A new joint programme for EHC

On April 29, 2025, the EHC Steering Committee officially approved the EHC-S4SF Program of Science and Education for Society as a specific EHC initiative.

Science for Sustainable Future (S4SF) is a non-governmental organization established in 2024 in Geneva, Switzerland. Its integral goal is to create a platform for dialogues between present and future science and society leaders, all relevant stakeholders of the international innovation ecosystem, and other interested actors at the international scale to foster scientific awareness and promote science-based decision making for a sustainable future. The Head of the Program is Dr. Barbora Bruant Gulejova, Founder and President of S4SF (more details in this article).

The EHC-S4SF Program directly supports two key EHC Working Threads, reflecting how science can serve as a unifying force for sustainability, education, and global cooperation.

Youth at STEM for Sustainable Future

As part of the EHC Working Thread 6: Promotion of Transdisciplinary Practices in Education, S4SF leads the pioneering and groundbreaking initiative Youth@STEM4SF (Youth at STEM for Sustainable Future), aiming to shape the STEM education at high- and even primary-school level. This innovative program aims to inspire talented girls and boys to pursue STEM-related careers and to cultivate a new generation of future society leaders who are scientifically aware, responsible citizens and decision-makers. Through real-world context, transdisciplinary collaboration, and engagement with experts from research, academia, and industry, students dive in the innovation ecosystem and in the second step – Youth@STEM4SF competition – they become co-creators of new educational resources that link science with societal impact and sustainability.

The program has been officially recognized by Swiss educational authorities for its alignment with the new federal education plan and its relevance for transversal competencies, SDG integration, and informed career orientation. In addition, in May 2025, the project has been chosen to be presented at the general assembly of Swiss national conference of gymnasium directors. During the International Decade of Sciences for Sustainable Development, the successful Swiss pilot and proof of concept is planned to be extended to other countries across Europe and beyond. The first pilot beyond Switzerland has been already realised with IUPAP as pre-event of Big Science Business Forum 2024 in Trieste.

The video below presents testimonials from teachers, students, scientists and industries.  

More details about activities 2023-2024 can be found in the article published by Swiss Physical Society. Strategic relevance of this approach of integration of innovation ecosystem actors in shaping the education, is described in the article in the European Physics News.

Big Science model for global societal challenges

Aligned with EHC Working Thread 4: Development of Sciences for Planetary Reconciliation, the program promotes the Big Science model as a proven paradigm for addressing global societal challenges through peaceful international cooperation and shared research infrastructures. This model – highlighted in an article in European Physics News – emphasizes how scientific collaboration can transcend geopolitical divides and advance sustainability, peace, and security.

In parallel, the EHC-S4SF Program is creating a platform for strategic dialogue among current society leaders – scientists, policymakers, industries, and investors – on emerging technologies with societal relevance. A first example of this was the high-level discussion on commercial era of nuclear fusion, co-organized with the Swiss Academy of Technical Sciences (SATW) and EPFL in December 2024. The event gathered 14 key players from the global fusion ecosystem to explore how science diplomacy and coordinated strategies can accelerate the commercial and sustainable future of fusion energy; and follow-up discussions and action are on-going.

Through these complementary tracks – education and policy dialogue – the EHC-S4SF Program contributes directly to the UN International Decade of Sciences for Sustainable Development (2024–2033) and supports the realization of the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs).