Here you will find information to better understand the Institute, the spirit that drives it, and the writings that mark and inspire the fulfillment of its mission.
Conferences – Video
“The Robustness of Living Systems and Human Societies” – Mathilde Simon
Mathilde Simon draws on the robustness of plants—rooted in adaptation, redundancy, and plasticity—to propose an alternative model to the pursuit of performance. She invites us to rethink our societies toward greater sustainability, particularly in our relationship with time and resources. Wild foraging provides a concrete illustration of this approach, grounded in attentiveness to ecosystems, adaptation to natural cycles, and a sensitive relationship with living beings, opening the way to a form of ecospirituality.
University of Geneva, May 19, 2026.
Interviews – Video
A question for Mathilde Simon
What does the robustness of living systems mean?
Mathilde Simon, PhD in biology and ethnobotanist, answers…
Brochures – Publication
Institute À Ciel Ouvert Presentation Brochure
Discover the brochure of Institut À Ciel Ouvert – Science & Spirituality, a Swiss foundation dedicated to fostering interdisciplinary dialogue between the natural sciences, the humanities, and metaphysical reflection. Through its research activities, teaching programs, and public events, the Institute explores major questions related to the origin of life, the Universe, consciousness, time, and humanity’s place within the living world. An invitation to rethink the connections between science, philosophy, and spirituality.
Conferences – Video
Conference “Beyond the Anthropocene?” – Anne Fremaux
Anne Fremaux examines what it truly means to move beyond the Anthropocene, through a profound questioning of our relationship with living beings and the Earth. She explores the need to rethink our institutions, our economies, and our ways of “living well,” opening the path toward a form of green republicanism that reconciles freedom, ecological justice, and responsibility toward future generations. An invitation to imagine a post-capitalist future as a condition for a fully meaningful life.
University of Geneva, March 17, 2026.
Interviews – Video
A question for Anne Fremaux
What form of freedom should we promote in order to preserve the conditions that make the Earth habitable?
Anne Fremaux, a philosophy agrégée and doctor in political ecology, answers this question…