In a landmark convergence of intellect and governance, the World Laureates Summit (WLS) opens on Sunday in Dubai, gathering over 150 of the world's most eminent scientists, policymakers, and institutional leaders.

Convened alongside the 2026 World Governments Summit, this assembly aims to create direct links between foundational scientific discovery and the architecture of global governance.

Organized by the World Laureates Association (WLA), the three-day event centers on the theme "Basic Sciences: Scientific Consensus for Addressing the Challenges of Humanity." It brings together Nobel laureates, alongside winners of the Turing, Wolf, and Fields awards, with the explicit goal of grounding international policy in rigorous science.

From scientific insight to global action

A core objective of the summit is to translate abstract research into actionable frameworks for world leaders. In his opening remarks, UAE Minister of State for Artificial Intelligence Omar Sultan Al Olama emphasized the nation's belief in science as a primary driver for humanity's future.

"By bringing the world's leading scientists together with policymakers... we aim to translate scientific insight into action and ensure that global governance is guided by rigorous scientific thinking," he said.

This sentiment was echoed by Professor Roger D. Kornberg, chairman of the WLA and a recipient of the Nobel Prize in chemistry, who called the summit a "wake-up call."

"Global policy cannot move forward effectively without strong scientific foundations, and science itself cannot thrive without supportive political will," Kornberg asserted, praising the UAE's foresight in hosting this dialogue.

Launching a "Vision 2050 for a Scientific Civilization"

A key outcome of the summit is the release of the WLA's white paper, "Vision 2050 for a Scientific Civilization." This document outlines a long-term framework for a society where policy and progress are continuously examined and validated by scientific evidence, in response to rapid transformations in AI, energy, and health.

A comprehensive agenda for interdisciplinary dialogue

The summit's agenda is structured to foster deep, multidisciplinary collaboration across fields critical to the future. Day one features the opening ceremony and the Mobius Forum, with dedicated discussions on AI, transformational technologies, new energy, and scientific discovery. Day two will expand into nine specialized forums, including brain science, genomics, life sciences, physics, and the intersection of blockchain and science. On the third and final day, the forum culminates with the Young Scientists Forum and joint sessions with the World Governments Summit, facilitating direct dialogue between scientists and heads of state.

(Cover via VCG)