Dear Fellows,

In a world marked by cascading crises and deepening uncertainty, the recent work of WAAS has never felt more urgent — or more meaningful. In the midst of the war in the Middle East, from March 12-15, WAAS Fellows, alongside former heads of state, current and past UN leaders, and senior policy thinkers, gathered in Baku, Azerbaijan for the XIII Global Baku Forum hosted by Nizami Ganjavi International Center (NGIC).

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The fourth day consisted of a special session co-organized by WAAS and NGIC on the sources of the metacrisis confronting our global institutions and playing out in the Persian Gulf, its latest, most violent manifestation, a few hundred miles south of Baku. Despite the nearby conflict and the shared concern of participants, what emerged was a purposeful resolve to seek the source of the turbulence and search for concrete solutions.

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This edition of the WAAS newsletter reflects an Academy in full motion — the first time we have held two concurrent, in-person events in different locations at the same time — from turbulence in Baku to the promotion of peace in Maribor — along with the upcoming launch of the Planetary Arts Movement in London that honors the Academy's rich creative legacy, and our growing work on existential risks and their governance.

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The expansion of WAAS activities reflects the urgency of the threats but also the multiplication of opportunities for WAAS and our members to contribute to solutions.

Sincerely,

Garry Jacobs

President, WAAS

Event Reportback

WAAS Side Event: XIII Global Baku Forum

The NGIC-WAAS special session on March 15, 2026 described above was a follow-up to the 2025 discussion on Global Turbulence at the XII Global Baku Forum, and focused on the development of solutions at six sessions that covered themes such as, "Understanding the Moment," "War and Conflict," "Technology and Sovereignty," "Climate Change & Global Water Systems," "Human Security" and "Implications for Leadership."

The opening sessions were convened by NGIC Co-chairs and WAAS Fellows former President of Latvia, Vaira Viķe-Freiberga; and former World Bank VP, Ismail Serageldin; WAAS President, Garry Jacobs; Secretary-General of UN Trade and Development, Rebeca Grynspan; and WAAS Secretary-General Janani Ramanthan. Other WAAS Fellows included Maria Espinosa, Ketan Patel, David Chikvaidze, Mariana Bozesan, Stefan Brunnhuber , Mila Popovich, Elena Mustakova, Steven Hartman, Francis O'Donnell, Denis Naughten, Nicolaos Theodossiou, Grigoris Zarotiadis and Ivo Josopovic. For a full list of the distinguished NGIC participants and topics click below.

It's About People 2026

It’s About People 2025, held in Maribor, Slovenia between 13 - 18 March 2026, remains one of the year’s most pivotal international scholarly events in Europe. The conference, themed “Social and Technological Resilience for Health and Sustainable Development,” was organized by Alma Mater Europaea University in collaboration with the European Academy of Sciences and Arts and the World Academy of Art and Science. 

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The Rector of Alma Mater Europaea University, Ludvik Toplak, emphasized the special responsibility of academic institutions in times of global crises. In his view, international academic networks, such as those mentioned above, play a key role in shaping thoughtful and long-term responses to global challenges.

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The event welcomed over 300 researchers from more than 40 countries, including distinguished academicians from Oxford, Bologna, KU Leuven, and Edinburgh. Discussions focused on technological advancements, promoting and protecting the health and well-being of individuals and populations, and addressing climate-related and demographic challenges to balance intergenerational and intragenerational equity with developmental needs.

Klaus Mainzer, President of the European Academy of Sciences and Arts and Donato Kiniger-Passigli, WAAS Vice-President (Social Sciences and Humanities), participated in the discussions, with a keynote address by WAAS Trustee Jonathan Granoff. These efforts culminated in Alma Mater Europaea co-signing the World Academy’s Global Peace Offensive initiative , which was also supported by the European Academy of Sciences and Arts and the Club of Rome. “Peace is a long road; it cannot be created by weapons, nor can it be achieved with a single signature," said Kiniger-Passigli. "We must build it by reducing tensions, through dialogue, cooperation, and rebuilding trust among people.”

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Two WAAS Talks sessions formed part of the event: WAAS Talks on Global Peace Offensive: Peace Offensive Rollout – What It Takes and WAAS Talks on Science for Human Security: Science Powering Green Innovation:

Existential Risk Governance in Turbulent Times

Are we witnessing a descent into prolonged geopolitical disorder or the birth pangs of a ‘New Planetary Order’? A webinar on 23 March, 2026, hosted by EXTRA (Existential Threats and Risks to All), an initiative of WAAS, set out to examine whether today’s cascading crises signal a breakdown of the post-Cold War order or an inflection point toward new forms of global governance, cooperation, and shared planetary stewardship.

Global Peace Offensive Center

WAAS and the Global Peace Offensive Center participated in the 8^th UNESCO MOST Winter School, organized by iASK in Kőszeg, Hungary, from 23-27 February, 2026. The event brought together scholars, policymakers, students, and civil society actors to explore how peace can be reimagined as a long-term, anticipatory process grounded in ethics and sustainability. This year’s program examined how culture, education, and science can promote lasting peace and human security.

Upcoming Events

10-11 APRIL 2026 / LONDON

The World We Want (WWW) – Art for Planet and Peace

The WAAS Planetary Arts Movement will launch at the renowned Royal Over-Seas League in London on 10 April, 2026. An international exhibition of more than 100 artworks will be on display with an auction to benefit WAAS. Youth leaders will explore "Art as a Catalyst for Cultural Diplomacy & Transformation” and participants will engage in poetry readings, music and dance, with an award ceremony featuring the new Planetary Arts Ambassadors: nature photographer and TV presenter Chris Packham and musician and founder of The Human League and Heaven 17, Martyn Ware. READ MORE

30 AUGUST - 3 SEPTEMBER 2026 / GRAN CANARIA, SPAIN

21^st Conference on Sustainable Development of Energy, Water and Environment Systems (SDEWES)

Aleksander Zidanšek, WAAS Vice-President (Science & Technology) in cooperation with WAAS and the Club of Rome National Associations for Slovenia and Croatia, is organizing a special session titled "Sustainability science and technology for human security." The SDEWES Conferences are organized by WAAS Fellow Neven Duić and are dedicated to the advancement and dissemination of knowledge on methods, policies and technologies for increasing the sustainability of development by de-coupling growth from the use of natural resources and the transition to a knowledge-based economy.

Call for abstracts is open until May 31, 2026. Register here using the special session code sgc26scth. Please contact Aleksander Zidanšek for further information: aleksander.zidansek@ijs.si