Science Day in Azerbaijan is celebrated on March 27. World Science Day for Peace and Development, celebrated annually on 10 November, was proclaimed in 2001 at the UNESCO General Conference. The first World Science Day for Peace and Development was celebrated worldwide on 10 November 2002 under UNESCO auspices. Science Day aims to promote scientific thinking and highlight the importance of science in everyday life, encourages scientific research and innovation by emphasizing the role of science in society and ensures awareness of scientific developments.
        
The Decree of the President of Azerbaijan on April 9, 2018, established the "Science Day", which is celebrated annually on March 27. Considering the importance of science in the development of society, this significant day has been celebrated as the holiday of the entire Azerbaijani scientific community as Science Day starting in 2019. Science Day coincides with the day of the establishment of the Azerbaijan National Academy of Sciences. The process of formation of an independent scientific institution in Azerbaijan began in the early 20th century, with the organization of the Azerbaijan Society for Scientific Research and Studies in 1923. Renowned scientists who headed the Azerbaijan branch Frans Levinson-Lessing, Ruhulla Akhundov, Ahad Yagubov, Jafar Kazimov, Artur Zifeldt-Simumyagi, Heydar Huseynov, Aleksey Klimov, Veli Khuluflu, Yakov Kozin, and others were tasked with creating sectors in specific fields of science. However, since the functioning of the existing structure, based on the principles of multi-tiered reporting, caused some management difficulties, it became necessary to create a new institution working directly with the central organization. On October 25, 1935, under the leadership of academician Frans Levinson-Lessing, the Azerbaijan branch of the Transcaucasian department of the USSR Academy of Sciences established the Azerbaijan branch working directly with the central scientific institution. Within a short period, the Azerbaijani branch organized the sectors of chemistry, geology, history, ethnography and archaeology, botany, zoology, energy, physics and soil science. The elevation of the status of the Azerbaijan branch allowed the establishment of research institutes here. The Institute of Geology, the Institute of History, Language and Literature, later Linguistics, the Institute of Literature, the Institute of Geography, the Institute of Oil and Chemistry was founded. The effective activity of these institutes in the Azerbaijani branch confirmed the possibility of establishing the Azerbaijan Academy of Sciences, and in 1945 the Azerbaijan Academy of Sciences (Azerbaijan National Academy of Sciences) was established. 
                        
Heydar Aliyev, the national leader of the Azerbaijani people, paid great attention and care to the development of science during both periods of his leadership in our country. Significant measures were taken in the country in the field of development of science, strengthening of scientific and technical potential, training of highly qualified scientific personnel, and enhancement of the role of scientists in society during Heydar Aliyev’s leadership of the independent Azerbaijani state. The rapid development stage of the Academy is associated with the name of the national leader Heydar Aliyev. By the Decree of President Heydar Aliyev dated May 15, 2001, the Azerbaijan Academy of Sciences was granted the status of "National Academy of Sciences". By the Decree of the President dated January 4, 2003, it was granted the status of a supreme state body implementing the scientific and scientific-technical policy of the state and the president of the Academy was vested with the powers of a member of the supreme executive power.

Continuing the strategy of the national leader Heydar Aliyev, President Ilham Aliyev considers the development of science in Azerbaijan as one of the main priorities of the state policy. To ensure the continuous development of science, President Aliyev has signed relevant decrees and orders. The work done in connection with the implementation of the "National Strategy for the Development of Science in the Republic of Azerbaijan in 2009-2015" and related to its implementation of the State Program has significantly contributed to advancing our science. Based on the decree of the head of our state dated August 9, 2016, the "Law on Science" was enacted in the Republic of Azerbaijan for the first time. This law sets out the fundamental principles of state policy in the organization, management, and development of scientific activities, as well as the objectives of scientific and innovation activities, the rights and duties of subjects engaged in scientific activities, and the organizational and legal framework for stimulating scientific achievements and their use in the republic. 
             
On November 10-11, 2014, the Baku Science Festival organized by ANAS was held for the first time in our state. The festival was attended by more than 15,000 people. The opening ceremony of the Second Science Festival was held on October 31, 2016, in the main building of ANAS. The main purpose of the festivals was to demonstrate new innovations, strengthen the relationship between science-education-production, promote science through information and communication technologies and other innovative methods, deliver the achievements of our science to society, and further increase public interest in science.

According to the Decree of President Ilham Aliyev dated July 28, 2022, "On some measures to improve the management in the field of science and education in the Republic of Azerbaijan," the Ministry of Education of the Republic of Azerbaijan was renamed to the Ministry of Science and Education of the Republic of Azerbaijan. The Ministry of Science and Education, together with ANAS, started cooperative activity related to the implementation of science policy in our country. 
In the modern era, the successful development of countries around the world is determined by several indicators. Among these, the current level of science and education plays a crucial role. According to the "Strategy of Social and Economic Development of the Republic of Azerbaijan for 2022-2026" the implementation of reforms in the field of education was defined as one of the main goals. Both the state and various scientific research and higher education institutions in the country are implementing significant measures aimed at integrating Azerbaijani science into the global scientific community. Furthermore, ensuring the integration of science and education and improving the system for training highly qualified scientific personnel are among the main tasks facing Azerbaijani science.

Celebration of "Science Day" not only brings together scientists and specialists working in the field of science throughout the country but also provides an opportunity to present scientific achievements to the general public, to show them the relevance of science in their lives, engage in extensive discussions, and unite around problem-solving.

Recommended literature:

1. Xəlilov, Səlahəddin Sədrəddin oğlu. Elmşünaslığa giriş / S. S. Xəlilov ; elmi red., ön sözün müəl. A. Ş. Mehdiyev. - Bakı : Azərbaycan Universiteti nəşriyyatı, 2010. - 440 s.
2. Xəlilov, Səlahəddin Sədrəddin oğlu. Elm haqqında elm / S. S. Xəlilov ; elmi red., ön sözün müəl. R. Ə. Mehdiyev. - Bakı : Azərbaycan Universiteti nəşriyyatı, 2011. - 752 s.
3. Məmmədova, Sevinc Məmməd qızı. Elm mədəniyyətin fenomeni kimi : monoqrafiya / S. M. Məmmədova ; elmi red. F. T. Məmmədov ; red.: S. Əhmədova, S. Seyidova. - Bakı : Nasir, 2012. - 178 s.
4. Axundova, Mehparə Xosrov qızı. Elm xəzinəsini zənginləşdirənlər / M. X. Axundova ; red. M. Poladova. - Bakı : Elm, 2014. - 544 s.