Leadership in Thought That Leads to Action

A global organization addressing humanity’s urgent challenges and emerging opportunities

560
Fellows

90
Countries

12
Programs

About The World Academy

WHO WE ARE

WAAS is an association of committed individuals drawn from diverse cultures, nationalities, occupations and intellectual pursuits conscious of the profound social consequences and policy implications of knowledge, and united by a common aspiration to address the urgent challenges and emerging opportunities confronting humanity. Today the Academy includes more than 560 elected Fellows from more than 90 nations collaborating with a global network of partner organizations founded on faith in the collective power of human aspiration and values.

HOW WE THINK

The Academy strives to evolve solutions to the world’s pressing challenges by transcending the limits of national self-interest, disciplinary perspectives and conventional thinking while integrating knowledge with universal values and social responsibility. The inclusion of Art in the title of the Academy is intended to foster a marriage of the objective and subjective dimensions of knowledge essential for cracking the ‘genetic code’ of consciousness and social evolution. Great Art and Science are supreme expressions of humanity & creative imagination.

Peace & Human Security

A comprehensive, integrated, value-based approach to individual, community, national and global security encompassing political, economic, social, ethical, technological and ecological dimensions.

Global Transition

Catalytic strategies to address the global leadership vacuum while developing the perspectives, theoretical frameworks, policy and institutional basis for effectively addressing the global challenges confronting humanity today.

Future Education

A new paradigm in education is needed to accelerate global systems change. We have identified such a system — personalized, self-paced, person-centred, relevant, integrated, affordable, high quality and delivered globally.

Economy & Employment

New paradigm concepts and theory to promote a truly human-centered, inclusive, equitable, and sustainable economic system for all humanity.

Reliable Knowledge

The Academy’s conception of human-centered, transdisciplinary and integrated knowledge combines scientific precision and the creative imagination of the arts with universal human values.

Health & Human Welfare

Threats like pandemics and conflict-driven mental health crises demand an inclusive, cooperative paradigm. Prioritizing human security requires a new approach to health and welfare for all.

Future Finance

Evolutionary and revolutionary strategies to redirect both private and public finance to promote human rights, human security, wellbeing sustainable development.

Societal Transformation

Transition to an equitable and sustainable paradigm requires knowledge of how to shift from unconscious social evolution to consciousn social transformation.

Mobilizing Civil Society & Youth

An inclusive and equitable multilateral system necessitates an active role and voice for global civil society and youth.

Science, Society & Sustainability

Transdisciplinary science integrated with policy making, implementation, human rights and social responsibility.

Mind, Thinking & Creativity

Integrated knowledge perspectives are essential for addressing the problems generated by mechanistic, reductionist, fragmented, siloed thinking.

Integrating Art & Science

Combining objective and subjective dimensions of knowledge is essential for cracking the ‘genetic code’ of consciousness. Great Art and Science are expressions of humanity’s creative imagination.

Featured Projects

Global Turbulence
Exploring events related to the rising levels of global turbulence, highlighting the underlying factors and generating solutions.

The Global Peace Offensive
A proactive, dialogue-driven peace-building approach within civil society, spearheaded by the academic community.

Trauma Informed Care
Developing a trauma-informed, online chabot designed to provide reliable, scientifically grounded answers.

Upcoming Events

CES 2026

Las Vegas / 6-9 January, 2026. CES, the world’s largest tech event, will once again partner with the World Academy of Art and Science (WAAS) and the United Nations Trust Fund For Human Security (UNTFHS) to highlight how tech can play a critical role in solving pressing social and environmental issues.

Coping with Polycrisis and Systemic Risks: New Approaches to Assessment and Governance

Online / 7 November, 2025. The emphasis of integrated disaster and risk research has shifted from topical analysis, such as dealing with natural disasters, technological accidents or environmental crises, to a comprehensive analysis of interconnected and mutually interactive risk sources and crises.

Thessaloniki Sustainability Summit 2025

Hybrid / 2-3 October, 2025. The summit will bring together scientists, policymakers, local authorities, entrepreneurs, and other key stakeholders to engage in a global dialogue marking the 10th anniversary of the Paris Agreement.

Making Wars Obsolete: Pathways to Peaceful Futures

Online / 2 October, 2025. New peacebuilding approaches are needed involving both state and non-state actors, respecting human security principles. What we urgently need is a new paradigm that aims not only to end wars, but to make them obsolete.

UN Global Risk Report

Online / 18 September, 2025. The EXTRA InfoHub is hosting a webinar in cooperation with UNESCO BRIDGES and the Pardee Institute — the organization behind the statistical analysis in the latest UN Global Risk Report — and with participation from the Accelerator for Systemic Risk Assessment (ASRA).

International Decade of Sciences for Sustainable Development

Belgrade, Serbia / September 22–24, 2025 | The first conference within the EHC-WAAS Program and a flagship event within IDSSD. The aims of this Conference are to listen to prominent individuals acting in different science and art disciplines from different parts of the world, and induce fruitful interactions.

III Latin-American WAAS Meeting : Democracy, Artificial Intelligence and Global Economy

Online | August 11-13, 2025 | Panels discussed themes around the democratic crisis in the Americas, Regulation of Artificial Intelligence and the crisis of multilateralism and prospects for regional integration. The event highlighted the problems related to democracy, artificial intelligence and the global economy in the present and the coming...

International Conference on Sustainable Cities: Interdisciplinary Approaches

Athens / 27 June, 2025. As urbanization accelerates worldwide, cities have become central to tackling climate change, promoting social equity, and ensuring economic resilience. The conference will serve as a platform for interdisciplinary dialogue and collaboration, focusing on the transition toward sustainable urban development.

From the Archives

Featured Videos

A Conversation with Charles Oppenheimer

How AI Can Close the $3 Trillion Education Gap

Global Turbulence: Sources and Solutions

Leadership in Thought That Leads to Action

About The World Academy

WHO WE ARE

HOW WE THINK