Thematic Approach

Our civilization thrives due to our overwhelming thirst for knowledge and advancement. In our quest to evolve, we explore the unknown, discover new paths to knowledge and implement new methods of learning and teaching. 

The international conference organized by GIRES, the Global Institute for Research, Education and Scholarship, based in Amsterdam, the Netherlands, will explore the trajectory of knowledge, will try to understand its mechanisms and through that we will meet the  pioneers. We will also explore their great ideas and the projects that have offered new perspectives to our civilization. We will delve into the unique personalities, the political and cultural needs, and the philosophical and economic circumstances that pushed our civilization forward.

From Aristotle and Hawking to Archimedes and Dostoyevski and from Mozart and DaVinci to Gandhi and Confucius our history teems with examples of personalities that defied limitations and paved new paths for the evolution of our civilization. Ideas and people from politics, literature, the sciences, music, art, and law are only some of the approaches we wish to explore in order to define our past and contemplate our future. Who are they and how well do we value their contribution? What is the role of education and how the libraries and archives help in the  dissemination of knowledge? Which personalities, ideas and projects were lost to oblivion and how well do we value and utilize their contributions? How are they depicted in art and literature? 

We hope to generate conversation on this topic through the exploration of literature, science, law, history, music and philosophy and understand how the social, political and cultural circumstances either supported or diminished innovative and ideas and pioneering minds.

Proposed Topics

• Projects that changed world history 
• Pioneers  in Literature, Science, Politics and Culture 
• Psychological and Philosophical approaches 
• Pioneering as political action
• Geopolitics in the quest of knowledge
• Preservation and dissemination of knowledge: perspectives, limitations and censorship 
• Theology: role and actions in the advancement of  knowledge 
• Technology and methods of expanding knowledge 

Proposed Formats (Lingua franca: English)

-Individually submitted papers (organized into panels by the GIRES committee)

-Panels (3-4 individual papers)

-Roundtable discussions (led by one of the presenters)

-Workshops and Simulation Activities

-Forms of art connected to the conference topic

Our proposed topics & formats are not restrictive and we invite additional germane ideas

Due to the restrictions of Corona Crisis our event (for the time being) will take place virtually