graduate schools of law, business and so on. Above all, he highlighted the importance of specific sections of the draft declaration dealing with discrimination against women scientists.