WHAT THE GLOBAL SOLUTIONS LAB IS

2022 Global Solutions Lab flyerStudents and young professionals from around the world* are coming to the 2023 Lab. They will be

  • Briefed by UN experts (from UN Habitat, UN Development Program, UN Environmental Program, Sustainable Development Solutions Network, WHO and other UN agencies),**

  • Develop comprehensive strategies for solving some of the world’s most critical problems, and then

  • Present their work at the UN in New York.

  • They will learn a powerful strategic design and planning methodology that will be of use for the rest of their life, as well

  • Learn about leadership, problem solving and design.

  • They will learn about global problems, options, technology, culture, resources and what they can do to make a difference.

  • They will meet others with similar passions about the state of the world—and what we can do to make things better.

Here is an overview of the 2021 Global Solutions Lab schedule. Many of the group sessions are listed. It will provide you with an idea or outline of what last year’s online Lab was like. This year’s Lab will be different. It is important to know that a great deal of the most important content in the Lab comes from the amazing participants from around the world and their differing perspectives, cultures, knowledge, and experiences. This resource is tapped into at the regular breakout, debriefing and Design Team sessions.

The Global Solutions Lab is where solutions to global and local problems
are developed—by you.

What Past Participants Say

Terrifically thought-provoking and honestly life changing.
2014 Lab Participant
Amazing experience worth any effort! Possibility of meeting great people from around the world, networking with UN officials and experts in their fields and— the best experience in my life!
2014 Lab Participant
Amazing. It was informative, challenging and full of amazing people. A lot of work, but totally worth it.
2014 Lab Participant
Great experience. I will treasure the friendships forged and people met more than anything else!
2014 Lab Participant
It was a great experience that allowed me to learn from people in countries all over the world and do in-depth research and to connect with the UN.
2014 Lab Participant
I was able to work with like-minded people to solve a world problem I am passionate about and then present my solution to key officials at the United Nations. It was an experience where I was able to meet new people from all over the world and form new bonds.
2014 Lab Participant
It creates an avenue for people of different geographical, cultural, religious backgrounds to share ideas on issues bothering the world.
2014 Lab Participant
Enlightening, fast-paced, interactive, career-building, meeting people with common goals, changing the world.
2014 Lab Participant

“The formulation of the problem is often more essential than its solution.”

—Albert Einstein

2012 GSL Group at the UN

Context

The global economy continues to sputter; the gap between the rich and poor continues to widen. Climate change continues unabated and the march of environmental and natural disasters has reached a new high. The unmet basic human needs . . . (Hover for more info)

What it means

of over a billion people, means that developing new designs that meet the word’s basic human needs while not destroying the environment is of critical importance to the survival and well being of Spaceship Earth and everyone on board. The Global Solutions Lab develops designs and strategies that addresses these real and present problems, envisions a global society where basic human needs are met, and develops a blueprint of what such a world would look like—and how we can get there.

2022 Focus

Almost 600 million people in Africa do not have access to electricity. More than a quarter of the world live in areas threatened by coastal flooding, and nearly all of humanity are threatened by the growing impacts of climate change. (Hover for more info)

Electrifying Africa, Climate Change, Food, Regenerative Cities and other topics:

How can the UN’s Sustainable Development Goals be achieved in ways that allow the environment and our changing climate to regenerate?  How can we work with, not against, natural systems to meet humanity’s sustainable needs for energy, food, and our urban environments be regenerative?

The Lab is not an academic exercise. Real-world solutions will be developed. Every effort will be made to get the most viable solutions implemented.

Read more about  Design Science here.

WHAT & WHERE

The 2023 Lab will take place in-person and on-line for 14 days from June 18–30. (Hover for more info)

Led by

Medard Gabel, author of six books on global energy and food, multinational corporations, strategic planning, global strategies for meeting the needs of everyone in the world, and who worked with Buckminster Fuller for over twelve years, directs the program.

LAB FORMAT & SCHEDULE

Day 1: World Game 2.0 global simulation puts you in charge of the world. Lab overview, orientation and state of the world. (Hover for more info)

LAB FORMAT & SCHEDULE

Day 2-6: Online briefings on global basic human need and economic issues, Sustainable Development Goals, strategic design, by UN experts and others . . .
Day 7–14:
Design and development of strategies for transforming global and local economies.
Day 13: Presentations of work to UN, corporate, philanthropic and NGO leaders.
Day 14: Wrap up and closing event.