Come to the inaugural Bridging Futures lecture

The BRIDGES International Programme Office warmly invites everyone to join for a special day of programming on Wednesday, 16 July 2025, as part of the UNESCO-MOST BRIDGES Coalition’s gathering, at the Dylan Thomas Centre, Swansea, Wales. While the full event spans two days, this invitation is specifically for friends, partners, and wider community to participate in a day of events on the 16^th, culminating in the inaugural Bridging Futures Distinguished Public Lecture.

Let join for this day of shared learning, cultural exchange, and visionary dialogue. The day offers a rich and inspiring programme designed to highlight the voices, contributions and connections that make BRIDGES such a vibrant global community.

Programme Overview

• Showcase of Contributions from BRIDGES hubs and coalition partners, including innovations, impact stories, and collaborative projects
• Presentation of UNESCO’s Publication on the social impacts of climate policy
• High-Level Roundtable featuring global thought leaders in sustainability
• Cultural Activities & Interactive Sessions, including an address from the Kogi Indigenous Community (Colombia)
• Strategic Dialogue on shaping BRIDGES 2025–2028
• Intergenerational Conversation on co-creating pathways to flourishing futures
• Keynote Address on building bridges to better futures

From the Terror of War to Reconciliation and Care

The Inaugural Bridging Futures Distinguished Public Lecture will be given by UNESCO Goodwill Ambassador and global peace advocate Phan Thị Kim Phúc (Kim). As a child, Kim was the subject of one of the most iconic and haunting photographs of war in the late 20^th century, The Terror of War, by Vietnamese-American photographer Nick Ut. The Pulitzer Prize-winning image captured 9-year-old Kim fleeing with her family from a napalm attack on civilians outside a temple in Trang Bàng, Vietnam. Since then, she has devoted her life to peace, reconciliation, and advocacy for victims of war. Her message carries urgency and resonance in today’s troubled world and vital lessons for the future.

You can view a short film about the photograph that changed the Vietnam war (note that the film contains very distressing images and may not be suitable for all viewers).

The Bridging Futures lecture is co-sponsored by the UNESCO-MOST BRIDGES Coalition, the Office of the Future Generations Commissioner for Wales, the University of Wales Trinity Saint David, and Arizona State University, Julie Ann Wrigley, Global Institute of Sustainability.

Lunch and refreshments are included. The Dylan Thomas bar will be open after the lecture until 9pm providing an opportunity for informal dialogue and celebration of our shared work.

Places are limited so please RSVP here.