Juan Camilo Serpa is an associate professor at McGill University, in Montreal, Canada
What is transdisciplinarity

Juan Camilo Serpa: “We are building the LinkedIn of sustainability”

/

The Sustainaibility Academic Network, SusAN in short, has been launched in March 2025, to create an online discussion and collaboration space for scientists who are concerned with sustainability Juan Camilo Serpa is an associate professor at McGill University, in Montreal, Canada What is your current position? Juan Camilo Serpa: I am the academic director of the Management Science Research Centre at McGill University. I specialize in sustainability and AI, and I founded the Sustainability Academic Network, susanhub.com, which is the largest sustainability platform worldwide. What specifically is your field of expertise? J. C. S.: My main focus is on how to implement Artificial Intelligence to enhance sustainability efforts. I am an AI and data science specialist, and I used to do supply chain. But I wanted to work about biodiversity: it started a few years ago, when I created an institute in Costa Rica to join all NGOs in the country to improve their biodiversity efforts by implementing AI. Let’s come to the Sustainability Academic Network. Could you tell us more about it? J. C. S.: The idea was conceived when Donald Trump launched his social network, Truth Social, for right wing people to have online discussions in their own space. I realized that environmentalists and sustainability researchers needed a similar platform to communicate and collaborate. The Sustainability Academic Network serves as a hub like LinkedIn for climate change research, enabling efficient networking and resource sharing. It has been publicly launched at the beginning of March 2025. Our plan is to invite 1.3 million sustainability professors worldwide: we are reviewing 55,000 universities in 197 countries, and we look for every single sustainability professor; then we send them a one-time invitation to join. How many members are there already? J. C. S.: Around 500 new users are joining every day currently. The first month, we had 300, the second month, we had around 2,000. The third month, we had 5,000. And the fourth month, we already have 15,000. If this trend stands, weare going to have around 100,000 by the end of the year. What are the purposes and goals of the network? J. C. S.: SusAN aims to break down silos in academia by connecting researchers across disciplines. It provides a platform for communication, data sharing, and collaboration on sustainability topics. We offer access to datasets, papers, job opportunities, and more, all focused on sustainability. How do you avoid the clustering effect often seen in social networks? J. C. S.: We want to break the silos that exist within universities: scientists from the business faculty do not talk to their colleagues from the engineering or from the chemistry faculty, and the latter rarely talk together either. You would be surprised also that scientists from North America talk very little with scientists from Europe, and even less from Africa or from Asia. So, we focus on identifying members by themes rather than disciplines or faculties or geographical location. For instance, instead of grouping by engineering or business, we connect researchers based on shared interests, like solar energy. This approach encourages cross-disciplinary communication and collaboration. We do the same with scientific papers: usually, a scientist looks only at specific journals in her field; with SusAN, we promote a classification by topics. That is also true for datasets. Is the network limited to academics? J. C. S.: First, we focus on academia due to limited resources. However, the next step is to include industries and NGOs to foster innovation at the intersection of academia and industry. Our ultimate goal is to become the LinkedIn of sustainability where everybody who is interested could join. How is the network funded and maintained? J. C. S.: It started with my research funding, and we have an in-kind contribution from Google, that give the server for free, for an equivalent of US $35,000. We are exploring sustainable funding models, such as offering services to institutions and accepting donations, to continue improving the platform. Any money we would be able to collect would go to the project, in a non-profit scheme. What challenges do you see in mobilizing scientists for sustainability, beyond what SusAN can currently provide? J. C. S.: Researchers are primarily rewarded for publishing, not for mobilizing research or creating connections. Our platform aims to change this by encouraging the dissemination and collaboration of sustainability research. We need to shift incentives to value not just publication, but also the broader impact of research. Interview by Luc Allemand SUBSCRIBE TO OUR NEWSLETTER To stay up to date with our projects and the development of the EHC Read more articles

François Lamy (left), is a Vice-Chairman of the Board of Directors of AFM-Téléthon, in charge of Téléthon. Gérald Perret (right) is the Director of Development of the association
What is transdisciplinarity

François Lamy: “AFM-Téléthon approach to rare diseases treatment is unique”

/

The AFM-Téléthon association in France funds its own research labs and its own program to find treatment for genetic rare diseases. What makes it unique? It is run entirely by patients and their parents. The first of two interviews that explain everything François Lamy (left), is a Vice-Chairman of the Board of Directors of AFM-Téléthon, in charge of Téléthon. Gérald Perret (right) is the Director of Development of the association Could you introduce AFM-Téléthon and your role? François Lamy: I am a Vice-Chairman of the AFM-Téléthon board. Like all board members, we are either patients ourselves or parents of patients. My son has Duchenne muscular dystrophy, which is why I volunteer on the board. The association was founded in the 1950s by a mother whose four sons with Duchenne muscular dystrophy all died before age 18, at a time when there were no treatments. What are the core values of the association? F. L.: We refuse fatality. Facing incurable diseases, parents cannot accept to be told that nothing can be done. So, we do something. All parents I know become experts in their child’s illness. They develop a unique competence to provide care, improving comfort and prolonging life. These are progressive diseases, so there is an urgency to find solutions. The strength of the collective is crucial, allowing parents to find practical solutions together, not just medical ones, but things like going to school or adapting housing, and building a fulfilling life for their children in spite of the fatal disease. What is the guiding strategy for AFM-Téléthon? F. L.: Our strategy, reinforced by the significant funds raised thanks to Téléthon, a yearly national mobilization through television and all other possible media, is a mission of general interest. Every decision is made to advance research for all rare diseases, not for one specific patient or pathology. We refused from the start to focus on just one pathology. There are over 8,000 rare diseases. The idea was that by advancing research for one of these would advance knowledge for others. This was theoretical in the 1990s but is a reality today. We meet today at Généthon, located in Évry, 20 kilometers or so South of Paris. What exactly is Généthon? F. L.: Généthon is a scientific research laboratory created by AFM-Téléthon in the early 1990s. Why did AFM-Téléthon create its own laboratory? F. L.: When the first Téléthon has been held in France, in 1987, the amount of money collected exceeded all expectations. Facing these funds, there was a rapid desire to create a scientific laboratory to understand the genome, as the diseases AFM-Téléthon is dealing with are of genetic origin. At the time, only a handful of genes causing diseases were identified. Généthon was created because automating genome decoding, that it set out to do initially, did not exist anywhere else in the world. Was it successful? F. L.: Généthon scientists worked hard to decode human DNA and map the genome. This was achieved in 1995, beating other labs, including American ones working manually. The genetic maps were then transmitted to UNESCO to be protected as world heritage and so that they could not be patented. This provided an invaluable resource for scientists. Why did Généthon changed its research goals then? F. L.: In the mid-1990s, with sufficient genome knowledge available for initial work, the association decided it wasn’t their role to pursue fundamental genetic exploration further, but rather to focus on therapeutics. Then it has been decided to focus on gene therapy. The genotyping work was taken over by a public structure called Génoscope. Does AFM-Téléthon fund research beyond Généthon? F. L.: We fund three main laboratories: Généthon for gene therapy, Istem for stem cells, and Institut de Myologie, on muscle research. Additionally, we fund over 200 research projects annually through calls for proposals, ranging from fundamental research to preclinical studies. We also have larger multi-year “strategic projects” with a clear clinical ambition, that we fund externally. Who makes the final decisions on which projects are funded? F. L.: The Board of Directors is sovereign on decisions. But the Scientific Council, composed of over 90 permanent members and soliciting up to 5,000 experts worldwide, evaluates project proposals and provides advice. We respect their advice greatly because they are high-level scientists. However, the Board, consisting of only patients and parents, makes the final decision: we consider scientific excellence, but also other criteria like a project’s therapeutic potential, or focus on a neglected rare disease. Is it relevant that non-scientists make these funding decisions? F. L.: It is often questioned, especially by scientific institutes. However, Généthon currently has a pipeline of dozens of clinical trials. My analysis is that while scientists here are not more intelligent than those elsewhere, the strategic orientation has been clear from the start: finding medications, not just publishing nice articles in scientific journals. This changes how scientists approach their work. The importance of citizens, specifically patients, in research orientation is essential here. Is this model of a patient-led organization funding and driving research applied elsewhere? F. L.: It is certainly unique in France. And, from my knowledge speaking with many international rare disease associations, there is no equivalent elsewhere. In other countries where philanthropy is important for research funding, for instance in the USA, foundations are mostly family-based, and focus on a single disease: our strategy of general interest, aiming to advance research across many rare diseases, is also quite unique. Interview by Luc Allemand SUBSCRIBE TO OUR NEWSLETTER To stay up to date with our projects and the development of the EHC Read more articles

Leslie King is an organizational and community change consultant based in Lynchburg, Virginia, USA
What is transdisciplinarity

Leslie King: “EHC is an opportunity to learn, share, and expand influence across borders”

/

Leslie King works with communities across the United States, tackling environmental and social issues through innovative, participatory approaches Leslie King is an organizational and community change consultant based in Lynchburg, Virginia, USA What is your current role and focus areas? Leslie King: I am an organizational and community change consultant and coach, running my own consulting firm. My work primarily revolves around education, climate and environmental issues. I focus on participatory design, community-based systems change, and equity-centered approaches to influence structural and institutional change. Can you provide some examples of the projects you’re involved in? L. K.: One project I am working on is creating energy hubs for communities in Virginia that experience electricity blackouts. These hubs serve as substitutes for energy during outages, ensuring essential services aren’t disrupted. My work spans interdisciplinary research, bridging environmental justice, public health, and organizational transformation. I also work with communities facing issues like heat islands and flooding, helping them build capacity to advocate for policy changes while raising awareness about these challenges. How do you make academic research accessible to communities? L. K.: Bridging the gap between academic research and everyday communities is a key part of my work. Research findings are usually locked away in journals, inaccessible to the people who could benefit from them. I focus on making this information culturally understandable and usable, helping communities engage with it to foster resilience against climate impacts and promote climate justice. How did you become interested in the Earth-Humanity Coalition and its goals? L. K.: I was drawn to EHC because I wanted to connect with others globally who are engaged in similar work. The coalition’s goals align with my focus on climate, environmental, and health issues. It is an opportunity to learn, share, and expand influence across borders. I believe the challenges we face in the U.S. are connected to those in other parts of the world, and collaboration is key to sustainable development. What do you hope to gain from your participation in EHC activities? L. K.: Beyond sharing knowledge, I aim to bring a unique perspective to the coalition, especially in bridging cultural gaps and fostering social practice alongside scientific approaches. I hope to contribute to creating accountability structures within EHC, ensuring that its stated values become actionable practices. I am particularly excited about the potential to develop transdisciplinary hubs, which could serve as platforms for collaboration and innovation. How do you envision these transdisciplinary hubs functioning? L. K.: These hubs would be spaces for interdisciplinary collaboration, bringing together experts from different fields to address complex issues. They would focus on designing strategies and solutions that embody the coalition’s values, fostering a culture of accountability and practice. I’m eager to facilitate the creation of such hubs in the U.S. and beyond, to drive meaningful change. Interview by Luc Allemand SUBSCRIBE TO OUR NEWSLETTER To stay up to date with our projects and the development of the EHC Read more articles

Projects

World Conference on Science and Art for Sustainability

/

WAAS aims to develop novel ways of communication and cooperation between scientists, artists, policy-makers and all other science and art stakeholders The World Conference on Science and Art for Sustainability, to be held on September 22–24, 2025 in Belgrade, Serbia, will be the second conference within the EHC-WAAS Program and a flagship event within the International Decade of Sciences for Sustainable Development (IDSSD). The aims of this Conference are to listen to prominent individuals acting in different science and art disciplines and coming from different parts of the world, to induce fruitful interactions among them, and to deduce from all that some concrete conclusions on the contributions of science and art to sustainable, secure, and peaceful development to be presented to the interested policy-makers and other science and art stakeholders at the local, national, regional, and global scales. Pathways towards regeneration and sustainability The integral goal of IDSSD is to significantly contribute to tracing the pathways towards regeneration and sustainability of nature and society as well as human security and peace. This should be done following eight Human Security Dimensions (HSDs), specified by the UN Development Programme (UNDP) in January 1994 and September 2022, and 17 Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), defined by the UN General Assembly in September 2015. These dimensions and goals are related to the existential problems and challenges facing the Earth and humanity today, which are: depletion of natural resources; climate change, pollution, and biodiversity loss; intercultural conflicts, forced migrations, and wars; human inequality and inequity. Today, it is clear that these problems have complex and multiple disciplinary character while the efforts of scientific communities worldwide are mostly limited to separated disciplines. In addition, the problems are interdependent and can mutually reinforce each other. Therefore, a systemic and multiple disciplinary approach in looking for and finding their solutions is necessary. However, the current state of affairs is such that serious concerns about the ability of humankind to carry out the SDGs and HSDs by 2030, аs it was planned, are raised. Within WAAS-EHC Program The Earth-Humanity Coalition was founded with the task to prepare and implement, in close cooperation with UNESCO, various initiatives within the overall IDSSD program. The first of these initiatives was the EHC-WAAS Program of Sciences for Sustainable Development, which had been prepared by WAAS. It currently includes two series of webinars, six world conferences, a number of journal articles and reports, and four platforms in science and technology for cooperation between the Global North and the Global South. The EHC-WAAS Program is based on the conviction that acquiring knowledge along the chain of basic, applied, social, and humanistic disciplines by scientific and technological communities worldwide within the disciplinary boundaries must be supplemented with their transdisciplinary efforts, and that the realization of the resulting agendas must be going on in a well-coordinated way. This endeavor also includes local and national traditional knowledge and its interactions with contemporary science and technology generated knowledge. One of the main aims of the Program is to enable the establishment of a solid foundation for the advancements of innovation, technology, education, agriculture, and industry towards sustainable, secure, and peaceful development at the local, national, regional, and global scales. Besides, in the Program, relations between science and art are underlined, as between two distinct but complementary methods of inquiry about nature, society, and human beings with the same aim – to unravel the sense of the universe and communicate their findings to others. The results of science, being objective, and the results of art, being subjective, should influence and enrich one another, and thus push farther the boundaries of a true and deep understanding of the universe. The EHC-WAAS Program should be applied worldwide, in both the Global North and the Global South, and in their cooperation following the principles of multilateralism, guaranteeing the respect of rights of every country in every domain, and the objective to make the Earth an equitably habitable planet that upholds well-being and justice for all. Novel ways of communication and cooperation It is well known that relationships between scientists and artists on the one side and policy-makers and all other science and art stakeholders in the public and private sectors on the other side are characterized by a lack of respect and trust. Therefore, the EHC-WAAS Program includes a strong request that novel ways of communication and cooperation of the two sides, based on sincere mutual respect and trust, must be developed and nurtured. The aim is to overcome the barriers that prevent these interactions as well as to effectively use the levers that stimulate them. This should lead to the evolution of these communications from the one-sided and market-driven ones to a wide-participatory co-creation of approaches and agendas of science, technology, art, and education driven by the societally relevant problems and challenges. Besides, all three pillars of science and art diplomacy, being science and art for diplomacy, science and art in diplomacy, and diplomacy for science and art, should be continually used. These pillars cover the soft power of science and art to improve relations between countries even where official relations are strained or severed, the ways how science and art achievements help inform diplomatic objectives and foreign policy, and the ability of diplomacy to facilitate cooperation in science and art across borders, respectively. Read the programme of the September 22–24, 2025 conference (PDF file). SUBSCRIBE TO OUR NEWSLETTER To stay up to date with our projects and the development of the EHC Read more articles

Kentaro Toyama, here with Rajasthani children, is the W. K. Kellogg Professor at the University of Michigan School of Information
What is transdisciplinarity

Kentaro Toyama: “Scientists should engage in activities beyond their traditional endeavors”

/

In an era where environmental concerns and social challenges are diring, The Earth-Humanity Coalition could contribute to the integration of scientific knowledge with social activism Kentaro Toyama, here with Rajasthani children, is the W. K. Kellogg Professor at the University of Michigan School of Information Could you elaborate on what inspired you to join The Earth-Humanity Coalition working group on general strategy and your views on the role of scientists in social change? Kentaro Toyama: I joined the EHC working group because I saw it as an opportunity to collaborate with other scientists and knowledge generators to drive the substantial social change needed for environmental and climate-related issues. Our world faces increasing challenges, and while science plays a crucial role, it’s not enough to rely solely on research and logic to instigate change. The cognitive science of persuasion shows that logic is one of the weakest ways to convince people. We need to engage in activities beyond traditional scientific endeavors, such as writing letters to leaders, organizing protests, and participating in non-violent actions that attract media attention and public interest. What you describe is similar to how movements like “Stand Up For Science” are acting. Do you think that there should be a collaboration? K. T.: Indeed, movements like “Stand Up For Science” reflect a growing trend of scientists taking to the streets to voice their concerns. The EHC can play a pivotal role in making these efforts global. We need to connect not only with formal scientists but also with other knowledge creators and civil society groups. By uniting these diverse voices, we can foster a social movement that goes beyond reshaping research priorities, and focuses on collective action for larger societal changes. One of the challenges you mentioned is bridging the gap between scientists and non-scientific groups. How can the EHC facilitate this integration? K. T.: The challenge lies in outreach. Many knowledge-producing groups, like those focused on environmental or poverty issues, contribute significantly to the discourse but may not traditionally collaborate with scientists. The EHC aims to bring these groups together, advocating for a unified approach to sustainability. This effort may also involve practical steps like organizing demonstrations and coordinating activities that UNESCO and other large organizations typically cannot handle at a grassroots level. You have highlighted the importance of a global collective action day. How do you envision this taking shape? K. T.: I imagine a global day akin to “Stand Up For Science,” but oriented towards “Science for Sustainability.” On this day, each country could have its own specific demands, but by acting together, we can garner significant global attention. The key challenge with sustainability is that it requires individuals to make personal sacrifices, which are hard to enforce without a unified social momentum. If we can build this momentum, even politicians will listen, as they respond to the beliefs of their constituents. What message would you like to send to both scientists and the general public about the role they can play in this movement? K. T.: My message is that we need to shift the narrative from science for science’s sake to scientists advocating for broader societal benefits. It is about using our scientific knowledge and methodologies to support a sustainable future, requiring both scientists and the public to step out of their comfort zones and engage in actions that drive tangible change. Interview by Luc Allemand SUBSCRIBE TO OUR NEWSLETTER To stay up to date with our projects and the development of the EHC Read more articles

Projects

SRI 2025: A joint EHC – Belmont Forum Poster

/

On Monday, June 16, participants at the SRI 2025 congress in Chicago have the opportunity to engage with the global repository for sustainable development A joint team from the Belmont Forum and The Earth-Humanity Coalition prepared a poster about the global repository for sustainable development project that will be presented Monday, June 16, between 12:05 pm and 1:30 pm (CDT) during the poster session of the SRI 2025 congress. The poster is shown below. Give your feedback! To better serve the sustainability science community a poll using a Google form is proposed, to collect views about how the the repository can meet your needs and any feedback you have on its development. You can access it by flashing the QR code on the poster or by clicking on this link. SUBSCRIBE TO OUR NEWSLETTER To stay up to date with our projects and the development of the EHC Read more articles

THE SRI 2025 congress will be held 16-19 June 2025 in Chicago, USA, with the title "Shaping a Sustainable Future"
Projects

Global Repository for Sustainable Development presented at SRI2025

/

Attendants of the yearly meeting will have the opportunity to engage with a project aimed at the whole sustainability research and innovation community THE SRI 2025 congress will be held 16-19 June 2025 in Chicago, USA, with the title “Shaping a Sustainable Future” The upcoming Sustainability Research and Innovation Congress (SRI2025), set to take place in Chicago from June 16-19, 2025, will feature a poster presentation focused on a critical initiative by The Earth-Humanity Coalition: building a global repository for transdisciplinary research on sustainable development. This project aims to create a vital resource for the scattered community working in this crucial field. The poster will introduce attendants of the congress to a new, dedicated collaborative and equitable repository space being developed within a well-respected, open, and trusted generalist repository committed to long-term data storage and open science, whose name is Zenodo. Zenodo is hosted by CERN. This repository is developed in partnership with the Belmont Forum. Projects funded through its calls will be invited specifically to participate to the co-construction, and also to post their results on the platform. Any kind of digital object The repository is designed to accommodate any kind of digital object, or “artifact,” relevant to transdisciplinarity for sustainable development, including scientific papers, videos, photos, datasets, and audio recordings: it is not limited to just scientific articles. This inclusivity is key to facilitating the use of the platform by non-scientists and providing visibility for actors outside of academia who may lack access to specialized repositories or face barriers to publishing open access in traditional journals. A core aspect of this initiative is its co-constructed approach. The repository will be built collaboratively with users – including scientists, non-scientists, funders, and policymakers – to ensure it meets their needs and challenges. The poster at SRI2025 will serve to present technical aspects and existing use cases of Zenodo, engage participants in this co-construction process, and even initiate the creation of working groups to help implement the community. Ultimately, this global repository seeks to connect the transdisciplinary community focusing on sustainable development, ensure a long-time archive for research artifacts, and accelerate progress towards the sustainable development goals. By providing an open platform and promoting the open access publishing of results, it aims to sustain the commons character of all knowledge, in a fair and equitable way, fostering epistemic justice on a global scale. SRI2025 is organized jointly by Future Earth and the Belmont Forum. Luc Allemand SUBSCRIBE TO OUR NEWSLETTER To stay up to date with our projects and the development of the EHC Read more articles

Projects

A new joint programme for EHC

/

The Earth-Humanity Coalition Approves the EHC-S4SF Program of Science and Education for Society and Sustainable Future 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). SUBSCRIBE TO OUR NEWSLETTER To stay up to date with our projects and the development of the EHC Read more articles

The "Transdisciplinarity research for sustainable development" home page on the Zenodo platform is a prototype of EHC Commons
Projects

The Earth-Humanity Commons: Sharing All Knowledge for Sustainability

/

EHC develops a global repository to revolutionize access to sustainable development research, based on a global open platform The “Transdisciplinarity research for sustainable development” home page on the Zenodo platform is a prototype of EHC Commons A groundbreaking initiative by the Earth-Humanity Coalition is underway to establish a global online repository specifically dedicated to transdisciplinary research for sustainable development : EHC Commons. Leveraging the existing Zenodo platform, this project aims to overcome significant barriers currently faced by researchers and practitioners alike, fostering a more connected and equitable global community working towards sustainable solutions. The proposal outlines a vision for a collaborative, open-access hub for diverse digital artifacts related to this critical field. The core problem the repository seeks to address stems from the nature of transdisciplinary research for sustainable development itself. Unlike traditional academic disciplines, transdisciplinarity usually involves actors from outside academia. This diverse community faces several challenges when it comes to accessing and disseminating knowledge. Exploring and sharing Exploring relevant literature can be difficult. While tools like Google Scholar are free, they lack curation, and curated databases like Web of Science and Scopus are expensive and restricted to subscribers. Moreover, they are primarily covering mainstream English literature. Access to published research is also limited, with only a fraction of academic journals generally accessible. Considering publication, actors from low income countries, and actors outside academia often cannot afford open access publication fees, or lack access to specialized repositories that could provide visibility. This leads to inefficient and scattered research efforts. In response to these challenges, The Earth-Humanity Coalition proposes to develop a global repository based on the open platform Zenodo. This aligns with the International Decade of Sciences for Sustainable Development (2024 – 2033), which aims to transform sciences and societies under the auspices of UNESCO. Zenodo characteristics Operated and enhanced by CERN, Zenodo was launched in 2013 and has grown significantly, serving today 400,000 users from 9,000 organizations in 161 countries. It is the largest general-purpose repository in the world. Zenodo can accommodate any kind of digital object, referred to as an “artifact,” regardless of file format. Crucially, Zenodo is free to search, and data can be curated in dedicated collections. The platform has been funded by various bodies, including initial EU funding, contributions from the National Institute of Health (US), Sloan Foundation, Arcadia Foundation, and CERN is covering operational costs. While material can be access protected when needed, the general idea is to make results available open access. Anyone can submit research artifacts to the platform. This capability directly addresses the identified issues. On one hand, it enables anybody to explore the literature (through free search and curated collections) and access published content (by encouraging open access submissions). On the other hand, publishing results, whether they are written articles, videos, data sheets, slides, etc., is also addressed, as anyone can submit artifacts, and special collections curated by the transdisciplinarity for sustainability community will ensure relevance and quality. Transdisciplinary by construction The proposed repository embodies in itself several key transdisciplinary aspects. Firstly, its fundamental purpose is to be a repository specifically dedicated to data related to transdisciplinarity for sustainable development. Secondly, it will accept any kind of data in digital format, not being limited solely to scientific articles, thus facilitating use by non-scientists. Finally, a co-constructed approach is at the very root of the project: the global shape is defined by Zenodo structure, but the details and the structure of the “Transdisciplinarity for sustainable development” part of Zenodo will be co-constructed with diverse users, including scientists, non-scientists involved in sustainability projects, funders, and policy makers. The project is designed to further equitable solutions for sustainability. It proposes constructing a community where each ‘node’ operates autonomously, adhering to common guidelines defined by a board of moderators. All collected information will be searchable, allowing exploration across all nodes via a specific interface. Being dedicated to sustainability and fully open access, the repository ensures that anyone with an internet connection can post, search, and download content. Furthermore, the platform is envisioned as a network where communities, from local to worldwide, can manage their own data using their own language, concepts, topics, and link them to the global network. This structure aims to facilitate the practice of epistemic justice at a global scale. The initiative seeks to sustain the commons character of all knowledge in a fair and equitable way. Developping plan The plan for building this community and platform involves several stages over multiple years. First, the “Bootstrap” phase will focus on preparing the technical infrastructure on Zenodo, engaging early adopters, establishing editorial boards and policies, identifying next onboarders, and initiating dissemination and communication efforts through various channels. This is being advanced tanks to a memorandum of understanding signed between EHC and the Belmont Forum, and to a presentation at the Sustanability Research and Innovation 2025 congress. Then, the “Scale” phase, involves developing a sustainability plan with diversified future funding sources, building capacity, implementing the scaling and adaptability plans (pilot-to-scale model), fostering community ownership, monitoring and evaluating progress through tracking impact metrics and using data and testimonials to demonstrate demand, onboarding new communities, and continuing dissemination. Following, the “Transition” phase, will review policies and structure, transition to a sustainable phase, and continue dissemination and communication efforts. On the long term, the vision is for EHC to carry the initiative forward, with distributed hosting of artifacts across territories and a common use and search engine in place. A project with an impact The anticipated results and specific impacts of this global repository are significant. First, it will connect the scattered transdisciplinary communities focused on sustainable development, enabling to create wider communities and engaging newcomers in the field, be they professional scientistst, association responsibles or local authorities. The repository is intended to tie this communities closer together. The platform will facilitate the use by non-scientists as it is not limited to scientific articles. Curation of the content, as well as the envisonned production of summaries accessible to all, with the help of artificial

Read this article published by Québec Science about the importance of participatory research
What is transdisciplinarity

Why is participatory research important? A view from Québec

/

In a Québec Science’s compelling article, discover how participatory research is transforming who gets to do science — and how it’s done. Read this article published by Québec Science about the importance of participatory research The excellent science magazine Québec Science a very interesting article, written by Sophie Mangado and published by . It is in French, but worth the read. Use your favorite translation tool or challenge your high school French if you have some! “What happens when science steps out of the lab and into communities?” ask this article.  From Indigenous knowledge holders to patients, farmers, and local citizens, non-scientists are actively shaping research questions, collecting data, and driving meaningful change. This piece highlights real-world examples from different parts of Québec, showing that when people outside academia get involved, science becomes more grounded, inclusive, and impactful. Whether you’re a researcher, policymaker, or community leader, this article offers a rich, thoughtful look at how participation improves both knowledge and outcomes. Some examples At the Université de Montréal, a participatory research project on rare genetic diseases involves patients and their families in shaping research priorities. Their input helps scientists understand not only the biological mechanisms, but also the day-to-day challenges of living with such conditions — resulting in more relevant and humane research outcomes. In Quebec, farmers are working directly with researchers to test sustainable practices in agriculture and soil conservation. Their on-the-ground expertise influences experimental design, ensuring that scientific solutions are practical, not just theoretical. Citizen science initiatives allow locals to help monitor biodiversity and water quality. Volunteers collect data on invasive species or pollution levels in rivers and forests, empowering communities to take part in environmental stewardship. In Indigenous-led collaborations, traditional ecological knowledge is recognized as co-equal with academic science. This is especially important in areas like land use, conservation, and climate adaptation. 👉 Read the article here: https://www.quebecscience.qc.ca/societe/recherche-participative-impliquer-non-scientifiques-etudes/ SUBSCRIBE TO OUR NEWSLETTER To stay up to date with our projects and the development of the EHC Read more articles

Scroll to Top