ABOUT THE EQUINOX SUMMITS

Every two years, the Waterloo Global Science Initiative (WGSI) presents a highly focused international conference, known as an Equinox Summit. This gathering brings together experts from various fields, countries, and age groups to discuss an issue of global importance.

Through a series of working sessions, participants look several decades into the future to explore the contributions that science and technology can make to major transformation in the years ahead.

Each Equinox Summit presents a series of ‘exemplar pathways’ – encompassing social, economic and policy considerations – aimed at at informing, advising and inspiring science and technology influencers, industry leaders and governments globally.

FORMAT

Working sessions

At the core of each Equinox Summit is three to four days of in-camera working sessions. These sessions involve a quorum of scientific experts, a team of advisors from various backgrounds, a forum of young future leaders, and several implanted journalists. Through their interdisciplinary, multinational, and multigenerational collaboration, participants will draft exemplar pathways for what must be done to accelerate progress in the future.

Public programming

To share the ideas and scientific considerations of each Equinox Summit more widely, each conference offers many events for the general public. These events include engaging plenary mini-talks, panel discussions, and public lectures – all available in person and streamed live on WGSI’s website.

Participants

1. The Quorum consists of a panel of scientific experts representing different approaches to the issue at hand. They present and debate their visions for exemplar pathways to the larger group.
2. A Forum of international young future leaders in public policy, industry, and civil society interacts with the Quorum during the working sessions and observes how scientific progress can contribute to policy debate. The Forum examines the Quorum’s findings and proposes their recommendations for implementing the ideas proposed.
3. A panel of Advisors – public policy experts, investors, and entrepreneurs who are experienced in political and economic aspects of the issue – advises the Quorum and Forum on how to accelerate the research and implementations of their recommended pathways.
4. Journalists from related backgrounds contribute to the discussions with their perspective on the issue, participating under Chatham House Rule.

OUTCOMES

Each Equinox Summit concludes with the presentation of the participants’ preliminary findings to a group of policymakers, science and technology influencers, and media. In the months that follow, all dialogue and insight shared during the Equinox Summit is shaped into a ‘living blueprint’ document.

The ‘living blueprint’ from each Equinox Summit focuses on how science and technology can contribute to the challenges faced, while offering practical, real-world solutions based on the latest scientific thinking. Through presenting ‘exemplar pathways’, the blueprint offers recommendations for investment and focus, and for the coordination of national and international scientific efforts to help address the issue in a meaningful way.

Each Equinox Summit also acts as a launching pad for a global impact phase, aimed at fostering the recommendations shared in the blueprint. Forum members are encouraged to take the findings back to their regional and national communities to develop positive impact projects, continue collaborations, and create a better future.

EQUINOX SUMMIT TOPICS

In June 2011, the inaugural Equinox Summit: Energy 2030 brought together scientists, policy experts, entrepreneurs, and young leaders to help reinvigorate the global energy dialogue. Participants focused on the generation, distribution, and storage of electricity. Read more about their findings in the Equinox Blueprint: Energy 2030.

From September 29 – October 3, 2013, WGSI explores the necessary pathways for developing and supporting a global community of scientific thinkers with the Equinox Summit: Learning 2030. More information to be shared soon.