Philippe Roesle is the CEO of Swissnex in Boston and New York, and Consul of Switzerland in Boston since August 2025. He previously served as CEO of Swissnex in China and as Head of the Science, Technology and Education Office at the Swiss Embassy in Beijing. Philippe joined the Swissnex network in in London supporting startup internationalization, and has served in several roles since, including as Head of Swissnex at Expo 2017 Astana, and Acting Head of Bilateral Relations at the State Secretariat for Education, Research and Innovation SERI. Philippe holds a Bachelors from University of Basel and a Masters and PhD from King’s College London.

Dr. Carol O’Donnell leads the Smithsonian Science Education Center, driving global efforts to transform K–12 science education with a focus on innovation, inclusion, and sustainability. A lifelong educator, Carol integrates inquiry-based learning to empower youth as planetary stewards. Carol has advised the UN Broadband Commission on Sustainable Development, US Global Change Research Program, Georgia Tech University’s AI Institute, the U.S. Office of Science and Technology Policy, and the International Dialogue on STEM Education. Through an appointment of the US National Academies of Sciences, Engineering, and Medicine, Carol co-chairs the InterAcademy Partnership Science Education Global Council. Carol’s work has earned honors from AERA, NAPE, and the University of Pittsburgh, where she received her undergraduate degree in science education. Carol earned her doctorate from The George Washington University, where she served on the part-time faculty of the Physics Department for 15 years.

Becca Franks is Assistant Professor of Environmental Studies at New York University, where she is the Director of WATR-lab and Co-Director of the Wild Animal Welfare Program.  After earning a BA in Anthropology from New York University and a PhD in Psychology from Columbia University, she was a Killam Postdoctoral Research Fellow with the Animal Welfare Program at the University of British Columbia. Her research and teaching lie at the intersection of environmental conservation and animal welfare, with a focus on animal behavior, human-animal relationships, aquatic animals, and quantitative methods. She has published over 70 scholarly articles, chapters, and commentaries driven by the core question: How can science contribute to ongoing efforts to repair human relationships with other animals and the rest of nature?

Kieffer Woodtli is a Swiss conceptual artist duo based between New York and Zurich. Their practice combines sculpture and experiential installation to explore existence, imagine futures, and synchronize nature, space, and humans into shared rhythms of perception.

At the heart of their work lies a deep fascination with the hidden processes of the natural world – the silent breath of trees, the movement of light, the intelligence of water. Through poetic and immersive environments, they invite viewers to attune to these subtle phenomena and, through them, to encounter themselves anew.

Their installations open up spaces for reflection, resonance, and participation – spaces where nature is not merely observed, but experienced as a mirror, a teacher, an extension of ourselves. By weaving together data, material, and sensory design, Kieffer Woodtli creates living systems that invite shifts in perception and ecological intimacy.

Their works have been shown at international exhibitions including Art Basel, Art Dubai, the London Design Biennale and the Theatre of Digital Art. They have been featured in publications such as Another Magazine, 1Granary, and Vogue. Their latest audiovisual installation, Arboreal Serenade, was revealed during Art Basel, Basel 2025 and is part of the permanent collection of the Enea Tree Museum.

Kieffer Woodtli is formed by Sara Kieffer (b. 1992, Zurich, Switzerland), and Lucien Mike Woodtli (b. 1994, Aarau, Switzerland).