Sisyphus, Reimagining Research for a Sustainable World

In the early 1970s, the hope for a sustainable world seemed within reach: the Minister for Quality of Life arrived at the Elysée Palace in an electric Renault 5, Dennis and Donella Meadows revealed the limits of economic growth, and the film Soylent Green made a strong impression. But since then, the challenges have mounted and the sociopolitical context has deteriorated. This essay reinterprets the myth of Sisyphus as a parable for the transformative quest for a sustainable world, inviting us to rethink the role of scientists in addressing the complex challenges of sustainability.