Roots of Peace
- Embracing Our Shared Future -
As 2025 marks eighty years since the end of World War II, 2026 becomes a crucial year to ask how humanity can transform the lessons of that war into concrete steps toward lasting peace. The twentieth century showed that peace is not just the absence of war; it has roots in justice, empathy, inclusion, and trust carefully built over generations.
Today, polarization, misinformation, and widening disparities threaten our ability to live together. Climate crises, unequal economies, fragile mental health, and growing risks in digital spaces all signal the need to re‑examine where peace truly begins. When we look beneath conflict and division, we discover deep “roots” that still connect us: a shared longing for dignity in work, a sense of belonging for every person, honesty and trust in our relationships, and genuine cooperation across cultures. These aspirations are not just ideals—they are the very starting points, the living triggers, from which real peace can grow.
This year’s International Student Conference invites young pioneers to rediscover and strengthen these roots by learning from the past, championing rights and wellbeing in the present, and building resilience in every sphere from environment and economy to education and technology. Through dialogue, innovation, and collective action, we aim to plant and nurture the conditions in which peace can take root and endure. “Embracing Our Shared Future” means recognizing the interconnections between people and nations, rebuilding trust, and cultivating the hope that peace can be made real—not just remembered as history, but lived as our legacy.
ISC 72 TABLE TOPICS
T1
Indigenous wisdom and youth involvement to
build resilient climate action and biodiversity protection
How can the convergence of Indigenous knowledge systems and youth-led environmental activism create more effective, just, and resilient strategies for global climate action and biodiversity protection?
Table Description
This table explores the crucial synergy between Indigenous wisdom and youth involvement as foundational elements for a peaceful and sustainable future. Indigenous communities possess profound ecological knowledge regarding biodiversity stewardship. Simultaneously, youth involvement is driving urgent and innovative pressure for policy change. Discussions should center on how to practically decolonize conservation efforts by integrating traditional ecological knowledge (TEK) into mainstream climate science and policy. Participants should analyze the specific roles youth can play in advocating for and implementing TEK-informed solutions, exploring challenges such as knowledge transfer and ensuring equitable partnerships. The goal is to identify concrete frameworks for inclusive governance in environmental decision-making that honor both ancient roots and future imperatives to secure our shared ecological future.
Keywords
Indigenous Knowledge Systems, Youth Climate Activism; Biodiversity Protection; Climate Justice.
Field
Environment (Climate Action, Biodiversity Conservation, Indigenous Rights, Youth Leadership)
Building the Foundation of Peace Through Inclusive and Sustainable Entrepreneurship for the Next Generation
T2
How can policy shape the next generation that fosters economic growth that is truly sustainable, where businesses thrive, and people are empowered through inclusive entrepreneurship?
Table Description
The growing role of youth as a key person of a new economic paradigm through sustainable and impact-oriented entrepreneurship needs more urgency. It explores how the young generation is developing business models that move beyond profit maximization toward shared value creation, integrating economic viability, social inclusion, and environmental sustainability. The discussion will address how youth-led enterprises can generate decent employment, strengthen local value chains, and expand economic opportunities for marginalized groups. Special attention will be given to enterprises operating in sectors such as education, digital inclusion, and community-based services, where entrepreneurship directly contributes to sustainable development outcomes. By highlighting best practices, policy innovations, and cross-sector collaboration, this session aims to identify how youth entrepreneurship can become a long-term driver of resilient economic growth that ensures no community or future generation is left behind.
Keywords
Youth entrepreneurship, sustainable business, inclusive growth, impact economy, social enterprise
Field
Economy (Sustainable Economy, Entrepreneurship, Youth Development)
T3
Different Minds, Different Futures
Neurodiversity as the Roots of
Innovation and Peace
How can organizations unlock the untapped potential of neurodivergent minds, transforming workplaces into spaces where different thinking styles drive innovation, creativity, and human flourishing?
Table Description
Neurodivergent people, such as those with autism, ADHD, or dyslexia, have different ways of processing information and seeing the world. This is about different brain wiring, not an illness, and it is distinct from mental health conditions like depression, even though a person can experience both. These different minds can spot patterns and solutions others miss, yet many hide their neurodivergence at work because they fear stigma, leading to stress, burnout, and lost potential. When workplaces offer clear communication, flexible options, and environments that respect different needs, neurodivergent people can feel accepted and at peace. This topic explores how valuing diverse ways of thinking can become a root of both personal well-being and organizational innovation, shaping a shared future where all minds are genuinely respected.
Keywords
Neurodiversity as strength, creative thinking, pattern recognition, problem-solving diversity, workplace innovation, psychological safety, cognitive inclusion, masking and authenticity, neurodivergent entrepreneurs, future-ready organizations, human flourishing, inclusive design
Field
Industry/Innovation
Women’s Representation and the Next Chapter of Holistic Government
T4
Beyond numerical targets, how must political systems fundamentally transform their structures, cultures, and policy agendas to ensure meaningful women's representation that actively fosters sustainable peace?
Table Description
This table investigates the critical intersection of women's political representation and the creation of lasting peace through holistic governance. The focus must shift to ensuring their participation translates into substantive policy impact that benefits all of society. Discussion should move beyond quotas to examine the deep-seated political and cultural barriers that perpetuate gender inequality within governance structures, e.g., political party, local parliament, executive (not only the central parliament). Participants should analyze global case studies to determine how the increased presence of women in leadership positions impacts policy areas critical to peace. The goal is to develop concrete recommendations for institutional reforms and accountability mechanisms that solidify the roots of a truly gender-responsive, equitable, and resilient state.
Keywords
women’s political representation, gender equality in governance, inclusive political leadership, gender-responsive policy, structural barriers in politics, political empowerment of women, gender-inclusive institutions, leadership diversity, feminist governance, policy impact of women leaders, democratic inclusion, equitable governance systems
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Field
Politics, Gender Equality
T5
Learning from Conflict- Historical Lessons for Future Peace
How can we learn from WWII and past conflicts to build dialogue and diplomacy that prevents misunderstanding between people, cultures, and nations?
Table Description
World War II shows how quickly fear, prejudice, and broken communication can grow into large-scale violence. Today, we again see political polarization, cultural tension, and misinformation harming trust between people. This topic invites participants to first choose their focus, like people, nations, or cultures, and then explore how misunderstandings arise in that context. By studying past conflicts, we learn to recognize early warning signs, listen more deeply, and use dialogue and diplomacy to bridge divides. In doing so, we turn historical lessons into tools for building a future of coexistence and mutual understanding.
Keywords
WWII lessons, conflict prevention, dialogue, diplomacy, intercultural understanding, polarization prevention, historical learning, reconciliation, peacebuilding, empathy
Field
Education/Peace Studies
T6
Digital Peace and Safety - Protecting Humanity from AI-Generated Deepfakes, Hate, and Exploitation
How can we protect human dignity and digital safety as AI reshapes information, truth, and human connection?
Table Description
More and more of our lives happen online, where we form opinions, relationships, and identities. At the same time, AI now makes it easier to create deepfakes, spread hate, and exploit vulnerable people. When we cannot trust what we see or feel safe being ourselves, conflict and fear grow. This topic looks at how we can build safer digital spaces through tools to detect fake content, stricter rules for platforms, and responsible use of AI. By protecting truth and dignity online, we support a shared future where technology helps people connect peacefully instead of causing harm.
Keywords
AI deepfakes, digital safety, online hate, human dignity, digital trust, content verification, platform accountability, ethical AI, digital protection, misinformation prevention.
Field
Technology/AI ethics