7th UNESCO MOST Winter School

Bridging the Paradigm Shift: Governance, Technology, Socioecosystems

February 24–28, 2025 | Kőszeg, Hungary & Online

The 7th UNESCO MOST Winter School, organized by the Institute of Advanced Studies Kőszeg (iASK) in collaboration with the UNESCO Chair for Cultural Heritage Management and Sustainability, Bibó István College for Advanced Studies of ELTE University, the University of Pannonia, and the Institute for Social and European Studies Foundation (ISES), took place in Kőszeg, Hungary, and online. The event gathered over 80 participants from 53 countries, spanning the Global South and Global North.

Under the theme Bridging the Paradigm Shift: Governance, Technology, Socioecosystems, this year’s program explored the intersections of art, science, governance, technology, and society to address contemporary challenges and promote interdisciplinary dialogue. The event combined academic discussions, cultural engagement, and policy-oriented debates, fostering an exchange among scholars, artists, policymakers, and civil society representatives.

The sessions focused on transformative technologies, conflict dynamics, science diplomacy, AI and robotics, environmental humanities, and cultural heritage, alongside discussions on regional governance, security, and sustainability. Panels addressed memory as a political tool, ecological design, and new legal frameworks for peace, reflecting the event’s commitment to fostering dialogue that can drive social transformation.

In addition to academic panels, the Winter School embraced a transdisciplinary approach, integrating arts, social and natural sciences, gastronomy, and cultural programs. Participants engaged in workshops, exhibitions, music performances, and local heritage explorations, enriching their understanding of contemporary global issues through creative and experiential learning.

The event reaffirmed the importance of bridging disciplines and geographies in the search for global solutions for sustainable and inclusive futures. Through engaging debates and hands-on workshops, the 7th UNESCO MOST Winter School created a dynamic space for collaboration, advancing knowledge production that transcends traditional academic silos.

Opening Ceremony and Science Diplomacy in a Changing World

Day 1 of the 7th UNESCO MOST Winter School tackled the role of science in resolving global crises, exploring the tensions between disruption and stability in the face of climate change, armed conflicts, resource crises, and the rapid rise of AI. Engaging discussions highlighted how interdisciplinary research and innovation can drive solutions in an era of uncertainty. 

The event opened in the historic town of Kőszeg, Hungary, bringing together an international assembly of scholars, policymakers, artists, and civil society representatives. The opening ceremony set the stage for an interdisciplinary exploration of governance, technology, and socioecosystems, with a focus on bridging disciplinary and geographical divides. The event began with welcome speeches from Gábor Soós (Hungarian National Commission for UNESCO), Béla Básthy (Mayor of Kőszeg), Ferenc Miszlivetz (Institute of Advanced Studies Kőszeg – iASK), and a video address from Gustavo Merino (UNESCO, Director for Social Policies). Their remarks emphasized the importance of collaboration in addressing global challenges and highlighted the Winter School’s role as a transdisciplinary space for dialogue and innovation. Additionally, László Bódis (Deputy State Secretary, Hungary) and Dr. Júlia Csillagay (Ministry of Culture and Innovation, Hungary) joined the opening session, reinforcing the policy relevance of the discussions ahead.

The first panel, “Paradigm Shifts in an Era of Escalation: Transformative Technologies, Conflict Dynamics, and Science Diplomacy,” addressed the intersection of scientific progress and international relations. Chaired by János Bogárdi (iASK, University of Bonn, Ludovika University of Public Service, Hungary), the session examined how technological advances are reshaping diplomacy and global security frameworks. Norbert Kroó (iASK, Hungarian Academy of Sciences, Hungary) and Tibor Tóth (Executive Secretary Emeritus, Comprehensive Nuclear-Test-Ban Treaty Organization) delivered keynote speeches, offering insights into how emerging technologies influence global governance. Panelists included Emil Brix (Diplomatic Academy, Austria – online), Daniel Brooks (iASK, University of Toronto, Canada), Dezső Boda (University of Pannonia, Hungary), Péter Dombi (Wigner Research Centre for Physics, Hungary), András Gelencsér (University of Pannonia, Hungary), Jody Jensen (iASK, Hungary), and Szabolcs Márka (Columbia University, USA). Their discussions highlighted the role of science diplomacy in fostering peaceful cooperation and mitigating geopolitical tensions.

In the afternoon, the second session, “Forging Global Peace and Security: Governance, Justice, and Equality in a Turbulent World,” expanded on the themes of international collaboration and governance. Ferenc Miszlivetz (iASK, Hungary) chaired the session, which brought together perspectives on security, justice, and equitable governance. Panelists Sean Cleary (Strategic Concepts, South Africa – online), Jekatyerina Dunajeva (Budapest Corvinus University, Hungary), Stephanie Fenkart (International Institute for Peace, Austria), Miklós Király (ELTE, Hungary), Nenad Markovikj (Cyril and Methodius University, North Macedonia), Luka Martin Tomažič (Alma Mater, Slovenia), and Kıvanç Ulusoy (Istanbul University, Turkey) engaged in a critical discussion on global governance in times of crisis, emphasizing the importance of inclusive and participatory policy frameworks.

The first day concluded with a musical performance by Zoltán Mizsei, celebrating the interplay between culture and intellectual exchange, setting the tone for the week’s cultural and academic engagement. A formal dinner reception followed, offering participants a chance to network and reflect on the themes introduced throughout the day.

Cultural Heritage, Memory, and the EU-Balkan Observatory

The second day of the Winter School was dedicated to cultural heritage, memory, and regional dynamics, with a special focus on the EU-Balkan Observatory. The first panel, “Global Intersections: Evolving and Preserving Cultural Heritage Across Borders,” explored the ways in which heritage is transformed through cross-border interactions, digital sharing, and shifting identities. Chaired by Anikó Magasházi (iASK, Hungary), the session featured discussions on authenticity, inclusivity, and the evolving meaning of cultural heritage. Panelists Tamás Fejérdy (iASK, UNESCO ICOMOS, Hungary), Cornelius Holtorf (UNESCO Chair of Heritage Futures, Linnaeus University, Sweden), Mónika Mátay (iASK, ELTE, Hungary), Gábor Soós (UNESCO, Hungary), Klaus Wölfer (Former Ambassador, Austria), and Anna Zeichner (ICCROM, Italy) engaged in a lively conversation on the tensions between preserving local traditions and fostering a sense of shared global heritage.

The EU-Balkan Observatory session in the afternoon was a crucial discussion on regional governance, historical legacies, and contemporary policy dilemmas. Chaired by Jody Jensen (iASK, Hungary) and Zala Pavšič (iASK, Hungary), the session featured keynote speeches from Stefano Bianchini (University of Bologna, Italy) and Ahmet Evin (Sabanci University, Turkey), who provided deep insights into the evolving political and economic landscapes of Central and Southeastern Europe. Panelists Elira Luli (iASK, Luarasi University, Albania), Delfin Pllana (Ambassador of Kosovo to Hungary – video address), Rubin Zemon (Institute of Advanced Research, North Macedonia), Dzenita Šiljak (iASK, Hungary), Caleb Waugh and Igor Markovic (Aktiv, Kosovo – online), and students from the Faculty of Drama Arts, Belgrade, Serbia (online), engaged in a nuanced discussion on direct democracy and student protests in Serbia, EU integration, historical memory, and identity formation in the Balkans.

The final session of the day, “Art, Creativity, and the Future: Exploring New Horizons,” underscored the transformative potential of artistic expression in shaping future imaginaries. The keynote was delivered by David Maggs (Metcalf Foundation, Canada), whose work bridges art and sustainability. The panel featured Zoltán Mizsei (iASK, Hungary), and András Nagy (University of Pannonia, Hungary), who reflected on how creative practices inspire social change and innovation.

The day concluded with a gastronomy event featuring organic wines from UNGER, a local producer specializing in natural winemaking processes. This wine tasting was paired with regional gourmet cheeses, showcasing the rich gastronomic heritage of Kőszeg while providing a convivial setting for further intellectual exchange.

Technology, AI, and Environmental Humanities

The third day of the 7th UNESCO MOST Winter School was dedicated to the political, ethical, and cultural implications of technological advancements, particularly AI and robotics, as well as the role of environmental humanities in addressing global sustainability challenges. The discussions engaged scholars from diverse disciplinary backgrounds, emphasizing the intersections between technology, governance, and ecology.

The day began with the panel “Frontiers of Technology: Political, Cultural, and Ethical Dimensions of AI and Robotics.” Chaired by László Karvalics (iASK, Hungary), the session explored the rapidly evolving influence of AI and robotics on politics, security, social systems, and even armed conflicts. Speakers included David Daou (UNU-EHS, Germany), Zsuzsanna Márka (Columbia University, USA), Levente Szabados (Foundation for Information Society, Hungary), and Attila Tanyi (University of Tromsø, Norway), who critically examined how AI-driven decision-making affects governance structures and ethical considerations surrounding automation and labor markets.

In the afternoon, the focus shifted toward ecological consciousness and the humanities with a workshop on Environmental Humanities, chaired by Izabella Agárdi (iASK, Hungary). The session brought together historians, anthropologists, and environmental scientists to discuss how cultural narratives shape our responses to environmental crises. Panelists Franz Graf (Institute of Ethnology, Czech Academy of Sciences, Czech Republic), Inna Hakkinen (University of Helsinki, Finland), Kehinde Balogun (Catholic University of Portugal), Kariũki Werũ (UNU-EHS, Germany), and Sanae Okamoto (UNU-MERIT, Netherlands) explored how literature, history, and indigenous knowledge contribute to ecological awareness and action. The discussion underscored the importance of interdisciplinary research in understanding the deep cultural roots of environmental challenges.

The final session of the day was the interactive workshop “Reimagining Environments: New Approaches in Ecological Design,” led by Boglárka Jakabfi-Kovács (Architect, Systems Design Researcher, MOME, Hungary). This hands-on session invited participants to engage in experimental design thinking, envisioning sustainable urban and rural environments that harmonize with natural ecosystems. The workshop encouraged innovative systems-thinking approaches to reconfiguring human-environment interactions and introduced participants to alternative models of ecological planning beyond conventional sustainability frameworks.

The day concluded with the opening of an art exhibition featuring the works of Magdolna Mihály, an artist whose practice explores the intersection of environment, materiality, and cultural memory. Her exhibition provided a visual and conceptual extension of the day’s themes, bridging artistic expression with ecological consciousness. The evening allowed participants to engage with the artworks in an informal setting, furthering cross-disciplinary dialogues.

Globalization, Law, and Cultural Narratives

The fourth day of the Winter School turned to legal frameworks, globalization, and political cultures in East-Central Europe, addressing how law interacts with cultural identity, generational rights, and international governance. The discussions tackled the complexities of legal adaptation in a rapidly changing world and the need for frameworks that balance cultural diversity with global human rights standards.

The morning panel, “Globalization and New International Legal Frameworks,” brought together legal scholars, political scientists, and policy experts to examine how international law is evolving to accommodate shifting political and economic realities. The session featured Csaba Győry (ELTE, Hungary), Áron Fábián (iASK, Bibó István College for Advanced Studies, Hungary), and Márton Matyasovszky-Németh (iASK, Bibó István College for Advanced Studies, Hungary). Their discussion highlighted the role of cultural rights in international law, the legal challenges posed by globalization, and the necessity of generational rights in shaping future governance models. The session also addressed the legal repercussions of emerging global crises, including climate change and migration.

In the afternoon, participants were invited to explore Kőszeg’s historical and cultural heritage through a guided walking tour led by Mónika Mátay (iASK, ELTE, Hungary), a historian, and Zoltán Mizsei (iASK, Hungary), a musician. This immersive experience traced the rich cultural layers of the town, from medieval architectural landmarks to the legacy of 20th-century transformations. The tour underscored how historical narratives are inscribed in urban spaces and how cultural heritage can be mobilized to foster local identity and global dialogue.

The day concluded with a public lecture titled “Shaping the Future: Political and Legal Culture in East-Central Europe,” delivered by Áron Fábián (iASK, Bibó István College for Advanced Studies, Hungary) and Márton Matyasovszky-Németh (iASK, Bibó István College for Advanced Studies, Hungary). The lecture examined the historical evolution of political and legal cultures in the region, tracing their impact on contemporary governance and European integration debates. The discussion reflected on how legal traditions interact with socio-political change, and how the rule of law is contested in transitional societies.

The evening offered another gastronomic experience featuring organic wines from UNGER, a Kőszeg-based producer specializing in natural winemaking. The wine tasting, accompanied by a food pairing experience, provided an opportunity to explore the region’s rich culinary heritage while engaging in informal discussions on the themes of law, governance, and cultural identity.

Wrap-Up and Reflections on Future Directions

The final day of the 7th UNESCO MOST Winter School was dedicated to reflection, knowledge exchange, and concluding remarks. The in-person participants took part in a roundtable discussion, where they summarized their key insights from the week’s sessions, reflecting on the interdisciplinary themes of governance, technology, and socioecosystems. This discussion provided an opportunity to synthesize ideas, share personal perspectives, and highlight potential future research directions.

Following the roundtable, participants who had prepared academic contributions presented their papers, engaging in discussions that tied their research to the broader themes of the Winter School. This session emphasized the collaborative and intellectual spirit of the event, fostering an exchange between emerging and established scholars.

The final event of the Winter School was the Certificate Award Ceremony, where successful students were recognized for their participation and contributions. The ceremony marked the culmination of an intensive and enriching week, celebrating the dedication and engagement of attendees. The Winter School closed with final remarks by the organizers, who reflected on the impact of the discussions, the importance of interdisciplinary collaboration, and the need for continued engagement beyond the event. The closing sentiments reinforced the Winter School’s role as a platform for fostering dialogue, building networks, and inspiring future research and policy initiatives.

Participants

Izabella Agárdi (iASK Hungary) 

Dr. Agárdi is a historian and holds a Ph.D. from Utrecht University. Her research interests are oral history, gender studies, rural women’s history, contemporary historiography and literary theory. She focuses on the intersections of personal and public narratives, practices of periodization and tropes of narrating 20th-century history in Central Europe. She is the author of the book On the Verge of History: Women’s History Telling in Central Europe after the 20th Century, Ibidem, 2022.

Kehinde Balogun (Catholic University of Portugal) 

Expert on Climate Change Adaptation and Disaster Risk Reduction Projects, published reports, training documents, policy briefs, including participated in workshops, meetings and conferences to assist vulnerable communities affected by the impact of climate change and disasters. Within the Environmental Migration, Social Vulnerability and Adaptation (EMSVA) Section at UNU-EHS, she worked as a Disaster Risk Management Expert.

Damir Banović (University of Sarajevo, Bosnia and Herzegovina) 

Damir Banović (LL.M), a senior teaching assistant at the Law Faculty (University of Sarajevo) at the Department of Theory of State and Law. He is a member of the European Commission on Sexual Orientation Law (ECSOL), scientific network Verfassungspolitik in Mitel- und Osteueropas (Humboldt Universität in Berlin) and enrolled in a two-years scientific project Human Dignity in Europe (Universität in Luzern). Also, he is an associate member of the Serbian Association of Legal and Social Philosophy (IVR Serbia).

Béla Básthy (The Mayor of Kőszeg, Hungary) 

Mayor of Kőszeg from October 2019. He was previously Deputy Mayor and Member of the Vas County Self-Government Office from 2006 to 2019. He was originally a language teacher and has worked as an interpreter in several cross-border projects and international cooperation initiatives.

Stefano Bianchini (Retired Professor of the University of Bologna and former coordinator of the International MA Program MIREES, Italy)

Stefano Bianchini is an independent scholar. He was Professor of East European Politics and History at the University of Bologna until October 2023 when he retired. From 2015 to 2021 he served as Rector’s delegate for relations with Eastern Europe. Previously, he coordinated the two-years Interdisciplinary MA in East European Studies (MIREES), a joint diploma of the Universities of Bologna, St. Petersburg, Vytautas Magnus at Kaunas, and Corvinus of Budapest. He is visiting professor of the State University of St. Petersburg and holds a H.D. in Humanities of the Vytautas Magnus University, Kaunas. From 2001 to 2018 he was also the co-director of the European Regional Master in Democracy and Human Rights for SEE (ERMA) awarding a double diploma of the Universities of Sarajevo and Bologna. He is a member of the Advisory Boad and former Vice president of the Association for Studies of Nationalities (ASN) based at the Harriman Institute, Columbia University, New York and Executive Editor of the blind peer-review journal “Southeastern Europe”, (Brill, Leiden) and other academic journals.

Dezső Boda (University of Pannonia, Hungary) 

Dezső Boda (Hungary) is a professor at the Doctoral School of Chemistry and Environmental Sciences at the University of Pannonia. He was a professor at the Center for Natural Sciences, Faculty of Engineering, at the University of Pannonia (UP), Veszprém, where he leads the research group “Modeling and Simulation of Complex Molecular Systems”. He graduated as a physicist from the University of Szeged (1992), received his PhD in Chemistry from the UP (1996), and DSc from the Hungarian Academy of Sciences (2013). He introduced and organizes the Science in the Pub series at the UP. He spent four years at the Institute of Advanced Studies Kőszeg (iASK) as a grant holder (2015,2019) and as a Research Fellow (2016-2018).

János J. Bogárdi (iASK, University of Bonn and Ludovika University of Public Service, Hungary) 

János Bogárdi is a senior fellow at the Centre for Development Research at the University of Bonn, Germany since 2012, senior scientific advisor Institute of Advanced Studies Kőszeg, Hungary since 2017, and research professor at the National University of the Public Service, since 2023. He held positions in research and consulting in Europe and Africa (1969-1985). He is a former associate professor for water resources management at the Asian Institute of Technology, Bangkok (1985-1988) and full professor Wageningen Agricultural University, the Netherlands (1989-1995), the Section Chief at UNESCO International Hydrology Programme in Paris (1995-2003), and the founding director of the United Nations University Institute for Environment and Human Security and Vice Rector in Europe (2003-2009). 

Emil Brix (Director of the Diplomatic Academy Vienna, Austria) 

Emil Brix is an Austrian diplomat and historian. Starting in 1982, he worked for the Foreign Service of the Republic of Austria. He was a Secretary in the Austrian Parliament for the parliamentary group of the “People’s Party” (ÖVP) and later Head of the Cabinet of the Austrian Minister of Science. After 1989 Brix was the first Austrian Counsel General in Cracow/Poland. From 2010 onwards he was the Austrian ambassador in London and later in Moscow. He became the director of the Diplomatische Akademie Wien – Vienna School of International Studies in 2017. 

Daniel Brooks (iASK, University of Toronto, and Fellow of the Royal Society of Canada and at the Linnaean Society of London, Canada) 

Daniel R. Brooks is Professor Emeritus at the University of Toronto, and Senior Research Fellow, H.W. Manter Laboratory of Parasitology, University of Nebraska State Museum. He is a Fellow of the Royal Society of Canada (Academy of Science) and Fellow of the Linnaean Society of London. He has been awarded honorary doctorates from Stockholm University and the University of Nebraska, has been a Visiting Fellow of the Collegium Budapest, the Ciencias sem Fronteras program of Brazil, the Stellenbosch Institute of Advanced Study, the Institute of Advances Studies Koszeg, and the Hungarian National Centre for Ecology. Dan is an evolutionary biologist who integrates fundamental evolutionary principles into effective action plans for coping with the challenges of global climate change. 

Ilan Chabay (Arizona State University, USA) 

Ilan Chabay is an adjunct professor in the School for Sustainability of Arizona State University and Head of Strategic Science Initiatives and Programs at the Institute for Advanced Sustainability Studies in Potsdam, Germany. At IASS, he is also the Scientific Project Leader of the Global Sustainability Strategy Forum conducted in collaboration with ASU and head of the KLASICA international research alliance. He was a research scientist in laser physics and chemistry at the US National Institute of Standards and Technology and at the Stanford University. He became associate director of the Exploratorium Science Museum in San Francisco, then founder of and 18 years the president of an innovative company in Silicon Valley, designing and producing interactive exhibitions for 230 museums around the world, including Disney, Smithsonian

Sean Cleary (Strategic Concepts Pty, South Africa)

Sean Cleary is Chairman of Strategic Concepts (Pty) Ltd., Managing Director of the Centre for Advanced Governance, Founder and Executive Vice Chair of the FutureWorld Foundation and Chairman of Atlantic Holdings (Pty) Ltd. He studied social sciences and law at the University of South Africa, the University of Cape Town and Pahlavi University in Iran and holds an MBA from Henley Management College at Brunel University in the United Kingdom. He served in the South African Navy on the staff of the Commander Maritime Defence before beginning a diplomatic career in the Middle East, the United States and Namibia. As Chief Director in Namibia in the mid-1980s, he initiated negotiations between all political parties, the release of political prisoners and the adoption of a Bill of Rights paving the way for independence. He lectures on global corporate strategy at the Graduate School of Business at the University of the Witwatersrand, the Henley Management College, the Gordon Institute of Business Science at the University of Pretoria, the Wharton School at the University of Pennsylvania and Stellenbosch University.

He also lectures on conflict resolution, the challenges of globalization and development economics at several U.S. and European universities and institutes. He is the co-author, with Thierry Malleret, of two books on risk: “Resilience to Risk” (Human and Rousseau, 2006), and “Global Risks” (Palgrave Macmillan, 2007)

David Daou (UNU-EHS, Germany)

Dr. Daou has been a researcher for the past 18 years, during which he worked with the top European institutions, including the Joint Research Centre in Ispra (Province of Varese, Italy) as well as the European Space Agency, the Dutch Meteorological Institute, the Canadian Space Agency, European Lidar Network, Environment and Climate Change Canada, the AEROCAN Network as well as working as an expert to evaluate projects for the European Commission. Beside his proficient skills in space and atmospheric physics, Earth Observation, ground-based and satellite remote sensing, Dr Daou is also known for his skills in ethical AI, data science and analytics, software programming and is currently a research manager for climate risks modelling at UNU-EHS in Bonn. He is also teaching AI and remote sensing courses for the Joint Masters program between UNU-EHS and the University of Bonn.

Péter Dombi (Wigner Research Centre for Physics, Hungary) 

Péter Dombi is a research professor and head of the Ultrafast Nanooptics Research Group at the HUN-REN Wigner Research Centre for Physics. He obtained his MSc in Physics from the University of Szeged in 2001 and earned his PhD from the Vienna University of Technology in 2005. His research focuses on ultrafast science, nano-optics, laser physics, and surface plasmons. He has authored 87 peer-reviewed journal articles, accumulating over 3,500 citations with an h-index of 30. He has delivered 51 invited conference talks and supervised 12 PhD students. His awards include the International Dennis Gabor Award (2009) and the Physics Prize from the Hungarian Academy of Sciences (2019).

Jekatyerina Dunaeva (Budapest Corvinus University, Hungary)

Jekatyerina Dunajeva is an Assistant Professor at Pázmány Péter Catholic University and Budapest Corvinus University, as well as a Research Fellow at the HUN-REN Centre for Social Sciences, with expertise in civil society, inclusive education, and minority integration. Her work also explores environmental justice, the politics of religion, and collective memory and identity formation. She holds a PhD in Political Science from the University of Oregon and combines academic research with applied work, actively collaborating with international organizations, NGOs, and EU institutions. Dr. Dunajeva’s research focuses on promoting social justice in Central and Eastern Europe, as well as the former Soviet region

Ahmet Evin (Sabanci University, Turkey)

Ahmet Evin is a Senior Scholar in Istanbul Policy Center and Professor at Sabancı University, Faculty of Arts and Social Sciences and Jean Monnet chair at Sabanci. At Columbia University, he was named William Mitchell Fellow where he received his PhD in Middle East Studies and Cultural History. He is director of education of the Aga Khan Trust for Culture, and coordinated the Aga Khan Program at Harvard University and MIT. He initiated, with European Commission support, a policy dialogue on EU’s eastward expansion, its Mediterranean policy, and the customs union agreement with Turkey. He established, with the EUI Schuman Center, the EU-Turkish Observatory, also programs and policy research with academic institutions and NGOs, e.g., the Kokkalis Program at the Kennedy School of Government, Harvard University. He is the founding member of Turkish Economy and Social Studies Foundation and the Middle East Studies Association of North America.

Áron Fábián (Bibó István College for Advanced Studies, ELTE, Hungary) 

Dr. Fábián is the Deputy Director of Bibó István College for Advanced Studies, and a junior lecturer at the Centre for the Faculty of Law, Eötvös Loránd University, Budapest. He is an external fellow at iASK. His primary research focus is the normativity of law and analytic legal philosophy. He is interested in the fields of law and language, political philosophy, and socio-legal studies.

Tamás Fejérdy (iASK, ICOMOS Hungarian National Committee, Hungary) 

Tamás Fejérdy is a Hungarian architect. He is a lecturer at several universities in Hungary, where he teaches, among other things, about World Heritage and the legal and institutional protection of cultural heritage. A member of ICOMOS since 1983, he was vice-president between 2005 and 2008. He was also head of the International Committee of Historic Towns and Villages (CIVVIH) from 1992 to 2002. He led several evaluation missions for sites nominated for inscription on the World Heritage List (Kutna Hora, Weimar, Graz, Kazan, Gjirocastra). He acts as Professor in the Cultural Heritage Management and Sustainable Development Postgraduate Programme (ISES Foundation, Kőszeg, Hungary) and in other courses. He has also been a member of working groups of the Council of Europe; participant of Nara International Conferences (1994, 2004); Chairperson of the UNESCO’s World Heritage Committee (2002/2003); member of the Council of Europa Nostra; developed considerable professional expertise in connection with World Heritage nominations and reactive monitoring missions.

Stephanie Fenkart (Director of the International Institute for Peace, Austria) 

Mag. Stephanie Fenkart MA is Director of the International Institute for Peace (IIP) since 2016. She has an MA in Development Studies from the University of Vienna and an MA in Human Rights from the Danube University, Krems. She is furthermore a member of the Advisory Committee for Strategy and Security Policy of the Scientific Commission at the Austrian Armed Forces (BMLV). She is also a board member of the NGO Committee for Peace, Vienna & Chair of the Board of The Balkan Forum, Pristina.

András Gelencsér (University of Pannonia, Hungary) 

Dr. András Gelencsér is an atmospheric scientist and professor at Pannon University, where he previously served as rector (2015–2023). He holds a PhD in environmental sciences and became a Doctor of the Hungarian Academy of Sciences (MTA) in 2002, later elected as a corresponding member in 2019. He leads the HUN-REN Air Chemistry Research Group and specializes in atmospheric aerosols, air pollution, and climate change. His research on biomass-burning aerosols and humus formation in the atmosphere is widely cited. He has received multiple honors, including the Hungarian Order of Merit (2014), the Prima Primissima Award (2016), and the MTA Award (2017).

Franz Graf (Department of Mobility and Migration, Institute of Ethnology, Czech Academy of Sciences, Prague, Czech Republic) 

Franz Graf teaches at the Institute for Social and Cultural Anthropology at the University of Vienna and is Fellows Program Coordinator at the Institute for the Human Sciences (IWM). After his first professional socialization as a construction manager in building and civil engineering projects, he studied social and cultural anthropology in Vienna as well as medical anthropology at Brunel University London and conducted extensive fieldwork on the revitalisation of Mexican healing practices in the context of transnational appropriation and as well as on the entanglement of values, meanings and the environment among modern Pagans and other “earth lovers” in South West England. He has published his research in German-language and international anthologies, including Emerging Socialities and Subjectivities in Twenty-First-Century Healthcare (2017, Amsterdam University Press) and Heilung in den Religionen (2012, LIT Verlag). He is also editor of the anthology Ritualisierung—Mediatisierung—Performance (with Martin Luger and Philipp Budka, 2019, Vienna University Press). Between 2010 and 2017, Franz Graf worked with the Department of Cultural Education at the Weltmuseum Wien to develop and implement visitor programs for the ethnographic collection. He finished his PhD studies with an analysis of affective encounters in human and non-human environments as strivings for a „good life” against the background of recent ecological diagnoses. Going beyond the analytical distinction between „nature” and „culture,” his dissertation contributed to the anthropological exploration of human-environment relations in general (2017, with distinction).

Csaba Győry (ELTE, Hungary)

Senior lecturer at Faculty of Law at ELTE University, specializing in contemporary regulatory issues, with special emphasis on criminal law and criminology. He is a long-time specialist of various international civil organizations, he did research many times in Africa, eg. Uganda and Rwanda.

Inna Hakkinen (University of Helsinki, Finland) 

As a member of the Helsinki Environmental Humanities Hub, Inna Hakkinen coordinates and (co-) teaches ‘Chernobyl Studies’, ‘Nuclear Narratives in East/Central Europe’ courses at the University of Helsinki (Aleksanteri Institute). After defending her PhD in Literary Studies (Dnipro, Ukraine), she has been a research fellow of Erasmus Mundus mobility programs (Bologna, 2008;Turku, 2011-2012), Cambridge Colleges Hospitality Scheme (2013), SUSI (Ohio, 2016), Open Society Foundation/Artes Liberales Foundation (Warsaw, 2016-2017), JYU Visiting Fellowship Programme (Jyvaskyla, 2021), PIASt Fellowship Program (Warsaw, 2022). She is a member of the Association for Literary Urban Studies (Finland), HELSUS (Finland) and Nordic Association for American Studies (NAAS). 

Cornelius Holtorf (Linnaeus University, Sweden) 

In 1998, Cornelius Holtorf obtained his PhD and was subsequently employed in research and teaching at the University of Gothenburg (1998–1999), the University of Cambridge (1999–2002), the Swedish National Heritage Board in Stockholm (2002–2004), and the University of Lund (2005–2008). Since 2008, he has been working in Kalmar, where he currently serves as a Professor of Archaeology at Linnaeus University and as the Director of the Graduate School in Contract Archaeology (GRASCA). Since 2017, he has also held a UNESCO Chair on Heritage Futures at Linnaeus University.

Boglárka Jakabfi-Kovács (MOME, Hungary)

In 2012, she obtained a Master’s degree in Architectural Design from Moholy-Nagy University of Art and Design (MOME), where she is currently a doctoral candidate in the Architectural Design DLA program. Her research focuses on systemic approaches to sustainable design strategy-building, the architectural implications of the degrowth paradigm, and the integration of these concepts into design education. For the past four years, she has been a guest lecturer, teaching courses on climate adaptation, adaptive reuse, gamification, and systems thinking in design at both the MOME Institute of Architecture and Budapest Metropolitan University. In collaboration with Marp Studio, she designed a residential house, which was awarded the House of the Year Grand Prize and the BigSEE Award in 2020.

Jody Jensen (iASK, Hungary) 

Dr. Jensen is the Director of Transdisciplinary Research and Collaboration at iASK. She is a senior research fellow at the Institute of Political Sciences at the Hungarian Academy of Sciences. She was the Director of the International Studies MA Program at the University of Pannonia Koszeg Campus and awarded a Jean Monet Chair in European Solidarity and Social Cohesion (ESSCO). She is the Director of International Relations at the Institute of Social and European Studies (a Jean Monet Centre of Excellence) which she helped to found. She served as the national and regional director of Ashoka: Innovations for the Public that supports social entrepreneurs. She teaches frequently abroad and also works for the European Commission. Her areas of research are prefigurative and subterranean politics, new social and political movements, particularly in East and Central Europe and the Balkans; looking at the conjunction of the social and natural sciences in the study of complexity as it translates to social phenomena and change.

László Z. Karvalics (iASK, Hungary) 

László Z. Karvalics (DSc, PhD, Hab). MA in History, Literature and Linguistics from ELTE, Budapest. He is a founding director, BME-UNESCO Information Society and Trend Research Institute, associate professor, former Head, Department of Cultural Heritage and Human Information Science, Faculty of Arts, University of Szeged. He was a Fulbright Research Scholar, George Washington University, Center of International Science and Technology Policy (2006), Georgetown University, Department of History (2007). Teaching and research on information society, social impacts of information technology, comparative analysis of national information strategies, information history, press history, education in the information age and knowledge management theory and practice, smart cities, cultural microheritage. Latest books in English: Informatorium. Word Guide to Contemporary Information Culture Tinta, 2020, Research 2.0. and the Future of Information Literacy (with: Koltay Tibor, Sonja Spiranec) Chandos Publishing, 2016, Information History of the first World War (Ed.) L’Harmattan, 2015.

Miklós Király (ELTE, Hungary) 

Miklós Király is a Professor of Law and since 2008 is the Dean of the Faculty of Law at Eötvös Loránd University, Budapest. He is the Head of the department of International Private Law and European Economic Law and the Director of ELTE European Research and Documentation Centre. He obtained his Ph.D. in Law in 1998 at Eötvös Loránd University. His research focuses on EU economic law and international private law, and on the cultural aspects of EU law. He is author of several books and articles on European Law, Civil Law and International Private Law. He has been legal counsel at Metalimpex Foreign Trade Company (1985-1986), senior counsel at the Prime Minister’s Office (1990-1992), member of the board of State Property Agency (1992-1994) and adviser on EU law at the Ministry of Social and Family Affairs (1998-2001). Adviser of the President of the Republic of Hungary between 2002-2005.

Norbert Kroó (iASK, Hungarian Academy of Sciences, Institute for Solid State Physics, Hungary) 

Norbert Kroó was the Vice-President of the Hungarian Academy of Sciences. He is the member of the Advisory Board of iASK, member of the Hungarian Academy of Sciences, and full-time research professor at the Wigner Research Centre, Institute for Solid State Physics in Hungary. His fields of interest are material sciences, optics, neutron physics and science policy. He has published over 250 scientific papers, 7 books, 40 patents and numerous technical reports while serving on the editorial boards of four scientific journals. He was formerly President of the European Physics Society (1993-95) and President of the Hungarian Physical Society (1985-90). He has been the Chairman of the ESF Committee on Large Facilities since 1996 and Vice President of the Hungarian National Science Foundation since 1996. He has served as a member of the Executive Committee of EPS (1983-88), Freedom of Science Committee of ICSU (since 1997), Physics Action Council of UNESCO (since 1994) and other important roles.

Robert Lovas (Deputy Director, Institute for Computer Science and Control, Hungarian Research Network HUN-REN SZTAKI)

Dr. Lovas earned his MSc in Electrical Engineering and PhD in Informatics from Budapest University of Technology and Economics. As a habilitated associate professor at Óbuda University, he led the Institute for Cyber-Physical Systems at the John von Neumann Faculty of Informatics. He is a member of the Committee on Information Science at the Hungarian Academy of Sciences and a recipient of the Bolyai János Research Fellowship. With 25 years of experience in research, development, and innovation in parallel and distributed systems, he has collaborated globally on projects in computational chemistry, numerical meteorology, bioinformatics, precision agriculture, autonomous cars, and Industry 4.0. He has coordinated four EU projects (FP7, H2020, Horizon Europe) and is responsible for managing national and pan-European research infrastructures as the project director of HUN-REN Cloud and an Executive Board member of the EGI Foundation, which provides key assets to the European Open Science Cloud. His recent work and achievements contribute to the AI4Science program of HUN-REN, as well as to the Artificial Intelligence and Autonomous Systems National Laboratories.

Elira Luli (iASK, Luarasi University, Albania) 

Dr. Elira Luli is a Lecturer and Researcher at “Luarasi” University and a Visiting Lecturer at Tirana (State) University, possessing diverse expertise in academia, civil society, and public administration. She received her International Relations and Political Science doctorate from the European University of Tirana in 2017 and was awarded a George C. Marshall Center Alumni Scholar in 2022, after completing a Group research Project on the topic Democratic Backsliding and Security Governance.

In July 2024, she finished her post-doc Research Fellowship at the Institute of Advanced Studies Kőszeg, Hungary, under the general project topic “EU and Western Balkans”. Recognized for her significant contributions to Southeast European studies, her research centers on European integration; the transformation of norms and values; good governance; (clientelism and corruption); public diplomacy, and international security issues.

Anikó Magasházi (iASK, Hungary) 

Dr. Magasházi received a PhD in Economics, at the International Relations Multidisciplinary Doctoral School at the Corvinus University of Budapest. She became involved in academic research following 20 years of experience in regional development and the financial sector in Hungary and Austria. She joined the permanent staff at iASK to foster the development of international relations. Her research interests include globalization and regional development, in particular the impact of global production networks of transnational corporations on national and regional economic and social development in Central European and Southeast-Asian countries.

David Maggs (Metcalf Foundation, Canada) 

David Maggs is an interdisciplinary artist and researcher specializing in arts, climate change, and sustainability. He serves as the inaugural Fellow on Arts and Society at the Metcalf Foundation in Canada, a position established in January 2022 following his influential report, „Art and the World After This,” which examined the disruptions faced by Canada’s non-profit arts sector. As the founder and pianist for the ensemble Dark by Five, David has contributed significantly to the performing arts. He is also the artistic director of Camber Arts, a rural Canadian interarts organization. His creative endeavors extend to writing stage works and developing augmented and virtual reality projects featured in the UK’s Future of Live Performance Spotlight Gallery.

Szabolcs Márka (Columbia University, USA) 

Szabolcs Márka is leader of the Columbia Experimental Gravity Group (a member of LIGO) in addition to being a professor at Columbia. He received an NSF CAREER Award and a GRAND Challenges Explorations Award from the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation. His research is focused on the effort to directly detect gravitational waves of cosmic origin, which will allow to study cosmic processes and objects unreachable through conventional methods based on electromagnetic observations. His major interest is astrophysical trigger based data analysis and essential development/diagnostic projects aimed towards enhancing the astrophysical reach and reliability of the Laser Interferometer Gravitational-wave Observatory.

Zsuzsanna Márka (Columbia University, USA) 

Zsuzsanna Márka is an Associate Research Scientist at Columbia University’s Astrophysics Laboratory and a Lecturer in Physics. She has played a pivotal role in the Laser Interferometer Gravitational-Wave Observatory (LIGO) project, leading the development of the timing distribution systems essential for instrument control and data acquisition. Her research focuses on multimessenger astrophysics, particularly the intersection of high-energy neutrino and gravitational wave observations. Additionally, she contributes to the Columbia BioOptics Group, developing optical and acoustic technologies to combat disease-transmitting vectors. Committed to science education, Márka actively engages in outreach to inspire young minds.

Igor Marković (Aktiv, Kosovo)

Igor Marković is an independent researcher. At the Faculty of Political Sciences in Belgrade, he acquired the title of political scientist for international affairs and received his master’s degree at the Regional Master’s Study of Peace at the same faculty. He has twelve years of experience in the non-governmental sector in Serbia and Kosovo, and two years in diplomatic and international missions to Kosovo. He is the co-author and author of a series of studies on reconciliation, interethnic and regional relations in the Western Balkans, with a particular focus on Kosovo. Since 2018, he has mostly been focused on security issues and rights of members of non-majority communities in Kosovo. He won the „Dr Predrag Simić” award twice.

Nenad Markovikj (Cyril and Methodius University, North Macedonia)

Nenad Markovikj, PhD is a tenured professor at the political science department of the Law Faculty “Iustinianus Primus” in Skopje. He is one of the founders of one of the biggest think-tanks in North Macedonia – the Institute for Democracy “Societas Civilis” – Skopje (IDSCS). He is a member of the editorial board of the biannual political journal “Political Thought” published by IDSCS and the Konrad Adenauer Foundation in Skopje. Prof. Markovikj is a former president of the Macedonian political science association (MPSA) and one of the founders of the Balkan political science association (BPSA). Between 2019 and 2024, he was a member of the Security Council of the Republic of North Macedonia, an advisory body to President Stevo Pendarovski.

Mónika Mátay (iASK, Hungary) 

Dr. Mátay is an Associate Professor at the Institute of History at Eötvös Loránd University and a permanent fellow at iASK. She has been visiting scholar at the State University of Rutgers, New Jersey, Humboldt University, Berlin, Central European University, Budapest, University of Trieste. She has taught international students in the Erasmus Program, the Education Abroad Program of the University of California and at ISES in Kőszeg. She has published on modern social and cultural history, human inheritance (talkinghouseseurope.com), the history of crime (arsenic poisoning epidemic in interwar Hungary), marginalized social groups, gender and the media, and the Talking Houses Project with KRAFT Program at iASK.

Márton Matyasovszky-Németh (Bibó István College for Advanced Studies, ELTE, Hungary) 

Dr. Matyasovszky-Németh is a senior lecturer at Eötvös Loránd University, Faculty of Law, Center for Law and Society and a research fellow at the Institute for Advanced Studies, Kőszeg (iASK). Matyasovszky-Németh’s research focuses mainly on contemporary perspectives of East Central European human rights culture and the history of Hungarian socio-legal studies. He is also interested in higher education studies and has published numerous articles on the future of higher education. A graduate of the Faculty of Law of Eötvös Loránd University, he teaches courses on legal sociology, jurisprudence, social theory and political sociology at his alma mater. He has been the director of the István Bibó College for Advanced Studies since 2021. He was a visiting research fellow at the School of Social Policy, Sociology and Social Research, University of Kent in 2019.

Gustavo Merino (Director for Social Policies, UNESCO)

Dr. Gustavo Merino has been serving as UNESCO’s Director of Social Policies since January 2024. Prior to this role, he held significant positions within the Mexican government, including Vice Minister of Social and Human Development and Vice Minister for Prospective, Planning, and Evaluation at the Ministry of Social Development. He also led Financiera Rural, Mexico’s national development bank for agriculture and rural areas, as its CEO. Dr. Merino was the Director of the Investment Centre Division at the Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO) and has an extensive academic background, having served as Dean of the School of Social Sciences and Government at Tecnológico de Monterrey. He holds a PhD in Public Policy from Harvard University and a BA in Economics from ITAM.

Ferenc Miszlivetz (iASK, Hungary) 

Dr. Miszlivetz is the Founder and Director of the Institute of Advanced Studies Kőszeg (iASK), a Jean Monnet Professor and Full Professor at the University of Pannonia. He has taught and conducted research at various universities in Europe and the United States, including the University of Bologna, and Columbia University in New York. He is the Founder and Director of the board of the Institute for Social and European Studies Foundation (a Jean Monnet European Centre of Excellence). He has served as the President of the Social Sciences unit of the Hungarian UNESCO Committee and holds a UNESCO Chair in Cultural Heritage and Sustainability in Kőszeg. He has received numerous awards, including the Knight’s Cross of the Hungarian Republic.

Zoltán Mizsei (iASK, Hungary)

Zoltán Mizsei graduated from the Franz Liszt Academy of Music as a professor of choral conducting and Church music. He received his DLA in 2004, the title of the dissertation is Costanzo Porta-Vespers music. Currently, he is associate professor at the Franz Liszt Academy of Music, at the department of Church music. He teaches Renaissance church music, menzural notation, choral conducting and voice teaching practices. Since 2014 he has been the conductor of Schola Academica and the founding member of the vocal ensemble Voces Aequales. He sings and plays instruments in several early music and world music ensembles. He is also a solo singer and composes music for contemporary dance performances and films. He teaches improvisation for music therapists at ELTE University.

András Nagy (University of Pannonia, Hungary) 

Andras Nagy is Associate Professor of the Kőszeg Campus besides he teaches at the University of Pannonia, Faculty of Modern Philology and Social Sciences, Department of Theater Studies, he is also a member of the ELTE University Doctoral School of the Science of Literature and serves as a consultant for the MOME (Moholy Nagy University of Arts and Design) Ph.D. program, while he taught at several universities both in Hungary and abroad. He was elected for president of the Hungarian Center of the International Theater Institute then he became the director of the Museum and Institute of the History of Hungarian Theater. He has published several books and studies both in Hungarian and in other languages, focusing on issues including philosophy, aesthetics and history (analyzing the complex influence of the Danish existentialistic philosopher Søren Kierkegaard). His research interest lately included the interdisciplinary analysis of the turning points of the Central European history, focusing on the international responses to the 1956 Hungarian Revolution. He published his research results in several books (his latest book, Fatal Empathy, Hungary and the UN 1956-1963 was translated into English and considered for publication at Indiana University Press). Besides he works also as an author of novels, stories and theater plays, of which many were performed and some of his scripts were turned into movies.

Sanae Okamoto (UNU-MERIT, Netherlands) 

Dr. Sanae Okamoto is a psychologist and behavioural scientist with background in Psychology, Cognitive Neuroscience, and Behavioural Economics. She has an expertise in both industry and academia by applying psychology and behavioural science insights towards diverse objectives such as Circular Economy, Climate Resilience, Mental Health and Well-being from multiple angles such as Gender, Youth, Water, Disasters, Plastics, Digitalisation, AI, and Business. She also provides workshops and seminars for practitioners in public and private sectors. She is co-lead of the triinstitutional initiative of UNU-Climate Reslience Initiative.

Zala Pavšič (iASK, Hungary)

Zala Pavšič is a research fellow at iASK. She is a historian working on contemporary history of Southeast Europe. Apart from a PhD in Cultural History from the Research Centre of the Slovenian Academy of Sciences and Arts, her previous training includes Master degrees in Russian Language and Comparative Literature from the University in Ljubljana. Her research areas include memory studies, history of emotions and gender studies. She is the recipient of numerous international grants and fellowships, including the Max Weber Fellowship (European University Institute, Florence), postdoctoral fellowship at the CEU Democracy Institute in Budapest and CAS SEE Fellowship (University in Rijeka).

Jakab Roland (MI Koalicio, Hungary) 

Roland Jakab is the Chief Executive Officer of the HUN-REN Hungarian Research Network, appointed on January 1, 2024. Prior to this role, he spent over two decades at Ericsson Hungary Ltd., holding various leadership positions in management, strategy, and research and development. Notably, he served as the company’s Managing Director from 2013 and later as Strategic Director for Central Europe, overseeing operations across eight countries. Jakab is also the founding president of the Artificial Intelligence Coalition, established in 2018, and has been re-elected to this position multiple times, reflecting his commitment to advancing AI technologies in Hungary.

Delfin Pllana (Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary at the Embassy of the Republic of Kosovo in Hungary)

Delfin Pllana holds a PhD from the University of Sheffield. Since 2009 he is part of the diplomatic service of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the Republic of Kosovo, with a diplomatic rank of Minister-Counsellor, having been among the founders of the first diplomatic mission of the Republic of Kosovo in Hungary, where he served in the period 2010 to 2014 as Deputy Head of Mission. Since February 2016 he is serving as Deputy Head of Mission at the Embassy of the Republic of Kosovo in Sofia and since 2024 in Hungary. Prior to joining the diplomatic service, Mr. Pllana had a career build up in the IGO, NGO and media sector working for over 10 years.

Dženita Šiljak (iASK, Hungary) 

Dženita Šiljak holds a PhD in Economics from the University of Sarajevo. She has worked as an assistant professor and researcher in Bosnia and Herzegovina and Hungary. Dženita’s research focuses on the economic convergence of transition countries towards the European Union and within the EU itself, and the role of institutions in the transition process. She has authored several articles in peer-review journals and is a co-editor of a book entitled “Bosnia and Herzegovina and European Integration: Obstacle and Challenges”.

Gábor Soós (Secretary-General of the Hungarian National Commission for UNESCO) 

Dr Gábor Soós has an educational background in the humanities and social sciences (Ph.D. English Literature, Budapest, ELTE (2010); D.E.A. in Philosophy, Université de Paris-Sorbonne, Paris 4 (1999); M.A. in English, (1996) ELTE), and worked both as an academic and as a civil servant and diplomat. He is Secretary-General of the Hungarian National Commission for UNESCO since 2016. He was diplomat and Deputy Permanent Delegate of Hungary to UNESCO (2002- 2006); Alternate Member of the Executive Board of UNESCO (2004-2006). As vice-Chair of intergovernmental experts meeting for drafting the Convention for the Safeguarding of Intangible Heritage (2002-2003) he also contributed actively to the elaboration and implementation of that normative instrument. As Head of Division of World Heritage Affairs and International Cooperation at the Gyula Forster National Centre for Cultural Heritage Management he acquired over ten years a wide-ranging professional experience in the implementation of the World Heritage Convention in Hungary and internationally with the involvement of different stakeholders (communities, business sector, NGOs, public agencies, etc.) and used this experience during the elaboration of the Hungarian World Heritage Act of 2011. He headed the project Revealing the social and economic impact of cultural heritage financed by the EEA Financial Mechanism as well as other projects related to the management of cultural heritage in Central Europe. He is also UNESCO-accredited facilitator for the implementation of the Convention for the Safeguarding of Intangible Heritage and evaluator for EU-funded programs.

Ivana Stepanović (iASK, Hungary) 

Dr. Stepanović is a permanent research fellow at iASK and lecturer at the University of Pannonia, Kőszeg Campus. She is the Academic Coordinator of the UNESCO Chair for Culture Heritage Management and Sustainability in Hungary. She holds a PhD in Anthropology from the Faculty of Philosophy, University of Belgrade, an MA in Human Rights South-East Europe from University of Sarajevo, Bosnia and Herzegovina and University of Bologna. Her teaching and research activities focus on social media research, reconciliation in former Yugoslavia, online activism, and the impact of artificial intelligence on societies.

Levente Szabados (Foundation for Information Society, Hungary)

Levente has a background in cognitive sciences and considerable experience in leading research and development teams as well as transforming research results into software applications. He has filled various roles at two startups including co-founder, lead of research, and chief technology officer. Levente’s work has covered topics including web ontologies, evolutionary computation, neural networks, and diverse natural language processing approaches. He currently has over 10 years of experience in applied AI and is working as a Senior Consultant, “Startupper” and CTO. He is also Lecturer in applied Artificial Intelligence, tech leadership at Frankfurt School of Finance & management and Public speaker with interest in cognitive science.

Attila Tanyi (University of Tromsø, Norway) 

Attila Tanyi is a Professor of Philosophy at the University of Tromsø: The Arctic University of Norway, specializing in moral and political philosophy. He leads the Philosophy for Modern Times (PhilMod) research group, overseeing the department’s research activities. Tanyi holds PhDs in Philosophy from Eötvös Loránd University and in Political Science from the Central European University. His research interests encompass metaethics, normative ethics, and political philosophy. Throughout his career, he has held academic positions at institutions including the University of Liverpool, the University of Konstanz, and Stockholm University. Tanyi has published extensively on topics such as consequentialism, moral psychology, and the ethics of entrapment.

Luka Martin Tomažič (Alma Mater, Slovenia)

Luka Martin Tomažič is a Slovenian legal scholar. He has been formally educated in law, international relations, local history, economics and business. He has published more than 100 scholarly works, especially in rule of law and legal philosophy. He clerked for Ernest Petrič, the former president and member of the United Nations International Law Commission and was a visiting professor at the University of Zagreb. He is an Associate Professor at Alma Mater Europaea and a full member and Vice-president of the Slovenian Academy of Legal Science. He has been involved in public discussions in Slovenia and has signed open letters on the topics of rule of law, constitutional court conduct and the educational system.

Tibor Tóth Executive Secretary Emeritus, Comprehensive Nuclear-Test-Ban Treaty Organization (CTBTO PC) 

Tibor Tóth is the Executive Secretary Emeritus of the Preparatory Commission for the Comprehensive Nuclear-Test-Ban Treaty Organization (CTBTO), having served as its Executive Secretary from 2005 to 2013. With over three decades of experience in multilateral diplomacy, he has been actively involved in international disarmament and non-proliferation efforts. Prior to his tenure at the CTBTO, Tóth held several key diplomatic positions, including serving as Hungary’s Ambassador and Permanent Representative to the United Nations in Geneva (1990–1993, 2003–2005) and Vienna (1997–2001). He also represented Hungary at the Conference on Disarmament and the International Atomic Energy Agency. From 1994 to 1996, he was the Deputy State Secretary of Defense responsible for international affairs. Throughout his career, Tóth has been instrumental in negotiating global prohibition regimes for biological and chemical weapons, significantly contributing to international security and arms control.

Kıvanç Ulusoy (Istanbul University, Turkey)

Kıvanç Ulusoy is currently a Professor of Political Science at the Istanbul University. He was previously a Fulbright Fellow at the Harvard Kennedy School (2012-2013), a Jean Monnet Fellow at the Robert Schuman Centre for Advanced Studies at the European University Institute in Florence (2003-2004) and a fellow at the Madrid Diplomatic School (1996-1997).  His areas of research include regime change and democratization, Turkish politics and foreign policy, Spanish politics, American foreign policy and foreign policy of Israel. Dr. Ulusoy has conducted studies at the Departments of Political Science and International Relations in various universities such as the Middle East Technical University, Bogazici University and Sabanci University in Turkey; Granada University in Spain; Stockholm University in Sweden; Tsukuba University in Japan; and Hebrew University of Jerusalem in Israel.

Caleb Waugh (Aktiv, Kosovo) 

Mr. Waugh has a notable career in Kosovo, focusing on policy development, election observation, and enhancing community engagement. Since August 2023, he has been serving as the Head of the Policy Section at NGO AKTIV, where he was instrumental in producing numerous policy papers addressing the concerns of non-majority communities in Kosovo. He has held positions that facilitated the observation of municipal elections, aimed at ensuring fair democratic processes. Mr. Waugh has an MA in Eastern European Research and Studies from the Università di Bologna and a BA in Political Science and Government from the University of Edinburgh. His career reflects a deep commitment to political stability and the development of inclusive policies in the Western Balkans.

Kariũki Werũ (UNU-EHS, Germany) 

Kariũki is a researcher interested in diverse topics such as Relational Wellbeing, Inter-generational Equity, and Human Mobility.

Kariũki is a Research Associate within the Environment and Migration: Interactions and Choices Section (EMIC) division of UNU-EHS. He is primarily engaged in the EU Horizon funded project RethinkAction, aimed at instigating both political and behavioural changes to promote climate action and citizen engagement in Europe. Prior to working in the EMIC division, Kariũki joined UNU-EHS as a Research Assistant in the Well-being, Sustainability and Equity (WiSE) Transformation Initiative in 2021. His work in this role was anchored within the framework of Relational Well-being, which highlights that the well-being(s) of the planet, society and individuals need not come at the expense of each other; the three levels of well-being can instead be fostered concurrently and holistically in a win-win-win scenario, in which individuals have and exercise the capability to lead lives they deem valuable. During his time in WiSE, Kariũki was also part of the UNU Climate Resilience Initiative (CRI), formed of researchers from UNU sister institutes such as UNU-MERIT and UNU-CRIS. His work on this project primarily revolved around the mental health impacts of climate change, aimed at promoting holistic policies for both mitigating and adaptive solutions to health (inclusive of mental health). Before joining UNU-EHS, Kariũki undertook internships at both UNV and UNCCD, in which he was involved with the strategic and quotidian operations surrounding human-centric people management, as well as supporting the development of the Sand and Dust Storms (SDS) Toolbox respectively.

Klaus Wölfer (Former Ambassador, Austrian Federal Ministry for Europe, Integration and Foreign Affairs)

After graduating with a Doctorate in Laws of the University of Vienna and the Diplomatic Academy in Vienna, he joined the Austrian Ministry of Foreign Affairs in 1981. He served as a diplomat in the Austrian Embassies in Rome/Italy, Belgrade/Yugoslavia and Budapest/Hungary and headed the Austrian Cultural Institute in Rome between 1996 and 2002. He also served as Director General for the federal funding for the arts at the Prime Minister’s office from 2002 to 2006. In 2006, he organised the conference “The Sound of Europe” in Salzburg as a prelude to the Austrian Presidency. He was the ambassador of Indonesia, Singapore, Timor-Leste and ASEAN 2006-2011 and ambassador to Turkey from 2012 to 2017. After mid-2017, he was the head of Austrian MFA’s South East Europe unit in Vienna. He also served as Deputy Political Director and Special Envoy for the Western Balkans. He retired from public office in May 2021 and has since been senior counsel for geopolitical and diplomatic questions, supporting various companies. He writes and lectures on foreign policy issues.

Anna Zeichner (ICCROM, France) 

Anna Zeichner serves as the Liaison Officer at the International Centre for the Study of the Preservation and Restoration of Cultural Property (ICCROM). In this capacity, she facilitates communication and collaboration between ICCROM and its member states, as well as with various international organizations. Zeichner plays a pivotal role in organizing and participating in high-level meetings with ambassadors and cultural heritage representatives from around the world, contributing to ICCROM’s mission of promoting the conservation of cultural heritage globally.

Rubin Zemon (iASK, Center for Advanced Researches, North Macedonia) 

Dr. Zemon is an ethnologist and social-cultural anthropologist, and the Director of the Center for Advanced Research. He was a research associate at the Institute for Social and Humanistic Research „Euro-Balkan” in Skopje, a university professor at the University „St. Apostle Paul” in Ohrid. He was appointed Director of the Institute for Social and Humanistic Research at the Euro-Balkan University in Skopje. He is an expert for the Council of Europe and OSCE / ODIHR for various missions and projects related to national minorities and multiculturalism, in European countries, especially in South-Eastern Europe. He initiated and organized annually the International Conference on Cultural Heritage, Tourism and Media, which is traditionally held in Ohrid during the Epiphany celebrations, attended by 100 scientists and professionals from around the world. In 2018, he was appointed as Special Adviser to the Prime Minister of the Republic of Macedonia for the development of multicultural society, interculturalism and intercultural communications. From that position, he initiated and led the preparation of the government’s National Strategy for Development of the Concept of One Society and Interculturalism, which is the first such state strategy for interculturalism in Europe. He is currently a research fellow at iASK.

Selected Abstracts

Damir Banović

Individual Identity, Collective Identity and Human Dignity. What Are the Best Models to Accommodate Different Identities? 

The contribution addresses various theoretical and multidisciplinary approaches concerning individualism versus abstract citizenship and collectivism versus substantial citizenship, along with related individual and collective identities, politics of recognition, liberal and communitarian perspectives, and recent developments in liberal multiculturalism. Furthermore, this contribution discusses different models, constitutional arrangements, and international human rights law provisions that prioritize individuals or collectives. Human dignity, as a fundamental value, serves as a foundation for both the individual and the collective, contending that not only do individuals possess moral worth and dignity, but that the collective does as well; consequently, both entail human rights. Additionally, the article analyzes the principles of equality and non-discrimination to ensure equal political and legal recognition of individuals and groups and collectives irrespective of their identity. Collective rights have been recognized as constitutional rights within multinational states, whether through federalism or other forms of territorial, fiscal autonomy, non-territorial cultural autonomy, affirmative action, quotas, veto mechanisms, etc. The contribution concludes with insights that better frame the arguments in the debate regarding political and legal recognition between collectives and individuals. 

Dezső Boda (University of Pannonia, Hungary)

Emergent fragility in our complex world

The world in which we live, including our natural environment, climate, technology, and culture is a complex adaptive system (CAS). Such systems are hierarchical structures composed of a huge number of interacting agents whose behavior is governed by rules that lead to a spontaneous emergent order (behavior, pattern) at the higher levels of the hierarchy, with many feedback loops. The socio-technological CAS of our civilization has become a global, tightly interconnected system due to the global economy, international information networks, and rapid travel of products, humans, and viruses. This has resulted in a fragile system of great structural complexity.

This system is dynamic: it constantly changes due to evolving (often disruptive) technologies, climate change, resource depletion, overpopulation, migration, and accumulating political tensions. In a dynamic CAS, feedback loops also change: some feedback loops disappear while new ones emerge. Because feedback loops are the basis of adaptive actions of the agents, this reorganization of the system leads to hitherto hidden risks that emerge from spontaneous processes (self organization). The emergence of such fragilities is highly unpredictable and may lead to particularly dangerous systemic risks, as the cascading effects of the emerging risks are also unpredictable.

Addressing such risks will require a behavioral change in the majority of people living on the surface of Earth. Even if we assume that planned and smooth changes in behavior patterns (not induced by disastrous events) are possible, this requires understanding and prediction of processes. It is precisely this understanding and prediction that is difficult in a globalized CAS where emerging risks must be anticipated.

David Daou (UNU-EHS, Germany)

AI harming effects on sustainability and environment

The intersection of AI and environmental sustainability, particularly in the context of mining, is a complex and evolving topic. Mining is a resource-intensive industry with significant environmental impacts, including deforestation, water pollution, greenhouse gas emissions, and habitat destruction. However, AI has the potential to make mining more sustainable by optimizing processes, reducing waste, and minimizing environmental harm. The rapid advancement of artificial intelligence (AI) technologies has brought significant benefits across various sectors, but its impact on sustainability, the environment, and industries such as mining warrants careful consideration. While AI can contribute to resource optimization and enhanced operational efficiency, its negative effects are becoming increasingly evident. The environmental footprint of AI, particularly in terms of energy consumption and electronic waste, poses a growing concern. The extensive computational power required for AI training and deployment demands significant energy resources, often sourced from non-renewable energy, exacerbating carbon emissions. In mining, AI’s role in automation and predictive maintenance may reduce human labor but also leads to the increased extraction of finite resources, contributing to environmental degradation. Furthermore, the environmental costs of AI-powered mining operations, such as resource depletion and habitat destruction, cannot be overlooked. This abstract explores the adverse impacts of AI on environmental sustainability, highlighting the urgent need for more eco-friendly AI practices, sustainable resource management in mining, and innovative solutions to mitigate the ecological consequences of these technologies. Below is an exploration of how AI can face some challenges and considerations.

Tamás Fejérdy DLA

Global Intersections: Evolving and Preserving Cultural Heritage Across Borders

In recent decades, the concept of cultural heritage has become increasingly broad and rich in content, a process in which UNESCO has played a prominent role, not least through the operation of its conventions in this field. A fundamental dichotomy has also unfolded in the ‘heritage-isation’ process. Namely, a comprehensive, in a sense global, approach and, as a counterpart, an increasing appreciation of heritage assets with a local identity. What they have in common, however, is the recognition and appreciation of heritage as a value, and the desire to preserve and even make this value dynamic for the present and the future. It is no exaggeration to say that over the last few decades, for example, the 1972 World Heritage Convention and its somewhat later ‘counterpart’, the Intangible Heritage Convention (2003), have increasingly been seen as a laboratory for heritage values. A repository of lessons learned, a disseminator of good practices and methodologies. And the cooperation across political boundaries that has been experienced in the framework of the World Heritage Convention is particularly instructive for the present topic. We now have a wealth of experience with both trans-boundary properties and serial properties. And, just as many of the achievements of space technology are nowadays already serving to improve the quality of everyday life, the World Heritage model can also be applied to a wide range of heritage assets. It can also be used for cross-border cooperation between a wide range of stakeholders.

András Gelencsér

Global green transition—collective delusion of humanity 

In a style barely heard elsewhere this talk unveils the topic of global sustainability which has shockingly become a smoking gun for humanity. Being a natural scientist with background in engineering the speaker busts each communication buzzword of global sustainability that only serves the short-term interests of the global elite. The speaker, who, unlike many others, does not feed on fairy tales, is deeply concerned about the future of humanity, and wants to wake up others to find real-life solutions instead of blowing balloons of green illusions. After all, humanity’s existence is at stake”, and there is no Planet B, or another chip to start over. This talk is for those who are brave enough to venture out of the lukewarm grazing pasture of ’alternative reality’ masterminded by the global elite and the media.

Franz Graf (Institute of Ethnology, Czech Academy of Sciences, Czech Republic)

Contaminated Landscapes and Populist Ecologies: Memory, Environment, and Belonging in Post-Imperial Borderlands

Two movements of uncertainty form the starting point for this presentation: on the one hand, the escalating ecological crisis, marked by human-induced global warming, biodiversity loss, and the crossing of planetary tipping points; on the other hand, the rise of populist and authoritarian movements and regimes on a global scale, which either deny or ignore the former. From an anthropological perspective, I am investigating the intersections of these two phenomena within a specific locality: the post-imperial borderland between Austria and Hungary. In current discussions about this borderland, attention is often drawn either to the brutality of „contaminated landscapes” (in Martin Pollack’s sense)—that is, the collective forgetting and confrontation with the terror and the „buried” victims of fascist regimes—or to the tourism-relevant biodiversity of West Pannonian protected areas, showcasing the ecological peculiarities of this transitional zone between the Eurasian steppe and the foot of the Alps.

I aim to bring these two discourses into dialogue and explore their implications for contemporary forms of populist ecologies through the notion of memory. Based on ongoing ethnographic fieldwork conducted as part of a collaborative ERC project investigating memory and populism in five different European border regions, my focus lies on Burgenland, examining how memories of and within more-than-human environments shape the boundaries between „the real people” and „dangerous others.” I argue that belonging to „the real people” is closely tied to memories of „the real landscape.” However, what „real” means can be highly diverse, ambiguous, and context-dependent.

Csaba Győry (ELTE University Faculty of Law , Hungary)

International Enforcement of Rule of Law Standards in a Fragmented Legal Order – Is International Law Evolving, or Being Replaced?

The enforcement of international rule of law standards is increasingly challenged by the fragmentation of global legal regimes, jurisdictional conflicts, and selective compliance. Traditional institutions like the ICC, ICJ, and WTO struggle with enforcement, while private arbitration systems, multinational corporations, and digital platforms increasingly define global legal norms. The rise of investor-state dispute settlement (ISDS) tribunals, corporate governance through supply chain contracts, and tech firms enforcing privacy and speech rights suggest a shifting landscape of global legal authority. This presentation explores the tension between traditional state-driven legal systems and emerging private, corporate, and digital governance structures. Through case studies like Philip Morris v. Uruguay and Facebook’s regulation of speech, we examine how these non-state actors impact the rule of law. The talk concludes by considering future scenarios: should we reform traditional institutions, accept legal pluralism, or embrace a future dominated by corporate and tech-driven legal enforcement?

Inna Häkkinen (University of Helsinki, Finland)

De-peripherization of Environmental Humanities: Knowledge Co-production, ‘Untold Stories’ and Nuclear Agenda

The de-peripherization of environmental humanities represents a critical shift in academic discourse as a response to the global environmental crisis by proposing ‘new modes of thinking, new communities, and new forms of knowledge’ (Farkas 2024) to create a more holistic understanding of environmental issues, while challenging traditional hierarchies of knowledge and seeking to amplify marginalized voices in environmental scholarship. ‘Knowledge co-production’ (Norström 2020) emerges as a key strategy in de-peripherization of environmental humanities by aiming to ‘bring a plurality of knowledge sources and types together to formulate and to address a defined problem.’ (Muhl et al 2023) The appeal to ‘untold stories’ (Mauch 2018) within nuclear (fictional) narratives contributes to exemplifying de-peripherization of environmental knowledge transition by debating established power structures in knowledge production and recognizing the importance of ‘local/indigenous knowledge systems’ in sustainability science, resonating with the environmental humanities’ shift towards ‘integrating knowledges and forging new constellations of practice from diverse cultures and ontologies.’ (Adamson & Davis 2017) Fictionalizing ‘energy de-peripherization’ (Kühn 2014) within this narrative shift contributes to outlining the moral, ethical, social, and cultural dimensions of localized nuclear issues, complementing scientific inquiry with critical perspectives on nuclear colonialism and its environmental impacts. By emphasizing the importance of narrative dimensions of knowledge co-production, together with cultural perspectives, interdisciplinary approaches, and expanded notions of ‘ecological thinking’, such envisioning of de-peripherization of environmental humanities not only elevates the status of the narrative analysis in environmental humanities’ agenda but also brings to light alternative ways of understanding human-environment relationships.

Cornelius Holtorf (UNESCO Chair of Heritage Futures, Linnaeus University, Sweden)

The Climate Heritage Paradox – towards a paradigm shift in cultural heritage

For the cultural heritage sector to address adequately the global challenges of climate change, it needs to resolve the Climate Heritage Paradox which consists of two conundrums. Firstly, in contemporary society, when humanity anticipates and prepares for climate change and associated transformations, cultural heritage predominantly looks backward and emphasizes identities and continuities over time. Secondly, when humanity on Earth needs panhuman solidarity, trust, and collaboration to be able to face enormous global challenges together, cultural heritage is still managed and interpreted within frameworks of regional/national governance. There is, therefore, a need for developing new understandings of cultural heritage that (a) are predominantly about stories of change and transformation rather than continuity and spatial belonging, and (b) express a need for humanity to collaborate globally and overcome national boundaries. Such a paradigm change in cultural heritage will protect and enhance the benefits of cultural heritage for the future in the age of climate change.

Norbert Kroo (HUN-REN Wigner Research Center of Physics, Hungary) 

Technology Fusion and Transformative Technologies 

The 21th Century is ruled by new transformative technologies, which are to a large extent  the ones, born as the result of the fusion of existing technologies. This is true not only in science based industries, but in all regions of economial and social activities. In this short presentation one,  being recently in the developmet phase  energy technology is outlined as a typical example of this fusion process. 

Igor Marković (Aktiv, Kosovo)

Forgotten Monuments and (En)Forced Reconciliation: Lessons from Kosovo’s Past and Present 

Building on an exploration of cultural life in North Kosovo as a means of resilience and reconciliation, this discussion shifts focus to another form of contested heritage in Kosovo: the Yugoslav-era monuments dedicated to World War II and the ‘brotherhood and unity’ narrative. The first focus will address the neglect and desecration of these monuments, particularly those promoted between 1945 and Tito’s death. These monuments, celebrated for their anti-fascist symbolism and architectural value, have faced significant disregard and decay. This neglect will be addressed through specific case studies, highlighting the overshadowing of Yugoslav monuments by post-1999 memorials and their perception as relics of an oppressive regime. The implications of this decline will be explored in relation to the diminishing emphasis on anti-fascist narratives in Kosovo. The second theme will address the parallels between the ‘brotherhood and unity’ concept of reconciliation imposed during the Yugoslav era and the strategies employed by international organisations and grassroots civil society in present-day Kosovo. Both approaches are critiqued for their top-down imposition, which disregards the entrenched divisions between Albanians and Serbs and their conflicting historical perspectives. By drawing these comparisons, the discussion underscores the limitations of externally imposed reconciliation frameworks and their inability to foster genuine societal cohesion in deeply divided contexts.

Sanae Okamoto (UNU-MERIT, Netherlands)

Human Behaviour and the Environment—A Psychological and Evolutionary Perspective

Understanding the relationship between humans, culture, and the natural world is essential for addressing contemporary environmental challenges. My presentation explores how insights from psychology, behavioural science, and evolutionary anthropology can enhance our understanding of ecological perspectives. Drawing from my early research on chimpanzee social behaviour to my recent work in behavioural science, I examine how human decision-making shapes environmental actions. Additionally, I discuss the cultural and psychological dimensions of sustainability, including the impact of environmental change on mental health. By integrating behavioural science with environmental humanities, we can explore to develop more effective strategies to foster sustainability, resilience, and well-being.

Dženita Šiljak, PhD

From Stability to Growth: Why Institutions Matter in Transition Economies

This paper explores the crucial role of institutions in shaping economic growth and development in transition economies, particularly those aspiring to European Union (EU) membership. While these countries have made progress in achieving macroeconomic stability, institutional weaknesses—such as corruption, weak governance, and regulatory inefficiencies—continue to hinder sustainable development and long-term economic resilience.

Using a mixed-methods approach, this study combines economic analysis with qualitative insights to assess how institutional structures influence economic performance. The findings highlight that economic policies alone are insufficient for sustained progress; strong institutions are essential for fostering investment, innovation, and social stability. Without meaningful institutional reforms, these economies risk stagnation despite access to external financial support and international trade.

By examining key structural barriers to growth, this research offers insights into the broader relationship between governance, economic policy, and institutional change. The discussion contributes to understanding how nations can build resilient economic systems and create environments that support inclusive and sustainable development in an increasingly interconnected world.

Levente Szabados (Foundation for Information Society, Hungary)

Social consensus in the age of AI

Automation of labor exerts pressure on the job market, increasing inequality, while AI driven filter bubbles polarize society in the political sphere. For the efficient regulation of emerging technologies, and facing the challenges of society consensus is needed. Can the adept utilization of AI enhance consensus building, and thus facilitate societal progress?

Caleb Waugh 

Culture in a Vacuum: Deconstructing cultural life in northern Kosovo as a product of isolation 

In the years following the cessation of armed hostilities in Kosovo in 1999, the four northern municipalities of that territory were subjected to a large degree of socio-political isolation, and removed from both Belgrade and Priština’s institutional and legal structures. Despite its perceived lawlessness, this isolation gave way to a distinct sense of identity, social cohesion and solidarity, which in turn gave way to a rich, often underground cultural life, which flourished despite political uncertainty and sustained instability. Culture acted as both a means of self-expression, as well as an act of resistance against circumstances that were outside of the control of the local community. Gatherings, such as concerts, art exhibitions and theatre productions, were often experienced as acts of collective defiance and therefore proof of the Kosovo Serb community’s resilience. Furthermore, and in the face of continued tensions, culture was a conduit for continued and sustained inter-ethnic cooperation, often in informal and ad-hoc settings. That having been said, cultural life was also instrumentalised for political purposes, often being used by Belgrade-based political and institutional actors to promote and foster nationalistic narratives regarding Kosovo’s status. In a somewhat similar vein, particularly after the signing of the Brussels Agreement in 2013, it has been employed as a means of promoting “reconciliation”, often being painted as a sector that can foster contact between Serbs and Albanians in a neutral space. Having this in mind, the presentation will attempt to tackle several key questions: how successful have attempts by international actors to promote cultural cooperation as reconciliation been? Does it have the potential to create sustained and long-term links between the two communities? How have recent developments, mainly the recent push to “integrate” north Kosovo into Kosovo’s legislative and institutional framework, impacted cultural life? And finally, are the cultural links created by the civil society sector and international missions largely artificial, or will they prove to be sustainable regardless of continued tensions? 

Anna E. Zeichner (ICCROM, Italy)

Global Intersections – Evolving and Preserving Cultural Heritage Across Borders

Cultural heritage is not static—it evolves through cross-border interactions, knowledge exchange, and shifting identities. While preservation efforts often focus on safeguarding traditions and sites, heritage is continuously shaped by migration, intercultural dialogue, and changing societal values. This raises critical questions: How do we maintain authenticity while allowing for natural evolution? How can conservation efforts embrace diversity and transformation without compromising historical integrity? And crucially, whose heritage is being preserved?

From historic sites to intangible cultural practices, cross-border influences and reinterpretations shape our understanding of heritage. While globalization and cultural exchange foster appreciation, they also challenge traditional conservation approaches, necessitating frameworks that respect both continuity and change while recognizing that conservation must go beyond protecting the legacy of the present majority population. Drawing from ICCROM’s expertise, this presentation will examine how heritage adapts to global influences, addressing key issues of authenticity, inclusivity, and adaptability.

Through case studies from ICCROM’s work—including post-conflict recovery, capacity-building programs, and community-driven conservation—this presentation will demonstrate how heritage can be preserved while recognizing its evolving nature. By strengthening international cooperation and supporting local communities, we can safeguard heritage as a link between past and future, local and global—preserving its authenticity while embracing its natural evolution.