The UN has a plan, and it involves Battlestar Galactica. No really. The show which has done more to convince non-believers that sci fi is more than just tinsel and ray guns is the subject of panel being held in the Economic and Social Council Chamber of the UN in New York City tomorrow, just days before the final episode is due to be broadcast.

According to the Sci Fi Channel, which broadcasts Battlestar Galactica in the States, the event will look at how the show has examined issues such as "human rights, children and armed conflict, terrorism, reconciliation, and dialogue among civilisations and faith" over the past four seasons. The session will be chaired by Whoopi Goldberg, a huge fan of the show herself. Executive producers Ronald D Moore and David Eick, as well as stars Mary McDonnell (who plays president Laura Roslin) and Edward James Olmos (the stoic Admiral William Adama) will be taking part.

To be honest, you can't help being slightly suspicious at the timing of the event, but surely the UN can’t be duped into doing something like this purely as a publicity stunt? Can it? Maybe Ban Ki-moon is a big fan? Or are they planning on dropping copies of the season four box set into Al-Qaeda strongholds?