Call for articles and podcasts for the 50th anniversary of the World Heritage Convention

In 2022, the World Heritage Convention marks its 50th anniversary. The 1154 natural and cultural heritage sites in over 160 countries are the testament to the universal appreciation and achievement of this groundbreaking legal framework, which was ignited by a joint call between Egypt and Sudan to save monuments under threat by a newly developed dam.

This landmark year comes at a watershed moment for conservation. The effects of climate change have been tangibly felt by sites around the world, while the increasing volume of tourism has put environmental and social pressure on the properties and surrounding communities alike. The COVID-19 pandemic has revealed the vulnerability of the heritage ecosystem in the face of sudden onset crisis, as demonstrated by the closure of 89% of World Heritage sites [In April 2020, UNESCO has found that 89% of World Heritage sites were partly or fully closed to visitors due to the pandemic. Learn more at https://whc.unesco.org/en/news/2099].

In this context, UNESCO will launch a year-long programme to galvanize profound reflections on the future of heritage titled “The Next 50: World Heritage as a source of resilience, humanity and innovation.” Events, campaigns, and initiatives will provide a space of conversation and exploration on the role of the World Heritage as well as non-listed heritage in the face of global challenges. Prominent thinkers and luminaries from diverse fields including science and social and human sciences will be invited to imagine World Heritage at its 100th anniversary.

Objective

Throughout the anniversary year, UNESCO will launch various mechanisms conducive to new ideas, knowledge and research around inscribed and non-inscribed heritage sites and its ecosystem. As part of this effort, UNESCO partners with The Conversation to commission articles and podcasts in key thematic areas.

Throughout the anniversary year, UNESCO will launch various mechanisms conducive to new ideas, knowledge and research around inscribed and non-inscribed heritage sites and its ecosystem. As part of this effort, UNESCO partners with The Conversation to commission articles and podcasts in key thematic areas.

The Conversation is a non-profit online media platform specialized in the publication of data-driven articles authored by researchers and experts, with the aim to enrich public debate and ultimately influence policies. With 200 million articles read per month by the public and researchers – 70% and 30% of the readership respectively – it serves as an online meeting place and a knowledge hub for citizens, scientists and policymakers alike. All articles are under Creative Commons license, which enables redistribution of articles via approximately 22,000 sites and allows for democratic access to quality, data-driven information for citizens around the world – a value fully complementary to UNESCO’s commitment to and promotion of Open Access [UNESCO promotes and supports Open Access — the online availability of scholarly information to everyone, free of most licensing and copyright barriers — for the benefit of global knowledge flow, innovation and socio-economic development. Learn more at http://www.unesco.org/new/en/communication-and-information/access-to-knowledge/open-access-to-scientific-information/].

Converging the Organization’s leadership in heritage and The Conversation’s reach and media expertise, this partnership provides a global platform for scientists and experts whose work has made a significant contribution to the protection of natural and cultural heritage over the years while inviting the larger research community to join the global reflection.

Through this inclusive approach, UNESCO aims to spark inter-disciplinary, cutting-edge, thought-provoking discussions from the global research community and citizens, ultimately crowdsourcing a vision for the next 50 years of World Heritage and heritage at large.

Details: https://whc.unesco.org/en/news/2363