In a zero-sum game, one person’s win means another person’s loss. Luckily, we are living in a positive-sum world, meaning one person’s achievement can benefit and contribute to the success of those around them, and even all of humanity. This concept applies to scientific innovation, creativity, and even major political initiatives. This week we loved an article from Forbes that highlights three examples of collaborative international projects that benefited the entire globe:
Banning CFCs to protect the ozone
After the 1985 discovery that chlorofluorocarbons (CFCs) were extremely damaging to the ozone layer, the Montreal Protocol was created via the collaboration of 197 nations to ban these chemicals. The result? The world avoided 180 million cases of skin cancer that would have occurred without the protection of the ozone.
The Human Genome Project
This project involved researchers from six countries and mapped out the entire genome of the Homosapien in order to better understand the human condition to diagnose and treat a wide variety of diseases.
The International Space Station
As its name implies, the Space Station has hosted astronauts from 18 different countries and allowed for a wide variety of scientific discoveries from innovations in robotics to treatments for muscular dystrophy.
