M. Thomas EGLI, who, since 1992, developed a series of innovations, tools, and organizational concepts that led to the creation of the NGO Objectif Sciences International, stepped down from his role as President of the association on August 10, 2018.

This departure from the President’s role is intended to fully complete the creation of the NGO, Mr. EGLI explains. Indeed, to date, all other functions within the organization have been subject to modeling and experience compilation; in other words, they have received their “Proof of Concept”. The time has now come to proceed with the same professionalization step for the President’s position.

This international NGO, with Consultative Status at the UN (ECOSOC), has been active since 1992 and has operated on all continents since 2008. Each year, it creates new jobs, reaches more target audiences, and establishes contracts, partnerships, “memorandums of understanding,” or signs important Charters (National Citizen Science Charters, Responsible and Sustainable Tourism Charter, etc.) with numerous organizations. Many of the opportunities offered by Objectif Sciences International in Citizen Science and Scientific Travel were pioneering before these fields gained widespread recognition, and these offerings have since become highly impactful.

The Objectif Sciences International platform is not only Royalty-Free (the techniques you learn from OSI can be freely reused as long as you cite the source (OSI), but it is also Open Source, meaning that any actor wishing to become a member of the NGO can “open the engine” and make adjustments necessary for the platform’s operation. Of course, this requires a “license” which involves completing the Initial Training in Program Management offered by the NGO. This [Royalty-Free]+[Open Source] approach means that any actor in the fields of Citizen Science, Responsible and Sustainable Tourism, Education, or Scientific Research who acquires skills from the NGO has every incentive to remain a member, as they have the freedom to act like the head of their own enterprise within it.

Following the amendment of the NGO’s statutes in 2018, the Presidency has become a rotating one-year term, collectively managed by members of the NGO’s Executive Committee, composed of NGO members or influential, skilled individuals from Federation domains. This is a significant detail, as it means that with its non-proprietary management, OSI has become a true International Public Service accessible and available to all.

For his part, Mr. EGLI continues his efforts in various capacities. As the founder of the GENEVA FORUM, organized since 2001 and held at the UN (United Nations), he remains the Director and Coordinator of this international convention, which sits halfway between the DAVOS FORUM and the PORTO-ALLEGRE FORUM, and serves UN projects. He has also been tasked with developing an Investment and Support Fund for Projects that Enable Sustainable Development. As a Constituent and Founding Member of the OSI NGO, he remains involved in ongoing discussions to ensure its optimal development.