Thematic activities

The elaboration of a Global Thematic Study on Heritage of Science and Technology, including studies and research on technological heritage connected with space exploration, requires conducting a series of Thematic Studies by segment of scientific and technological heritage.

Two first Thematic Studies jointly prepared by ICOMOS and the International Astronomical Union (IAU) Commission C4 constitute the background for a comparative analysis that could be carried out to assess the Outstanding Universal Value of a specific site of the same type proposed for World Heritage listing.

The first Thematic Study (2010):

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The second Thematic Study (2017):

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Download and Read the Thematic Studies

The idea of launching studies and research on technological heritage connected with space exploration in line with the Global Strategy for the balanced, representative and credible World Heritage List, emerged in 2007. In 2009, a proposal regarding the definition of categories of Space Technological sites was included in the Kazan Resolution adopted by the participants of the International Conference organized during the UN International Year of Astronomy (Kazan, Republic of Tatarstan, Russian Federation, 2009).

The first international experts meeting on Space Technological Heritage jointly organized by the World Heritage Centre and COSPAR was held during the 40th COSPAR Scientific Assembly (Moscow, Russian Federation, 2014). The main goal of the meeting was to establish cooperation between the World Heritage Centre, specialized agencies and relevant interdisciplinary scientific initiatives, towards elaboration of studies and research on technological heritage connected with space exploration.

AnInternationalExpertsMeeting"HeritagePotentialofSitesoftheHistoryofAerospace" was organized by the German Commission for UNESCO, German Aerospace Center, ICOMOS Germany, TICCIH Germany and the Foundation of the German Technical Museum Berlin (Berlin, Germany, 2017). Experts from France, Germany, India, Kazakhstan, Russian Federation and United Kingdom discussed different sites related to the history of aerospace in their countries, in a long-term perspective of their suitability for potential future transnational serial nominations as World Heritage sites. [source https://whc.unesco.org/en/events/1370/ ; https://whc.unesco.org/document/159969 ]

In 2018-2019, first research on heritage issues of sites related to space exploration, including the Baikonur Cosmodrom case study / participatory actionresearch project in the field of the space technological heritage was conducted in collaboration with the HT2S Laboratory of TechnoScience in Society (CNAM-Paris, France).

The organization of an International Workshop on Space Technological Heritage could offer an opportunity to evaluate and recognize the importance of this specific type of heritage, in terms of the enrichment of the history of humanity, the promotion of cultural diversity and the development of international exchanges. It could contribute to the exchange of information and the establishment of new partnerships, with the goal of promoting and protecting technological heritage connected with space exploration and developing all necessary mechanisms to safeguard our common heritage. A pilot-project Heritage of Science and Technology: World Heritage Potential of Space Technology is available for financial support by the States Parties, partners and donors on the Marketplace for World Heritage.

In 2019, a joint World Heritage Centre/ICOMOS Advisory mission visited the Scientific Town-Institution of Physiologist I. P. Pavlov, one of the components of the World Heritage property Historic Centre of Saint Petersburg and Related Groups of Monuments.

The site is located within the boundaries of the component 540-032 (Koltushskaya Elevation) and the protection zone of component 540-021 (Scientific Town Institution of Physiologist I.P. Pavlov) in the territory of Koltushi Municipality, Vsevolozhskiy District of the Leningrad Region. The Scientific Town was built in the early 1930s under the leadership of the first Russian Nobel laureate I.P. Pavlov. A very active group of scientists is trying hard to revive the Pavlov Institute of Physiology and to establish an International Research Centre that would become a main hub for interchanging ideas and experiences among specialists in the field of Integrative Physiology.

The mission invited the Director of the Pavlov Institute of Physiology, Russian Academy of Sciences (RAS), and the site manager of this component, to include in the programme of one of the next International Conferences organized with the participation of the Institute, a round-table and/or discussion session on the protection and management of scientific heritage.

The mission recommended establishment of a thematic network of site managers of the properties with associated scientific values in order to develop and integrate in the Management Plans of the properties specific provisions and regulations regarding protection of scientific heritage. [source mission report]

In line with the Decision adopted by the World Heritage Committee at its 42nd session (Manama, 2018), the World Heritage Centre invited, by circular letter, all States Parties to update the contact information of their Focal Points / Institutions who will be in charge of the implementation of the renamed Initiative on Heritage of Astronomy, Science and Technology at the national level.

A first round table, which took place during the 43rd session of the World Heritage Committee (Baku, 2019), discussed the Implementation of the Thematic Initiative on Heritage of Astronomy, Science and Technology (HAST) and exchanged information and good practices on the nomination of scientific sites.

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Initiative on Heritage of Astronomy, Science and Technology - UNESCO.org