The development that humanity has had in the past 200 years has been staggering. The innovation in sectors such as agriculture, industry, and healthcare have increased our standards of living to a significant extent. This is reflected in the drastic decrease in the percentage of the world population that is in extreme poverty, from 89.15% in 1820 to 9.98% in 2015. Moreover, the spread of ideas, and information was heavily boosted by these scientific developments as literacy rates started to increase. The modern lifestyle, as we know it, is almost fully indebted to the significant increase in industrialisation and progress that now has our planet looming over a mass extinction event.

Industrialisation and the modernisation that paved the way for economic and social improvement came at the costs of an ever-growing crisis, a crisis with consequences that would only be felt generations later.

Climate change is one of the most talked about subjects within society. Government reforms through initiatives such as  transitory policies towards green energy, pledges to lower greenhouse gas emissions and the regulation of pollutants have allowed for a movement towards sustainable development. Furthermore, the movement of the private sector towards a circular economy through ESG initiatives also fuels the movement towards sustainable development.

Chris and Ilinca are co-hosting this episode of the Synapse Podcast, the first from the theme "Synapse Your Future | The Power to Embrace Change". Throughout the Podcast, they discuss the chronology behind human development and climate change, the measures taken to combat climate change, as well as the mentalities that different subcultures have regarding climate change, such as climate change deniers and activists. We are caught in today’s routine and we often forget tomorrow’s challenges. Is the rise of the superstorms, floods, devastating fires a powerful enough alarm bell? What if climate change pulls us into it’s vortex, in a spiralling chaos towards our end? Can we save tomorrow? 

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Ilinca Sandu  was the founder of the first student-run newspaper in her school. Her passion for literature, culture and media prompted her to bring up the idea to her school director, resulting in the creation of an innovative and thought-provoking club. She is fascinated by the relationship between the creative and the analytical, and discovering the intersectionality between her various areas of interest, such as poetry and business. As society becomes consumed with the ideas of consumerism and efficiency, Ilinca believes that humanity and compassion are the keys to creating powerful organisations that lead to positive social change.

Chris Sas's contribution to founding the first student-run magazine of ISB alongside Ilinca created a warm environment between students, teachers and parents. This "synapse" between the academic social sphere and current events, culture and creativity allowed for several initiatives such as the 'Swimathon' fundraiser - which aimed to raise money for children with autism. His fascination with social and economic innovation and how it affects culture, politics and global affairs led to the desire to find outlets on how to inform and educate using mediums such as art. Innovation always manifests itself in culture. Chris is interested in exploring this phenomenon.

They are looking forward to starting their academic studies in Business Administration, while actively supporting Synapse as Communication Managers. 

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Synapse is a participative-interactive platform that intertwines itinerant events, illustrating through art, research and sport the dynamic of the new and its impact over the young generation and local communities. Our aim is to inspire the public and the business communities to learn, to act and to participate in creating a better living, a better environment.