On June 14, 2024, the National Project Management Forum 2024, organized by the Project Management Insitute Central Italy Chapter (PMI-CIC), brought together more than 600 project professionals in Rome to discuss, improve and foster the methodologies and principles of the Project Management Institute (PMI), a leading authority in this field, from different perspective.
Lucila Dotto, Europe Head of Community, PMI, invited Serena Montefusco, Assistant Project and Communication Manager of the UNESCO Chair in Bioethics and Human Rights, to share her approach to the project management on social inclusion and human rights, emphasizing synergies with some of the principles of the Project Management Institute.
Tell us more about you.
My name is Serena Montefusco, I am currently working at the UNESCO Chair in Bioethics and Human Rights – Faculty of Bioethics, which is affiliated with both the Pontifical Atheneum Regina Apostolorum and the European University of Rome. I have obtained the PMI certification “Certified Associate in Project Management (CAPM)”; since 2018, I have been a member of PMI Central Italy Chapter and a volunteer at the Editorial Committee.
How your purpose relates to PMI’s purpose? My purpose is to use project management skills to promote social inclusion. PMI aims to empower individuals and organizations to achieve their goals through effective project management. By focusing on social inclusion, I seek to ensure that diverse communities benefit from well-managed projects, thereby fostering equity and accessibility. This shared commitment to applying project management principles for positive societal impact reflects a common dedication to creating a more inclusive and equitable world.
What brought you to the PM profession and to PMI? In 2017, when I started working on projects related to raising awareness relating to human rights and improving social inclusion, I realized that I needed to improve my project management skills as well. I discovered that PMI is the leading authority on project management and is the most reputable organization in the field.
How your purpose relates to PMI’s purpose? My purpose aligns with PMI’s purpose considering three main principles that we have in common: 1) being welcoming and focused on the needs of project professionals; 2) commitment to lifelong learning and continuous skill development. I believe in the importance of continuous education and skill enhancement to stay relevant and effective in this ever-evolving field. 3) aim to utilize AI effectively and responsibly considering the ethical and sustainable aspects of it.
By adhering also to these principles, at the UNESCO Chair in Bioethics and Human Rights we work towards a common goal of advancing project management while fostering a more inclusive and ethical world.
A number of members of the Faculty of Bioethics and UNESCO Chair in Bioethics and Human Rights, including Dean Prof. Alberto Garcia, Prof. P. Joseph Tham, full professor, and Ana Maria Ganev PhD candidate and #unescobiochair research assistant, participated in the 12th “International Conference on Education in Ethics” held in Mexico City, Mexico on June 19, 2024. The conference was sponsored by the UNESCO Chair in Bieothics and Human Rights, the Centro Anahuac de Desarrollo Estrategico en Bioethics, and the International Association for Education in Ethics.
Alberto García Gómez – Bioaesthetics as an educational strategy
In contemporary culture, which is inclined to graphic and digital communication and to emotional and sensitive experiences, proposing the approach to the universal values and principles of bioethics, through the universal language of art, seems to be an innovative and effective way to educate in bioethics.
Once the foundation and relationship between the good and the beauty is identified, the principles and values of global bioethics and its convergences with personalist bioethics (bioaesthetics) might be analyzed through artistic and aesthetic experience and stimulates designing of new strategies and the realization of pedagogical proposals for education in bioethics, through artistic resources.
Study the relationship and interaction between bioethics and art and the impact of art in human behavior is part of Bioaesthetics aiming to inspire lovers of the arts to appreciate universal artistic language as a possibility for the expression of moral values and ethical principles, with respect for human dignity and human rights, in a globalized and multicultural world. Appreciation and dissemination of this transformative power of the arts in educating in bioethics and its influence on culture, might be an effective tool to inspire and educate ethical biomedical research, clinical ethics, as well as environmental ethics being the main areas of bioethics.
Joseph Tham – Polarization of COVID Vaccines, Analysis and Group Actvities
This lecture was given in the 21st Summer Course Program on “Dialogue, Friendship, and Polarization Bioethics” by the Faculty of Bioethics in 2023. The one-day session focused on the debates on COVID-19 vaccines. We analyzed the SAGE Report (WHO 2014) on vaccine hesitancy, which listed the main cause of polarzation related to trust: Trust in the government, science, pharmaceutical companies, and the new vaccines, and the sources of information related to peer groups and social media. The polarization is less of a problem of lack of information than social identity, sometimes worsened by the echo chamber effect.
In the group activities, students were asked to examine different elements of trust crucial in vaccine hesitancy during COVID-19. The three activities were: 1) compare how the SAGE report coincides with the pandemic of ID 19. 2) The role of social media and fake news. 3) The place of vaccine mandates. The different groups proposed ways of minimizing vaccine hesitancy and polarization in future pandemics by bolstering trust to the rest of the class. The paper and the presentation will look at some these findings and propose how group activities might enhance ethics education.
Ana Maria Ganev – “Morality pills” for Moral Enhancement (psychedelics)
Up until now, moral progress, and in part ethics education, was molded by culture and religion, specifically through “literary morality pills”, such as proverbs, parables and fables, deemed as safe and effective tools for moral enhancement. These literary devices are all forms of condensed philosophy or wisdom aimed at shaping the moral character of the listeners. Nevertheless, such cognitive aids may not be enough for achieving effective and long-lasting moral improvements. Thus, a “chemical morality pill”, particularly psilocybin (the active ingredient of “magic mushrooms”), is currently viewed as a real and tangible biochemical tool for moral enhancement.
Psilocybin, the active ingredient in so-called “magic mushrooms,” appears to occasion profound spiritual experiences and enduring positive personality changes for many users. A growing body of evidence suggests that psilocybin can increase openness, connectedness to others, and nature relatedness. It may reduce authoritarian attitudes and prejudice. By catalyzing mystical states and reshaping personality, psilocybin could help cultivate virtues like empathy, compassion, and ecological concern. Thus this natural psychoactive substance may represent a powerful moral enhancer. However, psilocybin is not a quick fix or magic bullet for moral improvement. Any program of ethical betterment requires sustained effort across multiple fronts. But used judiciously under professional supervision, psilocybin could perhaps give some individuals access to life-changing spiritual insights and moral clarity. It may serve as a catalyst or supplement to advance moral development already being fostered through ethical instruction, contemplative practices, therapy, and life experience. In this way, the best of ancient wisdom and modern science can work together: literary morality pills providing the cognitive content, psilocybin providing a biochemical catalyst.
This paper explores and seeks to understand if and how psilocybin, one of the main psychedelic substances, may represent a viable option for assisting moral enhancement and be considered as a “supplement” for achieving moral progress in a harmoniously integrated way alongside traditional moral education and psychotherapy.
On May 23-24, Humanity 2.0 invited a diverse group of academic, corporate and religious partners from around the world to gather at the Pontifical Academy of Sciences in the Vatican to participate in the 2024 Human Flourishing Forum.
Humanity 2.0 is a non-profit organization that is passionate about creating a world in which every individual has the opportunity to flourish. As a panelist for the “Tech Frontiers – Beyond the Doom and Boom Binary” panel, Assistant Professor in Bioethics and UNESCO Chair Research Scholar, Prof. Fr. Michael Baggot, LC, gave a captivating speech in which he explored the future of our society as it intertwines with AI. In Prof. Fr. Baggot’s presentation, he delved into the relationship between the concepts of “doom and boom”, highlighting the importance of recognizing both perspectives as we experience in AI one of the most rapid technological revolutions in history. Prof. Fr. Baggot emphasized that it is essential for our society to understand the ethical implications of AI, and the harmful aspects that it may introduce into our world. For example, he cautioned about the dangers of political manipulation through disinformation and deep fakes, and also highlighted the risks of exploiting human vulnerability for economic gain through artificial intimacy platforms. However, Prof. Fr. Baggot maintains a deep hope for humanity to engage in the ethical use of AI in a manner that helps us achieve the goals of global human flourishing. He provided examples of the benefits of AI in the areas of assisting in complex medical diagnosis and for educational purposes such as online tutoring and translation platforms.
In summary, the 2024 Human Flourishing Forum provided a realistic check on the state of the world, as we work collectively to promote human flourishing to establish a brighter future. Furthermore, the Forum developed a theoretical framework for professionals and specialists to collaborate and engage with each other in their respective areas of expertise. In order to develop a future in which all humans across the world can flourish, cross sectional collaboration is necessary. Flourishing is for everyone, and by everyone.
On June 10-12, the Expanded Reason Institute invited academics from around the world to the Francisco de Vitoria University in Madrid to participate in the 2024 Integral Ecology Congress.
Inspired by Pope Francis’s famous encyclical, Laudato Si, the Integral Ecology Congress sought to explore an all-encompassing vision of ecology and its connection to diverse sectors such as the environment, the economy and our society. As the 21st Century experiences an anthropological and ecological crisis, it is necessary to address these challenges through a multidisciplinary approach.
On the first day of the congress, Professor Lílian Santos, Research Scholar at UNESCO Chair in Bioethics and Human Rights and Professor of Bioethics at Regina Apostolorum, delivered a presentation exploring gene editing and theology from an expanded perspective. She discussed expanded reason themes from a dual perspective. Specifically, she examined how the global governance of genome editing can be challenged by the ideas of Laudato Si, and conversely explored how Laudato Si can be inspired by genetic knowledge and the possibilities that exist within the field of gene editing. Furthermore, Professor Santos highlighted a number of issues in gene editing that are not covered in the encyclical, such as the de-extinction of some species, the use of gene drives in disease-transmitting species, gene editing in animals for transplantation, advances in hybrids and chimeras, and the rise of biohackers. Overall, Professor Santos’ presentation on expanded reason encouraged both the sectors of gene editing and theology to consider new realities, bringing collaborative approaches to the table.
By Serena Montefusco, UNESCO Chair Project and Communication Management.
Last May 30, at the Faculty of Economics of the Sapienza University of Rome, Prof. Don Simone Caleffi, Professor at LUMSA University and editor of the Religion editorial staff of Osservatore Romano of the Communication Dicastery, gave a Lectio Magistralis as part of the II module of the Enterprise Communication Management Course taught by Prof. Glauco Galati. For the students in the course, it was a unique opportunity to explore the topic of interreligious dialogue, specifically between Christians and Muslims, and aspects of digital communication. The aspect that we most want to analyze below concerns the evolution of interreligious dialogue among various religious traditions.
As Prof. Don Caleffi suggests, interreligious dialogue between Christianity and Islam has evolved significantly throughout history, with highlights such as the meeting between St. Francis of Assisi and Sultan Malik al-Kamil in 1219, and the important Document on Human Brotherhood for World Peace and Common Coexistence, signed by Pope Francis and the Grand Imam of al-Azhar in Abu Dhabi. This document condemns violence and terrorism, promoting dialogue and cooperation between the two religions. Other documents that cannot be overlooked when speaking of Interreligious Dialogue are the Pope Francis’ Encyclicals Laudato Si’ and Fratelli Tutti, signed in Assisi. “The absence of sincere dialogue in our public culture makes it increasingly difficult to generate a shared horizon toward which we can all move forward together. The shared horizon indicates the hope-filled direction to be able to set up the ‘common house of creation’ in a favorable way and for the good of all people, starting from a positive vision of the person, from an anthropology rooted in faith in God the Creator (cf. Laudato si’, no. 13).” Prof. Don. Caleffi goes on to emphasize that divisions and conflicts are contrary to the message of religions and, in particular, to God’s will. He continues by specifying that “a particularly strong signal from Brothers All is surely his reference to his meeting with Grand Imam Ahmad Al-Tayyeb in Abu Dhabi in 2019 and the Document on Human Brotherhood for World Peace and Common Coexistence. With this reference, Pope Francis emphasizes once again that religions should not serve to divide and strengthen ideologies, but should all be at the service of the one human family, and he clearly rejects all fundamentalist attempts to instrumentalize religion for their own ends.”
In his 2020 Encyclical, Brothers All, Pope Francis highlights the many social problems of contemporary times, which could be characterized by the absence of social purpose and selfish indifference to the common good. However, the Holy Father also offers a message of hope and suggests that the world should come together through renewed dialogue and friendship. The last chapter of the encyclical examines the role of religions in promoting fraternity instead of polarization. The Encyclical was the inspiration for the international conference entitled “Responses to Fratelli Tutti from Different Religious Traditions” that the UNESCO Chair in Bioethics and Human Rights organized May 22-25, 2025 between Rome and Assisi, with the motive of bringing speakers together from six traditions-Christian Orthodoxy, Judaism, Islam, Confucianism, Hinduism, and Buddhism-into dialogue, offering commentary on chapters 5-8. These chapters make a more practical proposition about how political, social and religious groups can encourage a greater sense of fraternity and solidarity in our globalized reality. However, despite the challenges, the importance of persevering interreligious dialogue as a means of promoting peace and mutual understanding is paramount.
Bringing together experts from different religions creates a rare space for dialogue characterized by an atmosphere of friendship and respect. These meetings allow us to see the other as a brother or sister in our common humanity. In an increasingly globalized world, this is of paramount importance and can help eliminate suspicions that sometimes cause distrust and even violence. In order to maintain an open dialogue based on brotherhood and respect, the UNESCO Chair is preparing for the upcoming meeting “An Interreligious and Multicultural Perspective on The Nature of Medicine and the Role of Physicians” to be held at the University Francisco de Vitoria, Madrid from December 17 to 19, 2024.
The UNESCO Chair in Bioethics and Human Rights, established at the Pontifical Athenaeum Regina Apostolorum and The European University of Rome, through the project “Bioethics, Multiculturalism and Religion,” aims to promote the art of convergence and cooperation in global ethics among bioethics experts from the world’s religions, including Buddhism, Christianity, Catholic and Orthodox, Confucianism, Hinduism, Islam, Judaism and the secular perspective. The international conferences are a first step toward creating a permanent academic forum to promote bioethics dialogue and reflection in light of human rights and duties addressed from diverse religious and cultural perspectives in the ever-changing medical, legal and technological environment. Nine international conferences and workshops have been held in Jerusalem (2009), Rome (2011), Hong Kong (2013), Mexico City (2014), Houston (2016), Rome (2018), Casablanca (2019), Bangkok (2022), and Rome (2023). According to UNESCO, it is the most multicultural and interfaith academic bioethics meeting in the world, offering important benefits to experts and institutions in the field of bioethics.
