At the ENETOSH event in Osaka, one theme stood out clearly: the way we currently deal with global crises is reaching its limits. Our societies are locked into a “logic of growth”, which relies on continuous expansion, technological acceleration and constant innovation to maintain stability. However, such “dynamic stabilisation” undermines its own foundations: It consumes natural resources, fosters competition in social life and fuels pressure for endless self-optimisation. The result is alienation – from nature, from others and toward oneself. Symptoms such as burnout and depression illustrate the consequences. 

As an alternative, sociologist Hartmut Rosa (Friedrich-Schiller-University Jena) introduced the concept of “resonance”: meaningful connections with the world that arise when we are touched and transformed by encounters – whether through a friendship, a film or meaningful work. Resonance cannot be forced but requires trust and openness to vulnerability. 

Another key message was that resilience is not an individual trait but a relational practice. As Arne Bygdas (Oslo Metropolitan University) stressed, young people need to be listened to, valued, and empowered to lead on issues important to them. Token participation undermines trust; genuine involvement fosters hope and collective strength. Early work experiences can strengthen resilience by building competence, responsibility and self-efficacy.

Japan offers another example of how resilience can be cultivated. In response to devastating disasters, Mamoru Ozawa (Kansai University) developed Societal Safety Science. This multidisciplinary approach combines engineering, law, economics, psychology and more to prepare students as broad-based professionals. Rather than specialising narrowly, they learn to connect different perspectives – an essential ability for managing complex safety and disaster challenges both in Japan and abroad.

 Education itself can also become a source of resilience. According to Peter Paulus (Leuphana University Lüneburg), schools and universities should be managed in a “salutogenic” way – structured, supportive and meaningful. When students and teachers experience clarity, adequate resources and a sense of purpose, a “sense of coherence” develops. This not only strengthens learning but also helps break the vicious cycle of aggression, alienation and burnout.

Please click on one of the screenshots to access the presentations (will open in a new browser tab):

Hartmut Rosa	Arne Bygdas	Mamoru Ozawa	Peter Paulus

These theoretical contributions were brought to life by powerful video productions created by young people. Their films tackled urgent issues: how to prepare for disasters such as earthquakes and floods, how digitalisation creates both opportunities and risks, what it means to gain first work experience, and how emotional self-regulation can increase resilience. Through their creativity, the youth participants showed that resonance as a source of resilience is not just a theoretical concept but a lived practice.



The event concluded with a clear message: if societies want to respond effectively to global crises, they must rethink growth, broaden their view of safety and health, and, above all, empower the younger generation. Youth are not only at risk in times of crisis – they are also key to shaping more resilient and hopeful futures

	"Multilingual Disaster Prevention & Mitigation App" Hana Masai, Nara Women’s University, Japan Kanami Ryugo, Doshisha University, Japan Ayumi Toyama, Shizuoka University, Japan An educational program for children and tourists to avoid panic in event of a disaster.
	"Challenges and Opportunities of Digitalization: Navigating Health and Wellbeing in the modern Workplace" Lai Pak Man, The Chinese University of Hong Kong SAR China Digitalisation is changing the way we work – especially for young people: opportunities are balanced by challenges (e.g. mental overload, the feeling of always having to be available).
	"Gamle Oslo" The Youth Media Group Ildfluene (Fireflies), Norway Three young people from different cultural, social and economic backgrounds talk about what their first job meant to them: Working for your own money builds character. No matter what the money is for.
	"MIC sandbag for sustainably controlling flood" Liu Ruijia, Beijing normal-Hong Kong Baptist University, Hong Kong SAR China Innovative approaches by young people to promote (flood) resilience in times of increasing extreme weather events: converting traditional sandbags (which can cause environmental hazards and diseases) into creative biodegradable tools that actively restore ecosystems.
	"Innovative flood management inspired by Dujiangyan’s ancient nature-aligned engineering" Tony Wong, Vocational Training Council, Hong Kong SAR China Instead of expensive and environmentally harmful concrete dams and dykes, natural systems such as beaver dams are being replicated to regulate water flow, reduce flooding, improve soil stability and preserve ecosystems at the same time.
	"Moving LernCamp" Statutory Accident Insurance for the public sector in North Rhine-Westphalia (UK NRW), Germany In this video, students and teachers from the ‘Moving Learning Camp’ share their experiences. The aim of this camp is to strengthen basic self-regulation and self-control skills (executive functions) in order to make students more flexible and self-confident and equip them with these skills for life.
	"Suito Kokusai 2024-2025: Year In Review" Osaka YMCA Osaka Prefectural Suito Kokusai Junior and Senior High School, Japan A new type of education that prepares young people not only for exams, but also for life in the face of global challenges. Young people are not powerless. They are full of creativity, adaptability and a willingness to take action. Learning should be active, collaborative and meaningful: through project-based learning, they develop skills such as communication, critical thinking and empathy – all of which are essential for resilience in uncertain times.

ENETOSH would like to express its sincere thanks to the following individuals for their tremendous and ongoing support during the more than one year of preparation for this event: Aina Landsverk Hagen and Tanja Nordberg, OsloMet, Norway; Tomoe Kumojima, NWU, Japan; Gerrit Schnabel, UK NRW, Germany; Seiko Toyama and Naoto Shigenobu, Osaka YMCA, Japan; Selçuk Yaşar, CSGB, Türkiye; Ugochi Obidiegwu, CTED, USA; Claus Dethleff, headlog multimedia, Germany  – and Hans-Horst Konkolewsky, International ORP Foundation, Spain.

We look forward to EXPO 2030 in Riyadh, where we will continue to shape the future, especially through young people from all over the world, and write the next chapter in the history of occupational safety and health.

The ENETOSH session was carried out as part of the cooperation with GISHW. © Copyright for all images and video recordings: GISHW.
Recording of the ENETOSH session: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=v4dXDV-fH5U (Link will open in a new browser tab or window)
Please note that the recording currently only contains the presentations (PPT files, audio and video files), without the videos of the chairpersons and speakers. The organizers are working to make complete audiovisual versions available as soon as possible.
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