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Dear Colleagues,
Technological breakthroughs, geopolitical tensions, climate pressures, and social fragmentation are no longer isolated challenges; they interact, amplify one another, and test our collective capacity to respond with wisdom and foresight. At moments like this, the mission of WAAS—to integrate knowledge, values, and human purpose—becomes not only relevant, but essential.
This edition of our newsletter reflects that commitment in action. From our ongoing engagement at CES 2026, where questions of human security, ethical AI, and the moral direction of innovation took center stage, to our peace dialogues in the Black Sea region and reflections on science’s responsibility in times of war, WAAS continues to convene voices that bridge disciplines, cultures, and generations. Across these initiatives runs a common thread: the conviction that solutions to global turbulence must place human dignity, security, and meaning at their core.
We will return to these themes at the XIII Global Baku Forum in March 2026, building on last year’s dialogue on global turbulence to advance practical, integrated responses around peace, prosperity, freedom, and human security. I invite you to explore the work shared here—not as isolated events, but as part of a growing, collaborative effort to shape a future worthy of humanity.
Sincerely,
Garry Jacobs President, WAAS | |
Event Reportback | |
| CES 2026: An Ethical Compass For The Future of Technology
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 | From 6-9 January, 2026, WAAS Fellows participated in various panel discussions at CES, the world's largest technology event. For the fourth year running, CES has promoted the Human Security For All (HS4A) campaign, a program of WAAS, supported by the UN Trust Fund for Human Security.
CES 2026 revealed a striking gap between the speed of technological innovation and the frameworks needed to guide it responsibly. Across panels and conversations, leaders raised urgent questions about human security, ethical AI, job displacement, identity, and the absence of diverse human perspectives in tech design. While innovation promises efficiency and scale, it often lacks a clear moral “why.” The conversations highlighted a growing need to integrate human values—dignity, inclusion, meaning, and security—directly into products, systems, and standards.
WAAS Fellow Peter Schlosser spoke on a panel titled "AI and Sustainable Living" where he noted that AI can help us optimize natural resources, and that much historical data has yet to be processed to help uncover new insights. Fellow Lawrence Ford and WAAS General Manager, Grant Schreiber, hosted a panel conceived by WAAS Fellow Eden Mamut on "Advancing Human Security and Smart Mobility." WAAS Trustee Jonathan Granoff spoke on a panel titled "Staying Ahead in the Data Defense Game," that explored how AI is reshaping cybersecurity by protecting data, detecting threats, and helping us stay one step ahead of misuse and cyber-attacks. A WAAS interview with CES CEO Gary Shapiro outlined the central importance of human security as a guiding principle for innovation at CES, emphasizing that technology must ultimately serve human dignity, safety, and resilience.
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A special side event at CES 2026 (above) convened a broader group of WAAS Fellows, that included Carol Carter and An Krumberger to reflect on their experiences and articulate shared concerns about the future of ethical technology. |
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| Launch of The Planetary Arts Movement: X-Art |
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On 28 January, 2026, WAAS launched a new program: The Planetary Arts Movement: X-Art, that aims to harness the transformative power of artistic expression to awaken understanding of the threats facing life on Earth. The movement aims to spark imagination and develop collaborative solutions that lead to a flourishing planet for all. It will unite artists across disciplines and continents with a shared purpose — to turn existential challenges into creative opportunities, strengthen human security, and inspire a thriving, peaceful future where art becomes both the messenger and the catalyst for planetary renewal.
At the online launch, WAAS brought together foundational partners, including One Young World, the Club of Rome, UNESCO Bridges, the Commonwealth Foundation, FullerVision, The War on Climate, and Artistic PNK, in a dynamic discussion on the purpose of art in creating the world we want.
The program welcome ideas for further creative initiatives and joint ventures that enable synergies and align with its values and principles. Sign the Manifesto here. |
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| Watch the Launch Here |
| International Conference on The Global Peace Offensive
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 | Challenges to Peace in the Black Sea and the Role of the Tatars for a Future Based on Security, Trust & Cooperation.
On December 5, 2025, the World Academy of Art and Science and the Black Sea University Network convened a hybrid conference titled “Challenges to Peace in the Black Sea and the Role of the Tatars for a Future Based on Security, Trust & Cooperation” in Constanța, Romania. The dialogue brought together international scholars, diplomats, minority representatives, and peacebuilders to confront the deep-rooted tensions in the Black Sea region amid ongoing conflicts and geopolitical pressures.
Speakers highlighted how the nearly four-century struggle of the Crimean Tatar people and their resilience reflect both historical injustices and the potential of inclusive, bottom-up peacebuilding. Emphasizing human security, dignity, and mutual trust, the conference underscored that sustainable peace depends on recognizing the rights and voices of indigenous and marginalized communities alongside traditional diplomacy.
This event is part of the Global Peace Offensive, a WAAS initiative promoting innovative pathways to resolve protracted crises at local, regional, and global levels. Its lessons resonate beyond the Black Sea: peace is most durable when rooted in dialogue, inclusion, and shared security, reminding us that global stability grows from communities engaged in cooperation, respect, and equitable participation. |
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| The Role of Science in War and Peace — Dialogue, Respect and Dignity
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On 5 December, 2025, Pugwash Croatia, the World Academy of Art and Science, the Global Peace Offensive Center, and the web portal Ideje.hr held a joint event in Zagreb, Croatia titled “The Role of Science in War and Peace – Dialogue, Respect and Dignity.” This landmark event was held under the high patronage of the President of the Republic of Croatia, and brought together scientists, diplomats, scholars, and civil society leaders at a moment of heightened global risk and uncertainty.
The conference marked a convergence of four historic anniversaries: 70 years since the Russell–Einstein Manifesto, 80 years since the atomic bombings of Hiroshima and Nagasaki, 30 years since the Nobel Peace Prize awarded to Sir Joseph Rotblat and the Pugwash Conferences, and the 110th anniversary of Ivan Supek, founder of Pugwash Croatia. Together, these milestones framed a powerful reflection on the ethical responsibilities of science.
Through keynote addresses, panel discussions, and intergenerational dialogue, speakers explored nuclear disarmament, climate change, artificial intelligence, and human security. The event reaffirmed a shared commitment to dialogue across divides and to translating scientific knowledge into responsible action for peace. Speakers included Donato Kiniger-Passigli, President of the Global Peace Offensive Center and Vice-President (Social Sciences and Humanities) of WAAS, who presented the current activities of the Global Peace Offensive, and Karen Hallberg, Secretary General of Pugwash Conferences.
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| Read More and Watch Here |
| Upcoming Events |
| 15 MARCH 2026 / BAKU
XIII Global Baku Forum: WAAS Side Event
A follow-up event to the 2025 discussion on Global Turbulence at the XII Baku Forum, this side event will focus on the development of solutions under three interdependent themes: Peace, Prosperity, Freedom and Human Security, and four essential issues. READ MORE
23 FEBRUARY, 2026 / ONLINE WAAS Talks on Science for Human Security: Renewable Energy
The UN General Assembly has proclaimed the International Decade of Sciences for Sustainable Development from 2024 to 2031. This 12th WAAS Talk on Science for Human Security addresses one of the most important topics of science for sustainable development — the science of clean renewable energy technologies. READ MORE
17 FEBRUARY, 2026 / NEW DELHI AI Impact Summit: Great Powers in the Age of AI and Cognitive Systems
Ketan Patel, Chair of Force for Good and WAAS Executive Director, will lead a high-impact discussion at this major international conference focused on people, planet and progress, which is organized by the Government of India and includes some of the leading AI experts in the world. The panel will explore the role of AI and cognitive systems in shaping a secure and sustainable future, the transition from the Industrial Age to the Information Age and its governance implications. He will be joined by Garry Jacobs, WAAS President, Shaurya Doval (WAAS Fellow), and Glenn Gaffney. READ MORE
The Rising Age of Cognitive Empires: Colonizing the Mind
Our session at the Impact Summit will be based on this discussion paper by Ketan Patel, that examines the impact of the information era on a new form of colonization—one that shifts from controlling territory and labour to capturing and conditioning human cognition itself. Click here to read the paper.
17 FEBRUARY, 2026 / ONLINE
Is Extractivism a Prime Cause of the Polycrisis? A Discussion of the Political Economy of Anthropogenic Existential Risks
A range of (increasingly converging) existential risks are threatening the world. The complexity of this emerging polycrisis demands that numerous risks be considered simultaneously. This may seem like an impossible task for policymakers on all levels, but the challenge is greatly reduced if we can instead identify and address the underlying causes. In this webinar, we consider one of these underlying causes, Extractivism. READ MORE
| | Partner News |
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European Conference of the Society for Benefit-Cost Analysis (SBCA) 2025
Hosted by Athens University of Economics and Business and its Research Laboratory on Socio-Economic and Environmental Sustainability (ReSEES), under the scientific leadership of WAAS Trustee Phoebe Koundouri, the conference explored how SBCA can inform effective, sustainable and equitable decisions in fields ranging from climate neutrality and energy transitions to social policy, open science, digital governance and urban development. |
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| Read The Report |
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Revisiting Ibn Khaldun for the 21st Century
The Institute for Advanced Studies in Levant Culture and Civilization (ISACCL) in Bucharest is a Center of Excellence for WAAS. In the latest edition of their flagship publication The International Journal of Levant Studies, WAAS Trustee Fadwa El Guindi features an article titled "Ibn Khaldun: What Would He Write About Today’s World?"
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| WAAS DIGEST |
| Books/Articles/Videos by Members |
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| Art by Members |
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| Recent Member Activities |
| JANUARY 2026, BAHRAIN
Mahmoud Mohieldin: Sustainability Forum Middle East In a meeting with His Excellency Mr Jasem Mohamed Albudaiwi, Secretary General of the Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC), Mahmoud Mohieldin discussed a range of regional and international issues pertaining to climate and energy.
DECEMBER, 2025 / PARIS
Elif Çepni: UNESCO World Futures Day
Prof. Çepni, UNESCO Chair in Anticipation Studies, Futures Literacy, and Strategic Foresight, co-facilitated a workshop on "Shaping the Futures of Science."
DECEMBER 2025 / CAIRO
Moneef R. Zou'bi: 2025 InterAcademy Partnership (IAP) Triennial Conference and General Assembly
WAAS was represented by WAAS Trustee Moneef R. Zou'bi at this four day event that assembled the global academy community for dialogue on the role of science in addressing societal challenges. The meeting welcomed 164 participants from 68 countries.
DECEMBER 2025 / CYPRUS Phoebe Koundouri: Award of Excellence of the Republic of Cyprus
Phoebe Koundouri has been honored with the Award of Excellence of the Republic of Cyprus, the highest distinction conferred by the Cyprus Academy of Sciences, Letters and Arts, recognizing scientists of outstanding international impact.
NOVEMBER 2025 / ECUADOR
Rosalía Arteaga Serrano: Honored With Doctor Honoris Causa
The Universidad Laica Eloy Alfaro de Manabí (ULEAM in Manta, Ecuador recognized the former Ecuadorian head of state with the title of Doctor Honoris Causa in recognition of her distinguished career in education, public leadership, and international impact.
NOVEMBER 2025, LAS VEGAS
Jonathan Granoff: KIIT School of Law Lifetime Achievement Award
On accepting the lifetime achievement award, Jonathan Granoff delivered a keynote that enlightened faculties and students alike on the multifarious aspects of global security and international law mechanisms that are used to regulate and monitor global policies. | |
Add Your Perspective | |
Your Thoughts on WAAS Program Topics
We invite WAAS Fellows to share their thoughts and perspectives on the WAAS Program topics and how these programs can respond to the major challenges facing the world today. Selected responses will be shared on WAAS social media platforms to promote dialogue, visibility, and collective thinking, with full attribution to the author. SUBMIT HERE |
| Call For Articles — Cadmus Journal
Cadmus invites the submission of articles for forthcoming issues of the journal. Contributions addressing global governance, human development, education, sustainability, economic and social transformation, and other themes aligned with the mission of the Academy are welcome. Submissions that offer transdisciplinary perspectives, and clear relevance to contemporary global issues will be given priority. Author guidelines and submission procedures are available on the Cadmus website. We welcome your contributions to advance the ongoing dialogue on shaping a more inclusive and sustainable future. ARTICLE SUBMISSION FORM
| | From The Archives |
 | Arthur C. Clarke: Imagining Humanity’s Next Horizon
WAAS Fellow, Arthur C. Clarke, once wrote that “the goal of the future is full unemployment, so we can play.” Beneath the wit lay a serious proposition: that the purpose of progress is not endless productivity, but the flowering of human potential. That idea—humane, expansive, and quietly radical—continues to echo in the vision of the World Academy of Art and Science. Through Clarke’s influence, the Academy inherited not just a science fiction writer, but a guide to imagining futures worthy of our intelligence. READ MORE
| | In Memoriam |
 | Keith Suter (1948-2025)
Keith Suter, WAAS Fellow & President of the Australian Chapter of the Club of Rome, passed away last month. As a frequent media commentator on global issues, Keith possessed a deep understanding of communication and advocacy. | |
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