AGM 2019: International Conference and Anniversary Annual General Meeting of the Global Young Academy

Re-Enlightenment? Truth, reason and science in a global world –

The Annual General Meeting (AGM) is the main forum for GYA members from across the world to communicate, exchange ideas, enter into collaborative projects, and meet the GYA’s international partners. The meeting is combined with an International Conference, which facilitates interdisciplinary debate around a theme of global relevance.

The GYA Anniversary International Conference of Young Scientists and Annual General Meeting, celebrating the onset of the 10th year of the GYA, will be held from 29 April to 3 May 2019 in Halle (Saale), Germany. The public days of this event are 1 – 3 May 2019. The theme of the conference is: ‘Re-Enlightenment? Truth, reason and science in a global world.’

The historical Enlightenment movement – beginning in the early 18th century and spreading across the world – promoted reason, liberty and tolerance, while fighting ignorance and superstition. The movement also popularized science as a tool for enhancing human development and societal progress. Today, increasing international cooperation, international institutions and global scientific cooperation, which work towards global goals based on universal values, can be seen as an advancement of Enlightenment ideals, including those of critical thinking, freedom of thought and scientific achievement. At the same time, this progress is juxtaposed to current trends of science denial and push back against closer international collaboration.

As a global organization, which aims to empower early to mid-career researchers to lead international, interdisciplinary, and intergenerational dialogue, the GYA welcomes a debate about re-enlightenment: framed around reflection on the role and limits of science in today’s globalized society and in solving its problems.

The conference will take place at the German National Academy of Sciences Leopoldina. Further programme and registration details will be provided closer to the conference date.