40 Trees of Geneva Through the Seasons

Filippo Grandi, former UN High Commissioner for Refugees, reflects on the future of humanitarian action amid protracted conflicts, mass displacement, shrinking access and shifting geopolitics. Joined in conversation by Minhua Ling, Associate Professor at the Geneva Graduate Institute, and students Suraya Yosufi and Jennifer Siaw, he examines how humanitarian principles can be upheld while adapting to new challenges. The discussion is introduced by Marie‑Laure Salles and Leo Colonnello.

In English.

Stefano Fiorin (Bocconi University) presents experimental research examining how visible religious identity—women’s headscarves and men’s Islamic beards—affects labor market outcomes in Indonesia. Using a large job portal and incentivized resume rating experiments with employers and job seekers, the study finds that displaying religious symbols reduces employer ratings and interview probability, with similar penalties for headscarves and beards. It also reveals employers’ biased trait assessments and job seekers’ limited awareness of these penalties.

In English.

Peter Maurer, President of the Basel Institute on Governance; Claude Bruderlein (Harvard University); and Karin Voodla (Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Estonia) join a panel moderated by Jérôme Duberry, Director of Tech Hub. The discussion explores how artificial intelligence is reshaping diplomatic practices, institutional capacities and global cooperation. Speakers examine opportunities for data-driven analysis and policy support, alongside risks such as overreliance, erosion of human judgement and challenges to building trust. The session investigates institutional readiness and governance responses to ensure responsible, human-centred use of AI.

In English.